Men and Yoga

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hi everyone,

I am a man, a 25 year old man. I work with trees for a living. I climb them and cut them. It is a very dangerous job and it is all very strenuous. It requires alot of strenght and flexibility. I often leave work with an aching back and body. I’ve been thinking lately about maybe trying yoga to help with this problem. I guess I have a few questions. 1…is Yoga a good choice for back pain and body pain in general? and 2…are men well received in yoga class, or should I stay away?

I guess I may be a bit self-conscious, thats all.

Thanks in advnace.

Joshua

#2

Hello Joshua,

Remedy for your low back would depend on what sort of yoga you pursue. It is not yoga inherently that is “good” for the low back. Rather it is appropriate yoga (for that issue). However you may be generally served by a yoga practice throughout your entire body.

I’m not sure why you inquire about men going to class and being welcome. Everyone is welcome but when we go to something with such an unanswered question in our consciousness we may not “feel” welcome regardless of the welcoming. Clear your internal plate before dining at another’s table.

Frankly it should be that humans are welcomed to yoga classes regardless. Sadly it is not always so and there are two factors for it. The first is Ego of the teacher/students/studio and the second, undertrained or poorly trained teachers. Hopefully you will find a place that is devoid of both.

#3

Joshua,
give it a try and go to a class, if you dont feel comfortable then try another class, hopefully you will find one you like.
from personal experience I used to have a lot of back problems that started when I was 13 or so from picking up skateboard ramps. Once I strengthened my abbs I found this released a lot of tension from my back because my abbs were now helping to support my posture instead of the back doing all the work. Dont know if this relates to you but figured I would just throw it out there.
good luck
Neil

#4

Develop a Yoga practice. Sense the changes that take place in you both physically & otherwise. Go to a class or two, read about it, check out some CD’s etc
As for addressing specific issues (back problem) as you develop your practice you will come across asanas (postures) that benefit your back issues, a great starting point…
Best Wishes,
Namaste,
Fin

#5

Men are definitely welcome. In a lot of my classes there are a lot of men and other classes there aren’t. I think there is (unfortunately) a stigma about men and yoga, but I don’t know why so many people feel that way. I think the only time men aren’t welcome is when women can tell they are only there for one reason…which happens.

Just let the teacher know where you pain is and they should tell you the proper modifications and/or if you should skip that posture. Good luck!

#6

Hi Joshua!
I have a chronic back issue and have been able to practice yoga 3 x a week with relative ease. The trick I think, is finding a style of yoga that works best with your injury I now practice Anusara) . Also I have let my teachers know about my injury so that they may suggest modifications if needed in certain poses.
Back pain is no fun, but I sometimes find meditation helps with the pain that I do feel. I’ve read that sometimes a lack of oxygen can agitate an already existing condition, so this is when I started some deep breathing exercises, and it has helped.
As far as being a man thing…I’m not sure why it would be an issue when it comes to a yoga practice?
Best of luck with easing your pain.

#7

[quote=Joshua;12334]Hi everyone,

I am a man, a 25 year old man. I work with trees for a living. I climb them and cut them. It is a very dangerous job and it is all very strenuous… I’ve been thinking lately about maybe trying yoga to help with this problem. I guess I have a few questions. 1…is Yoga a good choice for back pain and body pain in general? and 2…are men well received in yoga class, or should I stay away?
I guess I may be a bit self-conscious, thats all.
Thanks in advnace.
Joshua[/quote]

Yoga is a great choice for, among other things, learning to accept yourself as you are, better integrating your physical and mental (and for many) spiritual self.
Yoga, from a physical side, is one of few things, which when well planned, helps create ‘balance’ in the physical body.
Given any issues a person may have, its always best to tread lightly and advance slowly when addressing areas of physical concern. I also have significant back issues. Yoga is certainly helping me address those challenges better. Yoga offers more than just physical, how much more you chose to integrate is up to you - its all good.
If you don;t bring expectations or comparison to your yoga practice/class, you won;t be self-conscious.
In the classes I’ve attended, there’s never been a question of ‘men’ or ‘women’. Any perception otherwise, along those lines, would be purely manifestations within my own mind.
Yoga is an opportunity for each of us to ‘try’, to ‘be’, but without expectations. How often is that available to us? It would be a shame not to take advantage of this.
namast

#8

Joshua:

I think some of the trepidation some men feel about yoga in North America is how it is marketed as a method of achieving physical fitness.

Western culture puts a high premimum on physical fitness. Generally speaking yoga is marketed as a way for women to stay in shape. Perhaps because it is non-competive and preaches a holistic lifestyle. These are thought by some to be “feminine” values.
In order to stay in shape, fitness choices marketed to men are competive sports, weight lifting and high intensity aerobic activity such as distance running. Of course this is sterotypical, but there’s no denying that many people who know nothing about yoga actually think this way. I think you will find that almost no serious yoga students actually think this way.

The conception of yoga as merely a physical fitness activity or physiotherapy is shared few regular practioners of yoga; again, its just how the marketing machine packages it.

The value of yoga goes beyond the need for physical fitness and it even beyond health benefits of regular practice, in my experience. These needs are the inital motivation for many to start a regular practice for many people.

Hope this helps