Us westerners tend to view yoga as a physical exercise since it came around in the 80's. While it is physical, Indian culture sees yoga as a mental and spiritual endeavour as well. I believe it is also considered a religion to some Hindus having its own set of philosophies and such . I can not elaborate on this but I'm sure someone here can.
As far as yoga being 'girly', it very well may be... however, this is only perspective. Should you go to India, I'd imagine you'd find classes full of men and women. As a spiritual lifestyle for those people, there is no stigma when it comes to being a man or woman wishing to participate.
I've been to a few classes at different gyms in my area with everything from fit girls to fat girls but never another male. I've been approached by men, seeing me leave a yoga class, and questioned about whether or not its worth a try. I'll tell you what I tell them.... yes its worth a try even if it's just to see if there's anything you can get out of it.
For instance, I practice martial arts and my style has limited weight training capabilities. Yoga adds another dimension to my workout outside of the bodyweight exercises and calisthenics I do. Strengthening my core, and increasing flexibility. Two must haves for martial artists. I do deep stretching and breathing poses in the evening, and more strength based poses during my workouts.
For my weightlifting buddies, I'd say that you'd most benefit from deep stretching poses... I think it's called kundalini. Where you increase oxygen and blood flow to your body with breathing/stretching. Since you're already lifting, you may not get as much out of the more rigorous programs but only you can be the judge of that.
For the guys,and girls, who don't do shit but want to be fit... Yoga is the way to go. You're not gonna get ripped doing it but you can gain a little muscle with daily workouts and increased strength as well.
There are different types of yoga for different applications and the only thing girly about it is the fact that here in the west, more women than men choose to participate or practice it.
I'm cool with that. I'd rather have a girl with a yoga body than a weightlifter body any day.
Simply put... Just because more women do it, does not mean there is nothing we men can get it out of it. In fact, it may have been men who created or discovered it in the first place. (very likely in my opinion)
As far as yoga being 'girly', it very well may be... however, this is only perspective. Should you go to India, I'd imagine you'd find classes full of men and women. As a spiritual lifestyle for those people, there is no stigma when it comes to being a man or woman wishing to participate.
I've been to a few classes at different gyms in my area with everything from fit girls to fat girls but never another male. I've been approached by men, seeing me leave a yoga class, and questioned about whether or not its worth a try. I'll tell you what I tell them.... yes its worth a try even if it's just to see if there's anything you can get out of it.
For instance, I practice martial arts and my style has limited weight training capabilities. Yoga adds another dimension to my workout outside of the bodyweight exercises and calisthenics I do. Strengthening my core, and increasing flexibility. Two must haves for martial artists. I do deep stretching and breathing poses in the evening, and more strength based poses during my workouts.
For my weightlifting buddies, I'd say that you'd most benefit from deep stretching poses... I think it's called kundalini. Where you increase oxygen and blood flow to your body with breathing/stretching. Since you're already lifting, you may not get as much out of the more rigorous programs but only you can be the judge of that.
For the guys,and girls, who don't do shit but want to be fit... Yoga is the way to go. You're not gonna get ripped doing it but you can gain a little muscle with daily workouts and increased strength as well.
There are different types of yoga for different applications and the only thing girly about it is the fact that here in the west, more women than men choose to participate or practice it.
I'm cool with that. I'd rather have a girl with a yoga body than a weightlifter body any day.
Simply put... Just because more women do it, does not mean there is nothing we men can get it out of it. In fact, it may have been men who created or discovered it in the first place. (very likely in my opinion)
