If the thought of spending an hour on a mat contorted into different poses doesn't sound appealing to you, we are here to change your mind about the ancient practice of yoga.
When you think of yoga, images of bored housewives and boho hipsters may come to mind. We get it. Modern-day yoga has become a woman-dominated form of exercise. In fact, 72% of yoga practitioners are female.
But don't let that scare you away! The number of men adding yoga into their workout routine is steadily increasing. And that's due to the numerous health advantages yoga can have for the male population.
We put together this list of the top 5 benefits of yoga for men that will have you in the downward-facing dog pose in no time.
Yoga can improve your sleep
Proper sleep is essential to your physical, mental, and sexual health and well-being. However, around 36% of men suffer from a sleep disorder, like insomnia or sleep apnea.
So what's yoga got to do with it? Let us count the ways!
- Yoga encourages you to build a more consistent workout routine — more physical activity means better quality sleep.
- Yoga regulates your nervous system - the system responsible for regulating body temperature and natural melatonin release.
- Yoga releases endorphins to help you relax and feel less stressed.
- Yoga strengthens your respiratory muscles to allow for better breathing.
Yoga can make you stronger
Let us let you in on a little secret. Lifting weights isn't the only way to build muscle. And yoga isn't just about stretching.
That's right. Yoga can also help you tone those arms, legs, and abs. How? Yoga uses your body weight and resistance to stretch muscles and tissue while improving blood flow.
Increased blood flow equals more oxygen to the muscles to build lean muscle mass.
We aren't telling you you have to put the weights away, but a little variety never hurt anybody.
Yoga can improve your range of motion
Men typically focus on exercises that target hamstrings, glutes, abdomen, and shoulders, like weightlifting and bench press. These redundant and monotonous movements hinder the muscles' range of motion and growth.
Good news, though! The stretching and movement in yoga class will improve your flexibility over time. Meaning less achy and stiff joints and muscles, and better recovery time after hitting the weights.
Yoga can keep your heart healthy
Unfortunately, heart disease is the leading cause of death in men in the United States year after year. The best course of action is preventive measures to keep your heart as healthy as possible.
Practicing yoga includes breathing exercises, relaxation, and meditation. These combined have shown improvements in lowering blood pressure, better sleep, and less artery-damaging inflammation which are all key factors in cardiac health.
Yoga can improve your sex life
We saved the best for last! Let's talk about sex.
Not only will yoga make you stronger and more flexible in the bedroom, but it has physical effects on certain parts of men's bodies as well. Yoga can help improve the release of the hormones responsible for arousal and increase blood flow to your nether region.
One study found that men who practiced yoga for 12 weeks reported improvement in their ability to control their ejaculation and their desire, performance, and satisfaction with sex.
Looking to prolong your climax time? Yoga might be the answer. Research done in India studied two groups of men suffering from premature ejaculation (PE). One group did yoga while the other took PE medication for three months. Results show that all the men in the yoga group reported improved timing, whereas 82% in the medication group did not experience better timing.
See you on the mat
Yoga can help sharpen your mental focus, promote better sleep, enhance body flexibility, improve sexual performance, and support other physical activity.
At BeachSweat, we offer challenging yoga classes with visual inspiration and instructor interaction to help you reach your fitness goals while having fun.
Ready to find the motivation to a healthier, happier you? Try out one of our yoga or indoor cycling classes now with a free trial!
