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Any advise for a man (thinking about) starting yoga.

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  • 06-10-2010 11:13pm
    #1
    Mr Marri
    Closed Accounts Posts: 266 ✭✭


    Just wondering if you guys have any advise for me?

    Lots of quick questions
    What should I wear? t-shirt and long shorts ok?
    Can you do yoga in socks? I'm kind of embarressed by my feet :o.
    What type of yoga should a man do? Are they're poses a man can't do?
    Is there music in yoga and is it really cheesy?
    What do people do when they can't do a pose?
    Do men stick out like sore thumbs in yoga classes? should I try and hide down the back?
    How much balance do you need? I have this horrible picture of me falling over every 5 mins.

    Any other advise welcome


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    #2
    pinkypinky
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,616 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    What should I wear? t-shirt and long shorts ok?
    That's fine but I would avoid anything too baggy - when you bend down it'll irritate you
    Can you do yoga in socks? I'm kind of embarressed by my feet .
    You could but it's not advised. Your feet have a better natural grip
    What type of yoga should a man do? Are they're poses a man can't do?
    There's no particular yoga for men. It's universal
    Is there music in yoga and is it really cheesy?
    Depends on the teacher
    What do people do when they can't do a pose?
    I just try and stop if I can't
    Do men stick out like sore thumbs in yoga classes? should I try and hide down the back? There are few men but hiding is a bit ridiculous. No one will be thinking "look at that guy trying to do yoga"
    How much balance do you need? I have this horrible picture of me falling over every 5 mins.
    That's an impossible question to answer - it'd depend on many balancing poses the teacher does. It's just not competitive.

    You're over-thinking it all. Just go along to a class and see what you think.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



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    #3
    ivy tilsley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 63 ✭✭ivy tilsley


    Hey Mr Marri:

    What should I wear? t-shirt and long shorts ok?
    Yep, guys in classes I've been to wear their football training gear. You'll soon find your preference.

    Can you do yoga in socks? I'm kind of embarressed by my feet.
    Yes, people do. It's easier not to, as Pinkypinky pointed out, but no one would hold it against you. Also no one will care about your feet.

    What type of yoga should a man do? Are they're poses a man can't do?
    Any kind you like, as Pinkypinky says. I always tell people to start with hatha, because I love it. No harm in trying a few types.

    Is there music in yoga and is it really cheesy?
    In my experience it's non-interruptive instrumental music, often cheesy :)

    What do people do when they can't do a pose?
    Make sure you don't try to force a pose. Either drop into child's pose (see 'fave poses' thread), and/or let the instructor know. There are plenty of poses people can't do and some they find easy. There's no shame in it.

    Do men stick out like sore thumbs in yoga classes? should I try and hide down the back?
    Not at all. I see more men in yoga classes lately. Personally, I love the sight of a guy doing warrior pose.

    How much balance do you need? I have this horrible picture of me falling over every 5 mins.
    You won't always do balance poses in class, but your balance will improve. I started because of a bad knee which meant I had horrible balance, and it has improved. Often the instructor will encourage newer students to do balance poses near the wall if they need support. People wobble all the time.

    I hope that's helpful. In my experience yoga isn't competitive and where some people are brilliant at one type of pose, they might struggle with another type for all kinds of reasons.


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    #4
    Mr Marri
    Closed Accounts Posts: 266 ✭✭Mr Marri


    Hiya, thank you for your replies.....Not sure what I was worrying about, it's not like you guys are monsters :).....Will work up the nerve over the weekend and jump in the deep end next week.

    Thanks again


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    #5
    ivy tilsley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 63 ✭✭ivy tilsley


    I can relate. Some yoga classes are intimidating because people look very serious and you feel like the new kid in school.

    I hope it goes well for you!


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    #6
    augustus gloop
    Registered Users Posts: 810 ✭✭✭augustus gloop


    well OP did ya go, kinda interested myself... and ladies could someone differenciate between yoga and pilates or are they much the same, TY


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    #7
    Mr Marri
    Closed Accounts Posts: 266 ✭✭Mr Marri


    augustus gloop wrote: »
    well OP did ya go, kinda interested myself... and ladies could someone differenciate between yoga and pilates or are they much the same, TY

    I have the number saved in my phone, does that count?

    I think I need to procrastinate some more :o.


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    #8
    flikflak
    Registered Users Posts: 981 ✭✭✭flikflak


    Go for it!

