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,
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 stabilise 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.
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.
Take A Chill Pill
If
you see spreadsheets dancing when you close your eyes, yoga might be
the missing piece to some peace of mind. “The connection to the breath,
which is a fundamental principle of yoga, is a wonderful recipe for
relaxation,” says Macsay. But this isn’t hippy wizardry.
“The
nervous system relaxes and the hormone oxytocin, is released which is
responsible for the feelings of happiness.” That flush through your
bloodstream is proven to kill anxiety, soothe your nervous systems and
increase sexual intimacy. Although that’s not an excuse for treating
your studio as a pick-up spot.
I Heart Yoga
Those
10-milers aren’t the only way to keep your ticker ticking over. “Most
exercise improves nerve function, but it ends up exhausting the cellular
reserves and endocrine glands, which actually ends up overworking the
heart,” says Macsay. By dropping the intensity you get more bang for
your cardio buck.
“Yoga
can be very physically demanding, even more than jogging, but because
the heart beats at a steady rhythmic pace, the heart is strengthened,”
says Macsay. Which translates as torching blubber without torching your
heart’s longevity.
Be Fit, Look Fit
An
hour of stretching might not seem as strenuous as shifting tin. But
because you probably spend as much time on core strength as you do on
warming up (we see you, guys who hit the bench press straight out of the
changing room), you’ll feel the burn.
Regular
practice will help turn bulbous muscles into something more aesthetic,
too. “Yoga is an equipment free activity, so you are strengthening and
lengthening muscles with your own body weight,” says Macsay. The result?
A lean, sculpted physique. We’ll salute the sun to that.
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