Yoga for Men
People from all social and age groups can enjoy yoga as a hobby or even more intently as a life
style. Yoga practitioners have studied the physical and psychological
differences between men and women for a long time. In general, men are generally less emotional than women and they often suppress their
emotions. Unfortunately, this male tendency can lead to stress and, ultimately, to an increased risk
of heart problems.
Men tend to have more physical strength than women, and this is acknowledged by most dedicated yoga practices. This
is why in yoga for men
, some of the poses involve more muscle power and stamina. Many male yoga practitioners have found that a combination
of yoga and weight training (see weight lifting) can provide them with the necessary vitality
and positive thinking. In many cases, the balance between mind and body
is broken by different adverse outside factors such as stress, pressure, social problems and so on. The close link between body and
spirit can be often seen in such cases: if the spirit is defeated, the body will soon get ill and weakened.
This is why the more physical methods of yoga are more often recommended for men to practice as opposed to those more intended for flexibility.
Society imposes certain standards - and staying fit and looking good are just a couple of
them. In order to have self-confidence and self-respect you need to take care of your body properly. Some of the yoga poses you
will read about later on in this article are great for keeping the body
in excellent physical condition, especially when a balanced and nutritious
diet is considered. Needless to say that, as with many other forms of exercise, physical yoga training greatly
reduces the chances of various illnesses such as high blood pressure, and heart attacks and osteoporosis.
Yoga also favors meditation and relaxation as some of its most efficient methods of defending oneself against
stress. Half an hour of stretching your muscles, and deep, yoga breathing can
bring just about any yoga practitioner into a state of peace and relaxation that
gives both mind and body the chance to replenish their energy.
Special yoga poses such as the Head Stand
are excellent for aiding circulation and allowing the heart rate to
drop. This kind of position also "forces" you to breathe deeply, thus
improving brain oxygenation. Another similar pose would be the Shoulder Stand, which enhances the positive effects of breathing by increasing the
lung's capacity to process oxygen. Both these poses are beneficial to
the spine as well, as they allow it to stretch and relax at the same
time. The Plow pose
may also be used in order to strengthen the abdominal and lower back
muscles. Savasana, also known as the Corpse pose, is excellent for relaxing the body between asanas.
The poses mentioned above need to be accompanied by some special breathing techniques. The Anuloma Viloma technique balances the prana levels in the organism and is recommended
for use during physical exercises. The Ujjayi breathing method clears the nasal passages and throat of phlegm and
allows for a better air circulation. This technique also works well for improving the responses of the nervous system.
