The Benefits of Yoga for Men

1. YOGA IMPROVES YOUR RANGE OF MOTION
Is this where you tell me it’s eventually going to improve my flexibility?
No, you’ve heard that before. What you probably haven’t heard is that even the most basic yoga asanas (postures) can make a massive difference to your everyday range of motion because they are ‘active stretches’, where the muscle opposite the one being stretched is contracted. A 2010 study published in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine found that this resulted in lasting, improved range of motion, while passive stretching (what you’re probably doing before a run) actually decreased flexibility.
2. YOGA IS A CARDIO WORKOUT
Okay, okay. But yoga can’t count towards my weekly cardio can it ?
Well, don’t sell your bike and running shoes but regular sun salutations can protect you from heart disease as much as cycling or running, according to a study in the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology. The researchers concluded that yoga was as beneficial to your heart as traditional forms of cardio because it’s in the unique position of providing exercise and relaxation. If you’re brave enough to go to a class with ‘Vinyasa’, ‘Ashtanga’ or Bikram’ In the title, you won’t be in any doubt about yoga being cardio effective and it’s a tough core and isometric strength challenge too.
3. YOGA CAN BUILD MUSCLE
Surely I can’t muscle up on the mat?
Why not? You wouldn’t think twice about using your bodyweight to add mass to your body for a CrossFit or a HITT workout and that’s exactly what you’re doing with yoga. Yoga uses nothing but your own body to build lean muscle mass and on your journey you will encounter movements similar to squats, leg lifts and push ups but performed over much longer periods of time. That will only result in sustained gains throughout all your muscle groups, while minimising your chances of injury.
4. YOGA IMPROVES YOUR JOINT HEALTH AND CAN LESSEN SPORTS RELATED INJURIES
We all know that guys can get a bit too caught up with the mirror muscles like biceps, pectorals and abdominals. However, the majority of the exercises men do in the gym neglect their stabilizers, which support the body rather than move it. Yoga on the other hand, includes plenty of asanas with spinal twists and arches, as well as lateral and twisting moves, not to mention the constant balance challenges that will come your way in a typical class. All of which contributes to bulletproof stabilizers, improved joint health and less injuries.
5. Yoga helps to improve recovery from tough training sessions
I’m beginning to like the sound of this – anything else it could do for me?
Sure, how about the fact that yoga helps your body recover from tough training sessions.
6.YOGA IS A STRESS BUSTER
Yoga is also proven effective in lowering those chronic stress levels you complain about. Straining under a bar bell or doing battle with gym ropes keeps you hyped up on adrenaline whereas a yoga class can instil a state of deep rest and calm. This has been proven in a study that found elevated levels of the amino acid GABA in those who practise regularly. The study concluded that GABA plays a key role in reducing anxiety and promotes feelings of calm inside the body.
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF YOGA
Yoga Types | Brief Intro | Key Benefits | What to wear | Level | Our top 5 to follow |
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Bikram/Hot
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Yoga that will make you sweat! It is practiced in a room heated to around 40° C with 40% humidity. It is a series of 26 yoga postures, performed twice. Hot yoga is basically any type type of yoga done in a hot room.
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Intermediate / Advanced | |
Hatha
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Hatha is a practice for everyone and is ideal for beginners. Hatha classes are now synonymous with a slower paced practice, based on breathing techniques (pranayama) and postures (asanas).
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Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced | |
Vinyasa
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Vinyasa is a great all round practice. It essentially means 'movement linked with breath' and will include a lot of sun salutations and flows from one posture to the next.
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Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced | |
Ashtanga
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A fast-paced and physically-challenging type of yoga. Classes move non-stop through one or more of the 6 series of Ashtanga, each one increasing in difficulty as you move up.
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Intermediate / Advanced | |
Yin
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This is a quiet meditative practice. It focuses on lengthening connective tissues and is a great complement to more active workouts. Yin poses are passive, aiming to relax muscles and let gravity do all of the work. You hold each pose for a long time!
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Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced | |
Acro
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This is a fun style of yoga, which is done with a partner, don't worry you don't need to be an acrobat but its amazing what you can achieve in a duo.
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Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced | |
Iyengar
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Iyengar is not always an easy practice but it is for everyone and has amazing rewards. It is all about precise alignment and deliberate sequencing with the use of props like blocks & bolsters
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Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced | |
Power Yoga
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This is an awesome work out yoga. It's an active, athletic style of Vinyasa yoga adapted from the Ashtanga system. Unlike Ashtanga there is no set series of poses but rather its open to the teachers' own interpretation.
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Intermediate / Advanced | |
Restorative
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This type of yoga is aimed at getting your body to relax and let go of stress. Youll spend time holding poses, using props to help you to sink into a deep relaxed state.
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Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced | |
Forrest
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Forest yoga was founded by Ana Forest an acclaimed pioneer in yoga and healing. It is an intensely physical and internally-focused practice that emphasizes how to carry an transformative experience off the mat and into daily life.
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Intermediate / Advanced | |
Sattva
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There are no levels in Sattva, everyone is welcome and it is designed for groups. It includes meditation, breath work, hatha postures, vinyasa flows and more.
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Great for all levels | |
Jivamukti
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Modern-day hybrid-yoga created by David Life (musician) and Sharon Gannon (dancer). It's a highly physical and vigorous style of yoga taken from Hatha origins.
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Intermediate / Advanced | |
Budokon
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Budokon yoga is a new form of yoga. It is a combination of yoga, meditation and martial arts, a mixed movements arts system that gives you incredible focus and mastery over your body and mind.
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| Beginner (just about) / Intermediate / Advanced | |
Rocket
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A dynamic, fast moving Yoga practice designed to get you there faster! Perfect for people who don't have the time, or body type to master the more traditional yoga practices. Created by Larry Schultz, yoga teacher to the Grateful Dead, in the 80s.
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Beginner (Just about) / Intermediate / Advanced |
So far we have included the following cities: BELFAST, BIRMINGHAM, BRISTOL, CHICAGO, DENVER, DUBLIN, EDINBURGH, LONDON, LOS ANGLES, MANCHESTER, MONTREAL, NEW YORK, SAN FRANCISCO, TORONTO, VANCOUVER