DO REAL MEN DO YOGA?

New research shows exercise that will best benefit men is marketed at women –and vice versa. We talk to a health worker who sees his yoga as a lifesaver and a grandmother whose weightlifting is keeping her balanced.

Myths abound when it comes to men and yoga, says Occupational Therapy Assistant Mark Gasper. “People say yoga isn’t for strong masculine men who lift heavy weights and box; that it’s not for people who are overweight. And some doubt it’s for people who are inflexible.

“I can understand. I’d always taken the ‘no pain, no gain’ approach to exercise, then I was introduced to yoga through a 30 day trial for men which involved practising yoga for 10 minutes each day. I developed a connection with my body that had been lost.”

Ignore what you’ve read or heard and try it.

Mark, who works at Rowan View, Mersey Care’s medium secure mental health and learning disability unit, is now a qualified instructor (he trained in his spare time with funding from Mersey Care). He’s on a mission to change the image of yoga as the preserve of women and promote it to men.

He’s in line with research* suggesting that women benefit from more traditionally ‘masculine’ activities like weightlifting, while men will reap the rewards from traditionally more ‘feminine’ pursuits such as Pilates and yoga.

Mark sees the benefits first hand in his patients. “They carry breathing techniques and coping mechanisms we learn into their everyday life, helping them to regulate their emotions. We share a sacred time that can be very profound and soul searching.”

His advice to men (or women) contemplating yoga? “Ignore what you’ve read or heard and try it. You’ll be surprised, not only at your ability, but also the places that yoga can take you. We become fixated comparing ourselves to others on social media and wanting to be the best at something straight away. Yoga is not about being able to do a headstand, it’s about finding a new perspective and reconnecting with yourself in a way that works for you.”

More Information

Find a yoga class near you: British Wheel of Yoga – bwy.org.uk

MARK’S YOGA TIPS FOR BEGINNERS:

• Don’t compare – it’s your journey and progress takes time

• Practise consistently, even if it’s five to ten minutes

• Listen to your body and don’t push yourself if you feel discomfort or pain

• Yoga props such as belts and blocks can help

• Find which yoga style suits you and ask questions.