| uo;s face it, at its first mention; Yoga might not | | | | being 3-time Champions and the Lakers winning their |
| come off as the most masculine exercise. But | | | | first championship in 12 years back in 2000, both |
| that’s just it-at its first mention. When you | | | | under his guidance. |
| delve deeper into it, you will realize nothing could be | | | | Now most men who practice yoga tend to favor the |
| further from the truth. | | | | more athletic, fast-moving styles such as Vinyasa and |
| More males are discovering this and consequently | | | | Ashtanga. Personally, I bow to the simple yet |
| more American men are now flocking to the yoga | | | | powerful Sun Salutations common to the Sivananda |
| mats where once, it seemed, only women dared to | | | | style of Yoga. |
| tread. However the irony is in India where it | | | | I showed this routine and some other balancing |
| originated, it wasn’t until recently that women | | | | poses to a couple of friends once and these tough |
| were even allowed to practice yoga-that with | | | | workout animals were shocked at how strenuous |
| restrictions still applied at times. | | | | yoga can be. |
| Men now make up 25 percent of America's 17 million | | | | They discovered that holding the asanas (or poses) |
| enthusiasts and this figure is increasing steadily. | | | | such as the peacock pose, builds strength-not the |
| Perhaps it may be because several successful men in | | | | brute strength of a power lifter but the tensile |
| various walks of life attest to Yoga’s | | | | strength of a martial-arts master. |
| efficiency and openly advocate its practice. | | | | Several pro-athletes such as the Tennessee Titans |
| Take Hip-Hop entrepreneur, Russell Simmons for | | | | running back Eddie George, |
| example, when I read he practiced Yoga (just like | | | | Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe, Oakland A's |
| Sting, Quincy Jones and Woody Harrelson), it further | | | | pitcher ace Barry Zito, NBA superstar Kevin Garnett |
| increased my belief that in no time perhaps NOT | | | | and PGA standouts Ty Tyron and David Duval have |
| practicing Yoga will be seen as strange. | | | | all at some point attested to this fact. |
| Okay, maybe I overstated that, however, for | | | | Either way it goes, Yoga is being rediscovered on an |
| Simmons (someone viewed as a pioneer in such a | | | | almost daily basis by men as indeed being |
| masculine and testosterone driven lifestyle known as | | | | the’ way to go as far as exercise; |
| Hip-Hop) to openly show off his Yoga Skills in a | | | | sometimes exclusively, oft-times in combination with |
| recent issue of the popular Yoga Journal Magazine, | | | | more common forms of fitness regimens. |
| don’t be surprised if more cats’ | | | | So fellas, if you are you stilled not convinced this |
| start following suit. | | | | isn’t just a girl’s exercise, do this, |
| This may happen a lot faster as I once read in an | | | | go to your favorite search engine, type up one of |
| article online that the successful coach of the Chicago | | | | the following: The Peacock, 4-limbed or wheel pose. |
| Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson,often uses | | | | Try either one for a full minute and you will be |
| Yoga Philosophies in the training of both teams. | | | | shocked-like my hard as nails friend once said-to |
| It had to have been effective if it led to the Bulls | | | | discover that Yoga ain’t no joke! |