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That's Fit Yoga Men Speak Out

Fitness

yoga matAfter asking last week -- Yoga Men, Are You There? -- 75 guys gave us a clue about how they feel about this spiritual endeavor practiced primarily by women. I had a feeling we'd find more That's Fit men starting or end their days with a downward dog, but I had no idea it was an amazing 43 percent of respondents.

Here's a recap of the poll that asked, Guys, what best describes your feelings about yoga?

  • 43 percent (33 respondents) said they like yoga and do it regularly -- impressive.
  • 29 percent said they like yoga, but rarely ever do it. Wonder why?
  • 1 percent (1 guy) said he tried yoga once, but it wasn't for him.
  • 5 percent said they'd never step on a yoga mat.
  • 13 percent said maybe they should give yoga a try -- this is encouraging.
  • Nearly 7 percent stated Other.

From this most unscientific poll, it's looking like That's Fit men roll out the mat much more often than the general male population. Interestingly, one commenter said he took a yoga class after losing a bet, but now he's hooked, even if he feels a bit out of place. Thanks guys, there are definitely more than a few good Yoga Men out there.

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Yoga Men - Are You There?

Fitness, Motivation, Men's Health

yogaMost Mondays you'll find me in Bodyflow class (a Tai Chi/Pilates/Yoga combo) with a bunch of ... women. In all the weeks I've been attending, never a guy. All the testosterone sits below in the free weight room. I have one question for fitness guys everywhere -- why aren't you there? My husband can't be the only one in town willing to commit to a Triangle Pose.

According to this article
in Yoga Journal, 77 percent of U.S. yoga practitioners are female. Seems the number should be higher based on my personal observation over the years, coupled with the fact that only one in 10 Yoga Journal subscribers is a dude. The author offers a few reasons why men and yoga don't date in this country, here are three I found interesting:

  • Yoga is simply foreign territory -- It takes a brave man to enter that room full of calm women, likely led by a woman or if the instructor is a man, not likely the towel-snapping-let's-go-for-a-beer-after-the-game type of guy's guy.
  • Yoga hurts -- Scientists don't know why, but men are less flexible, with boys losing flexibility faster than girls by adolescence. Weight-training tends to take priority over flexibility-training in male sports programs.
  • It's a brain thing -- namely, mirror neurons. These brain cells receive signals from another person and trigger similar reactions in the observer. Mirror neurons are firing when you're watching and imitating a yoga instructor. It's unknown if women have more of these cells or they're simply more active, but women definitely mimic better than men. Guys, don't lose hope. Your mirror neurons will improve if you keep returning to the yoga mat.

OK, guys. Have you tried yoga? Will you try yoga? Let us know in the poll below. The world needs more than a few good Yoga Men.

Guys, what best describes your feelings about yoga?


Body by yoga(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Adam LevineAdam LevineAdam LevineAdam LevineAdam Levine

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