    There are usually 2 regular men in our class and a new one came along today. Sometimes its just me and the 2 lads.

    The above advice on the questions you have asked are spot on. Yoga is all about you. You go as far as you want - its not a competition with anyone. You can be in the beginner poses for a long time but its all good as everyone is built differently and find different things easier than others.


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    #9
    Hermione*
    Registered Users Posts: 14,983 ✭✭✭✭Hermione*


    I thought I'd already replied to this thread but it appears not :o
    There's been some great advice already, though!

    I can understand that you'd feel self conscious at first but trust me, everybody in a yoga class should be too focused on their own practice to be paying much attention to you!

    I would really recommend that you voice some of those queries when you contact a studio for bookings. I'd also recommend that you try a few different styles of yoga to find the one that best suits you.

    Happy bending! :D


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    #10
    Mr Marri
    Closed Accounts Posts: 266 ✭✭Mr Marri


    Ok, signed up for a class tomorrow :). Will be back with a full report once I'm done. (you'd swear i was going to the dentist).


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    #11
    Hermione*
    Registered Users Posts: 14,983 ✭✭✭✭Hermione*


    Mr Marri wrote: »
    Ok, signed up for a class tomorrow :). Will be back with a full report once I'm done. (you'd swear i was going to the dentist).
    Yea! Delighted to hear that :D


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    #12
    Mr Marri
    Closed Accounts Posts: 266 ✭✭Mr Marri


    It actually wasn't all that bad :D.

    It's a really small class, which is great and not nearly as terrifying.

    Decided to go for hot yoga and found it really good, not as hard as I expected. But I have no hamstrings worth talking about. You do sweat buckets and then some....


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    #13
    flikflak
    Registered Users Posts: 981 ✭✭✭flikflak


    ^ great! Glad you enjoyed it.


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    #14
    Mr Marri
    Closed Accounts Posts: 266 ✭✭Mr Marri


    flikflak wrote: »
    ^ great! Glad you enjoyed it.


    Yes, I'm really glad i went too!

    Did I mentions how stiff and sore i was for about 3 days afterwards :eek:.
    I must be getting old :o.


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    #15
    ivy tilsley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 63 ✭✭ivy tilsley


    Good on you. The soreness goes after a bit.

    So, can I ask, was the class what you were expecting? Or was it better/worse? Any surprises? And how did you find downward-facing dog?


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    #16
    Mr Marri
    Closed Accounts Posts: 266 ✭✭Mr Marri


    ivy tilsley wrote: »
    Good on you. The soreness goes after a bit.

    So, can I ask, was the class what you were expecting? Or was it better/worse? Any surprises? And how did you find downward-facing dog?

    I was definitely better than I expected. I'm looking forward to going back this week.

    I was a little suprised at how fast paced it was, I had expected to be bored.

    Downward facing dog was ok as I could bend our knees, otherwise I'd have been fecked.

    According to my instructor it's not about having stretchy limbs but rather about giving your organs a squish. (this was news to me)


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    #17
    ivy tilsley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 63 ✭✭ivy tilsley


    it's not about having stretchy limbs but rather about giving your organs a squish.

    Vivid, and well said :)

    My instructor says something similar about not having to look perfect. As long as you can feel the poses and stretches, they're working for you. I try to remember that when someone next to me looks all sleek and agile and I look like Lurch from the Adams Family.


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    #18
    Mr Marri
    Closed Accounts Posts: 266 ✭✭Mr Marri


    Different instructor this week........Blood heck :eek::eek:.......I'm going to be off work for a week after this!


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    #19
    Mr Marri
    Closed Accounts Posts: 266 ✭✭Mr Marri


    ivy tilsley wrote: »
    Vivid, and well said :)

    My instructor says something similar about not having to look perfect. As long as you can feel the poses and stretches, they're working for you. I try to remember that when someone next to me looks all sleek and agile and I look like Lurch from the Adams Family.

    Don't worry your always be more sleek and agile that the blokes in the class. I feel like a cross between a bull in a china shop and a new born foley with wobbly knees stand on a frozzen lake!


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    #20
    bohsboy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,757 ✭✭✭bohsboy


    I did an 8 class course of Yoga about two years ago. I highly recommend it for anyone, completely different than spending an hour in the gym but I felt about two inches taller, much calmer and slept like a baby after every class.

    I was the only male in the class but never a word passed or any uncomfortable moments!

    I must get the mat out again and start doing it again.


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