There are so many reasons to practice yoga and meditation, whether it’s improving balance, strength, or mental health. So, why is it an activity dominated by women? It’s time to break down the stigma and increase diversity within the industry. Here are 5 key reasons for men to give yoga and meditation a go:
1. Lowering the risk of injury and decreasing recovery times.
One of the lesser-known benefits of yoga is its healing and injury-prevention potential. Sports that require athletes to complete large ranges of motion (like golf) or high-contact sports (like rugby) leave players with low flexibility at great risk of injury. Increased flexibility allows players to bounce back from twists and sprains that would leave other players on the ground or avoid them entirely due to the increased conditioning and range of movement that yoga provides.
2. Build muscle evenly
It is difficult to develop a full-body fitness routine and stick to it. It’s likely your current fitness plan neglects some part of your body that would greatly benefit from regular exercise. Much like callisthenics, yoga is a full-body exercise that strengthens muscles equally across your body without interfering with or preventing you from engaging with other physical activities.
3. Improves breathing
For the average person, not much thought goes into the activity that keeps us alive. This is a shame, as any improvement to the way we breathe will by extension improve our quality of life. The benefits of breath training can be seen in many areas, for example in cardio and strength training and performance in sports. Both stress and anxiety releasing breathing exercises common in meditation can be used in a variety of real-life situations, from dealing with difficult people to conquering your own fear of a task.
4. Better posture
So much of our health is linked to posture, both mentally and physically. In an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, where much of our day is seated and behind a computer screen, having an outlet to stretch your muscles and reverse the effects of the office lifestyle is incredibly important. Indeed, even traditional weight and resistance training (if done incorrectly) can cause problems with posture. Bad posture can cause discomfort and will likely lead to long term health problems. Good posture makes you look younger and more confident, which in turn positively impacts social, mental, and physical health.
5. Mental health
Yoga has a proud history of providing mental health benefits and getting you in touch with your feelings. There are many examples of people suffering from PTSD turning to yoga to help deal with their trauma. Even if you don’t suffer from a condition like this, having dedicated time each week to process and remove stress can be an incredibly freeing habit that will provide a great flow-on effect for the rest of your life.
If you are located in Murarrie, Cannon Hill, Morningside, Balmoral, or Tingalpa, stop by our yoga studio at 16 Queensport Road South, Murarrie. stop by our yoga studio at 16 Queensport Road South, Murarrie.
