| According to the most recent survey, the vast | | | | the practice. |
| majority of participants in yoga classes were women | | | | Finally, several yoga experts and instructors point to |
| (approximately 77 percent), despite the fact that some | | | | men's fear of failure as one of the reasons they shun |
| of the most popular and famous teachers today and | | | | yoga in such large numbers. Since most men's idea |
| many of the originators of the practice are and were | | | | of exercise consists of lifting weights or calisthenics |
| men. | | | | that require the body to move in such a rigid motion, |
| So where are the men in the studio? That is a | | | | they often lack the flexibility that yoga demands. |
| question that many yoga instructors and studios are | | | | Even beginning male students, the experts say, give up |
| trying to answer as they try to reach out to a market | | | | after a few sessions because they fear "failure" at not |
| that, for all intents and purposes, remains relatively | | | | being able to perform the moves (without realizing that |
| untapped. | | | | their inflexibility may be the biggest reason they should |
| There are many possible reasons why men stay | | | | participate in yoga). |
| away from the yoga studio, but a few reasons seem | | | | Yoga instructors say it may help to inform many men |
| to stick out more than others. Many experts and | | | | that some of today's top athletic stars are yoga fans |
| yoga enthusiasts point to the competitive nature in | | | | who use the practice to help them perform. |
| men and the belief that many men don't find yoga | | | | Superstars such as NBA star Shaquille O'Neal, former |
| challenging enough for the physical goals they wish to | | | | NFL star Jon Kitna and pitcher Barry Zito, as well as |
| accomplish. Plainly stated, many men don't find yoga | | | | entire teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers and |
| "masculine" enough for them (as if a pose like the Side | | | | Chicago Cubs, offer yoga to their athletes to |
| Crane is a piece of cake). | | | | counteract the rough treatment they receive on the |
| According to a few instructors, quoted in a recent | | | | field. |
| article, men enter the yoga studios and see a room full | | | | Men who attend yoga classes must let down their |
| of women, perhaps hear calming music and notice | | | | defenses and not think of yoga in terms of success |
| there's not one piece of heavy metal equipment in the | | | | and failure. The instructors say that yoga is not |
| room and conclude that this place is not for them. | | | | concerned with perfection of pose or rating someone |
| And if there is a male instructor, his calm, sensitive | | | | based on whether they can perform a backbend on |
| demeanor is in sharp contract to the "feel the burn" | | | | their first day in class. Yoga, they stress, is a gradual |
| approach of a personal trainer he may be used to. | | | | process where the student comes to acknowledge |
| One yoga instructor said that men come to the studio | | | | the mind-body connection. When placed in the right |
| looking for a challenge immediately. | | | | perspective with realistic goals, each yoga session can |
| Experts point to a number of possible reasons why | | | | be considered a "success". |
| mainstream men consider yoga a "women's thing", | | | | Yoga instructors suggest that men who are attending |
| starting with Indra Devi, a female yoga instructor who | | | | their first yoga session take time to introduce |
| came to the U.S. in the 1940s and was promoted by | | | | themselves to the teacher and discuss the class |
| cosmetic legend Elizabeth Arden. Some time after, | | | | structure. Men should also accept and admit (to the |
| Richard Hitttleman became a yoga celebrity, but his | | | | instructor and to themselves) that they harbor some |
| books and television show only featured female | | | | anxiety about the yoga class. By establishing lines of |
| models. The PBS network presented "Lilias, Yoga | | | | communication, the student and the instructor can |
| and You" in the 1970s and featured instructor Lilias | | | | begin to erase the fears they have about not being up |
| Folan in an afternoon broadcast that seemed perfectly | | | | to the task of yoga. |
| tailored for the stay-at-home mom of that era. | | | | Another option yoga instructors may want to consider, |
| Although more athletic forms of yoga developed later, | | | | the experts say, is occasionally conducting a |
| such as Power Yoga, the deep involvement of | | | | men's-only yoga session where men can be |
| woman in the practice solidified the idea of yoga as a | | | | themselves. Instructors who have held classes such |
| woman's exercise in the minds of many men. | | | | as this admit that it creates a different atmosphere |
| Yoga experts also say the need for men to have | | | | than usual and that the typical male joking is not |
| concrete exercise results may also be a reason why | | | | uncommon. But arranging such classes can be a big |
| they refrain from yoga. With weight lifting or weight | | | | help in teaching men to relax in the studio and, in turn, |
| training, a man may see an increase in muscle mass - | | | | relax with the idea of yoga. |
| a bigger bicep or a bit of definition here or there. But | | | | Finally, men should be willing to let themselves go |
| with yoga, many of the most important changes are | | | | mentally in a yoga class. Some of the most powerful |
| internal, mental and emotional benefits that maybe | | | | men in business have credited yoga with letting them |
| harder to gauge for a person taught to measure | | | | clear their heads of the day-to-day stresses and |
| success by wins and losses. | | | | mental strain of the workday. And not only does |
| As one instructor stated, instead of focusing on | | | | yoga let them get rid of old, troublesome thoughts, it |
| quieting his mind or relaxing, men may build even more | | | | allows new thoughts to come in. indeed, many top |
| tension by focusing on performing a pose perfectly (in | | | | executives have claimed that some of their most |
| response to their competitive streak) and not be | | | | successful ideas have come while meditating during |
| satisfied until they do, even if it's a move | | | | yoga. |
| recommended for an advanced student and they're in | | | | It may take a while until more men embrace yoga the |
| their first class. By putting their efforts into perfection, | | | | way women have. |
| many men completely miss one of the real benefits of | | | | |