doing it except the stigma. Like any sport that used to be for men only, yoga has been feminized from the start for no reason other than that girls tend to be more flexible than guys. Plus, as a guy I would be lying if I said hanging out with a bunch of lovely girls and doing yoga sucked, so there’s that to keep in mind gentlemen. So a guy walks into a yoga studio… and enjoys it. There are plenty of types of yoga, some for strength building, some for increasing flexibility (which I should probably consider) and some for relaxation. There isn’t a yoga class for just girls or for just guys because it’s like anything else; if you give it a try and enjoy it, then just walk in there and hop into that downward dog. Real relief finally came as we flipped to our backs for some abdominal work. Abs I can do, but then my shorts became an issue. I instantly understood the draw of yoga pants as I spent the next 10 minutes trying to simultaneously exercise and keep my shorts and compression shorts up high enough to spare those around me a view of my thighs. I don’t have horrible thighs, but as a general rule for guys, unless your name is David Beckham or Cristiano Ronaldo, no one wants to see your thighs. But screw it; this whole thing was actually rather enjoyable at this point. Thighs and arms aside, this whole thing was about guys doing yoga and I’ve decided that it’s actually pretty nice. Andrew and I left feeling relaxed yet strangely energetic and dare I say it, a little more limber. My hips hurt like hell the next day (and for several days afterwards), but it was worth it. Andrew was somewhat sore too, but the biggest side effect of the whole affair was that he had an Enya song stuck in his head. There really isn’t anything about yoga as an activity that should keep guys from
A note from the editor:“The idea of men doing yoga intrigued us for our “Enlighten” issue because we figured it would be an avenue for healthy living most guys haven’t considered. However, the more I thought about it the more I realized yoga is predominantly a female activity because society brands it that way. We have a little fun with yoga stereotypes in the article, but I believe they prove our point. Gender norms go both ways, gentlemen; we shouldn’t be subject to the made up standards set for us just like women shouldn’t. I’m not saying that going out and doing yoga will eradicate sexism forever, but it’s a start. Namaste, or something.” - Andrew M. Connor men’s | october 2014
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