Yoga For Men
The majority of guys scoff at the thought of performing yoga...
"Yoga is for women!"... and off they go back to hitting the weights.
But what if yoga could assist your progress in the gym and your overall well-being outside of the gym?
I'm by no means advocating a switch from weightlifting to yoga but the addition of a yoga class or even the simple act of following a 30 minute yoga routine on YouTube once a week likely has a bunch of benefits you'll reap, finding yoga for men worthwhile.
5 Big Benefits of Yoga for Men
Below are the 5 biggest reasons I've started performing yoga once a week.
As I mentioned, no need to join a class! There's a ton of free YouTube videos that you can follow from the comfort of your own home... you'll find a few of my go-to videos linked at the bottom of this post.
#1 - Increased Flexibility & Mobility
If you spend a lot of time sitting down in a chair, be it reading, writing or plotting you'll find your lower back, hip flexors and hamstrings are quite tight.
Doesn't sound like a big deal does it? When we're talking about your performance in the gym it does!
Increasing your lower body mobility and flexibility will not only increase your range of motion of key exercises such as your barbell front and back squat, but you'll also find these movements to be far more fluid - free of the tightness and niggling pains you're used to encountering.
#2 - Increased Core Strength
Yoga isn't as easy as it looks, and we're not only taking from a flexibility standpoint.
Regularly practising yoga will assist in building a bulletproof core! Forget the sit-ups, I can guarantee you that the core stability you'll build via a variety of yoga poses will trump a copious amount of sit-ups when it comes to developing core strength and stability.
This core strength and stability will come into play when stabilizing the weight on exercises such as the overhead squat and military press.
#3 - You'll Decrease Your Risk of Injury
Incorrect form in the gym is the easiest way to sustain a injury... the second easiest way? Neglecting your warm-ups and mobility.
The shoulder, back and hamstring mobility you forge via regular yoga will pay save you money on visits to the physiotherapist!
#4 - You'll Feel Cool, Calm & Collected
Yoga, just like meditation places a large emphasis on your breathing.
Deep breathes, inhaling and exhaling.
Breathing deeply is one of the best ways to clear your mind and reduce any anxiety you may be experiencing.
A clear mind and a calm body form the perfect blank state for the creative.
Be it brainstorming topics for your blog, coming up with that slogan for your new business venture... yoga can spark creativity and calmness when you place a large emphasis on your breathing.
If you can't bear sitting still while performing a guided meditation then yoga may be able to net you the same benefits!
#5 - You'll Meet New People!
If you hit up a local yoga class regularly you'll meet a bunch of new people, many of whom just might happen to be attractive yogi girls!
