Yoga has come a long way in the last couple of decades, to the point where most people – men and women – have at least some understanding of this practice. Yet men still seem to represent a far smaller portion of the Western yogi community. Many people believe a huge reason for this disparity is that men have lingering misconceptions of what it means to practice yoga. Here are some of the most common misconceptions men have on yoga, and proof that these misconceptions have no place in our modern yoga world:
1. Yoga Is Just for Women
A majority of yoga shots you see on sites like Instagram are taken by women, so you can see why this misconception exists. But tell that to Matthew McConaughey, Richard Gere, Colin Farrell and Robert Downey Jr., all of whom love yoga.
2. Yoga Is a Religion
This is a particularly touch subject for many. People believe yoga has close ties to many Eastern belief systems. However, yoga is about balancing the mind, body and spirit. There is no specific religious belief required to achieve this balance. Many practitioners choose only to practice the asanas (poses) of yoga, which is certainly a good way to segregate spirituality from your practice.
3. Men Just Aren’t Flexible Enough to Do Yoga
Even if you can’t touch your toes, that’s ok! It’s the journey to your toes, not the destination. Besides, you’ll be surprised just how quickly you advance if you stick to your practice.
We Challenge You!
Another reason why men shy away from yoga is because they’re afraid of what their friends will think, or how they’ll look in a class filled with women. But yoga is about looking inward. We challenge you to find a friend to join you for a class. If you’re reading this, then chances are you’re considering yoga. Why not push past your misconceptions and fears. We’re pretty confident you’ll leave your first class feeling refreshed, renewed, and ready to take on the world.
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