WHY EVERY MAN SHOULD DO YOGA
HEALTH AND FITNESS
Drop in on any yoga class and you’ll usually find the gender
breakdown to be equal to that of a nail salon throwing a
mani-pedi special on ladies night. But this Y-chromosome
drought means guys are missing out.
The millennia-old practice could lead you towards
spiritual enlightenment, but in the short term, it could fix
back pain, help shift that beer belly, and add kilos to your
squat. No surprise Ryan Giggs, the New York Giants and
the All Blacks rugby team are such fans. Turns out even the
swollest bros should add some namaste into their day.
Ditch The Ibuprofen: If you’re on first name terms
with your GP’s receptionists, hitting the mat beats any pain
meds. “Yoga helps to reduce common injuries of bones,
It’s The Little Things That Count: Sorry to break it to you,
but what’s in the mirror isn’t everything. “Unlike weight lifting, yoga strengthens muscles and improves mobility at the
same time,” says Macsay. “Big muscles look impressive,
but are they functional? Even though you might be able to
bench a crazy high number at the gym, it might not benefit
you in your day to day life.”
And it might surprise you how much you’re missing
out on by focusing on size over function. “When you practice
yoga, everyday activities don’t strain the body,” says Macsay. Because no one’s impressed by what fills your shirt if
you can’t tie your shoelaces without grimacing.
joints, and ligaments, from overuse and repetitive movement that are a result of physical exercise and sports,” says
New York City yoga instructor Maria Macsay. But a downward dog on deadlift days isn’t enough.
Regular sessions lengthen your muscles and stabi-
lise your joints, which makes your entire body more flexible.
The result? You can bend deeper, jump higher and won’t
wobble when you load the bar. “With practice, the body becomes more agile and recovery time shortens, which is a
plus for anyone who is physically active.” PBs, come at me.
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