Yoga for men.

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Replies

  • Trechechus
    Trechechus Posts: 2,819 Member
    My boyfriend is not a tall, thin beanpole and he does yoga with me. Some of the poses are hard (for both of us. Neither of us being particularly flexible), but it's really good for building strength and increasing what little flexibility we have. I'd say go for it. There are some great videos online. I'm especially fond of power yoga.

    http://www.youtube.com/user/derekanderson2000
  • kjm3579
    kjm3579 Posts: 3,974 Member
    I started Bikram Yoga about 6 months ago due to an ankle injury from running. At first I thought they were trying to kill me but now I look forward to getting to class. I am a 55 year old guy, 6'-1" tall and about 195 lbs. and am accepted just like everyone else. We are all there to work out and work on our bodies, it's not a dating service or a fashion show. I go to Bikram Yoga Philadelphia almost every weekday usually at 6 am and even attend 4 hour posture clinics.
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    I have a huge over 6' tall cousin who does yoga. He swears by it for his back. He modifies the moves though. For his back, not for his manhood.
  • zoodocgirl
    zoodocgirl Posts: 163 Member
    Others have said it but it's worth reiterating:

    DON'T force your body into the position that "looks" right. Listen to the instructor about what the goal of the pose is and only go as far as you can/need to to feel that particular stretch. Everyone started at the beginning too.
    When doing a seated forward fold, my ex used to just contort his back all rounded and crazy because hehadtoreachisfeetgoddammit!!!
    I, on the other hand, may have only leaned forward a few inches and been far far away from my feet, but my back was flat and I was getting the stretch where I was supposed to.

    And remember, when you feel stupid because your head is between your legs.... so is everyone else's and they can't see you anyway. :)
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    Is there even a difference? All the guys that I see doing yoga are tall bean poles that are actually able to get into these pretzel like poses. Being 6'0 220 and built more like a linebacker I feel like I could get some benefit from doing yoga but my body type is just going to prevent me from doing things properly.
    Naw, just because they lack meat, doesn't mean you have to lack meat to do it. At my tubby tubbiest I was enjoying Yoga both for the way it made me feel, and what I got to ogle from the back of the room.
    Or are there styles of yoga that are geared towards people like me?
    I'd be super vigilant, sounds like any "tailored to dudes" would be someone trying to capitalize on a trend that moved on a few years ago. Basically though, there are several different legit schools of yoga, all are cool and offer different things. Personally, I did a variant of hot yoga, and it was pretty awesome. 90 degrees in winter is kinda badass.
    I dont know if Im just short changing myself when it comes down to the flexibility part of this but some of these things i look at and im like my body would just get int he way and no amount of flexibility would change that
    The flexibility comes. If you're worried about being able to get into the poses, then get into the pose, and your body will come to adjust. You'll be good to go.

    Just do it man.


    EDIT- FMR, I just answered a ****ing necro. Boooo.
  • jimmmer
    jimmmer Posts: 3,515 Member
    I'm short and stocky and do yoga just fine.

    It's not predacted on how tall and willowy you are. It's built on flexibility, mobility and isometric strength.

    There is obviously a stereotype that the OP's thinking conforms to. That stereotype is a load of bollocks, frankly.

    If I think of a couple of guys that were/are great at yoga, they're definitely not tall and willowy:

    Iyengar:
    lead3.jpg

    Rodney Yee:
    absyogaforbeginners.jpg

    David Robson:
    David-9255.jpg
  • yoginimary
    yoginimary Posts: 6,789 Member
    One of my favorite teachers, does not look like a bean pole at all:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvjKXcTlMHc
  • yogicarl
    yogicarl Posts: 1,260 Member
    There's a chance for me yet then - 5'3" and progressing fine. I think the shorter you are the more crucial it becomes to drop any excess fat so it is not obstructing some of the more advanced postures, but that is not a bad thing generally.

    I would say it is my belly roll that gets in the way of my yoga progress than being short in stature or limbs; a work in progress.
  • kjm3579
    kjm3579 Posts: 3,974 Member
    I had a 4 hour class with this guy on Saturday: http://www.josephencinia.com/photos-videos/birthplace-of-a-yoga-champion/

    Check him out!!!

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