Yoga is for Men

This week is Men’s Mental Health Week and yoga is one powerful way we can take care of our mental health.

Yoga isn’t just about flexibility or headstands, it’s about slowing down, breathing deep, and tuning in. Yoga helps reduce stress, manages anxiety, and improves focus. Traditional yoga in India was originally the exclusive domain of men, and women were forbidden from practising. These days however, when you visit a modern, western yoga class there are likely to be more women than men in the class. Yet, yoga can provide many benefits particularly relevant to the male body and mind. Yoga is a tool men can use to boost strength, focus, and inner balance and it’s not just Sting who extols its virtues: David Beckham, Robert Downey Jnr and Justin Timberlake are among a long list of celebrities who have used yoga not just tone their bodies but boost their mental health. 

Whether it’s 10 minutes of stretching, a full class, or just learning how to breathe more mindfully, yoga gives men tools to stay grounded, handle stress, and feel more in control of their emotions. You don’t need to be flexible to start, you just need the willingness to turn up. Yoga is not about perfection. It’s about progress. Yoga is for men, and taking care of your mental health is the ultimate strength.