Jake Bailey - Yoga For Men: A Beginners Guide To Develop Core Strength, Flexibility and Aid Recovery (Yoga for Men, Flexibility Training, Mobility Fitness)

Yoga For Men

A Beginners Guide To Develop Core Strength, Flexibility and Aid Recovery

Jake Bailey

Copyright 2015 by HRD Publishing

All rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the author. Reviewers may quote brief passages in reviews.

Disclaimer

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, or transmitted by email without permission in writing from the publisher.

While all attempts have been made to verify the information provided in this publication, neither the author nor the publisher assumes any responsibility for errors, omissions or contrary interpretations of the subject matter herein.

This book is for entertainment purposes only. The views expressed are those of the author alone, and should not be taken as expert instruction or commands. The reader is responsible for his or her own actions.

Adherence to all applicable laws and regulations, including international, federal, state and local laws governing professional licensing, business practices, advertising and all other aspects of doing business in the US, Canada, UK or any other jurisdiction is the sole responsibility of the purchaser or reader.

Neither the author nor the publisher assumes any responsibility or liability whatsoever on the behalf of the purchaser or reader of these materials. Any perceived slight of any individual or organization is purely unintentional.

There is always a risk of injury when performing physical exercise, even in yoga. Before attempting any of the exercises and sequences, a consultation with a qualified physician should be carried out to ensure you are in proper health and able to continue. No liability is assumed for any of the information contained herein.

The author and publisher advise that the readers take full responsibility for their safety, and to not take risks beyond their level of experience, training, aptitude, comfort level.

Table of Contents

Going to your first yoga class might be a little weird, but what isnt weird the first time you try it? Your first day at a new job was little weird because it was new-you didnt know where things were, you didnt know peoples names and so on. There was a lot to remember and learn, but you survived, you got connected and got comfortable.

Developing a yoga practice isnt really painful, although your poses and routines will be grueling at times. You do have to consider some different things, such as what style of yoga you want to try, which classes youd like to attend and what poses will compliment you existing athletic regimen.

If theres a new sport youre getting into when you roll out your mat for the first time that can complicate things a bit more. The good news is that yoga is the ideal complement to any athletic activity. This book will give you the guidance you need to understand yoga and develop a sound practice that will yield many benefits for the rest of your life.

What are you going to learn?

I will help you create a yoga practice that will meet your unique needs. Your yoga mat will become your laboratory of transformation. Ill show you how to connect to every muscle in your body and to develop connections between every muscle and muscle group in the same workout. You will learn how to prevent injuries and incorporate your yoga practice into any athletic regimen you are involved in. Ill teach you how to be your own teacher as your yoga practice continues to progress and become an integral part of your life.

This book has been created to help men whove had little or no experience with yoga reach their full potential through simple, effective means.

Are you ready to take on one of the most unique challenges of your life?

Yoga isnt like any other kind of exercise, except that it is just as challenging as anything as any other exercise. With yoga, you will learn how to exercise your mind with your body.

Theres more than one correct answer to this question. Before we start answering them, forget the idea that yoga is a chick thing or is only beneficial to women. I dont care how many classes youve seen full of women, you belong on a yoga mat just the same. Forget the idea that yoga is wimpy; one class will cure you of that.

Lets memorize one simple truth as we get started: Real men do Yoga

What is a real man? You are. Theres no one definition of a real man. But we all know that any man who has had a real, positive influence in our lives, either when we were boys or when we were fully grown, was one who was disciplined and strong in one way or another. They may not have been star athletes, CEOs or high-ranking public officials, but they were strong in some way. We look at such men with respect because we can see they were devoted in some way and manifested their devotion in a meaningful way.

Yogas influence on todays man

Its been 12 years since John Capouya released a book called Real Men Do Yoga that profiled male athletes who did Yoga. Back then, yogas popularity was exploding, but athletes werent really in the medias sights. Time Magazine did a cover story that dwelt in female Hollywood celebrities-supermodel Christy Turlington posed on the cover in Rooster Pose-it was impressive but it was also a pose that only looked impressive if the person doing it was tall and skinny. The article went on to discuss Madonnas spiritual revelations that she got from her new-found yoga practice.

As a result of the media being so focused on women whenever it came to yoga, the male world stayed disconnected from yoga. I can recall telling a male friend over beer after golf one day that I had started doing yoga. He replied by saying that his mother-in-law swore by her yoga, but it would never be a guy thing. A book released in 2003 by John Capouya called Real Men Do Yoga barely raised eyebrows-men just werent paying attention-except male pro athletes.

Turn the clock back to the late 1980s. American basketball was grabbing attention from all over the world. One of the NBAs greatest stars, both of his time and in hoop history, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, was an avid yoga practitioner. Today, he still practices daily and is, by any standards, in exceptionally good shape-the same way we want to be described when we get older.

For me I noticed improvement in my posture that was key for me because I had been having lower back problems," Abdul-Jabbar states. "After I started doing yoga positions asanas all that changed. My health greatly improved overall," Abdul-Jabbar told USA Today in 2003.

Abdul-Jabbars interview by USA Today happened a decade after he retired. They were focusing on how the retired hoop star stayed in such good shape so long after being out of basketball. He played 20 seasons with the NBA.

I believe that yoga is one of the reasons I was able to play as long and as healthy as I did.

-Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, NBA superstar

Fast forward to 2013. Abdul-Jabbar had long-since been out of basketball, but was and still is into yoga. His son, Amir , is a yoga teacher by trade. Yoga has long since ceased to be a novelty among pro athletes-now its a mainstream thing.

LeBron James credits yoga with helping him get back on track in last years NBA championship series.

Ryan Giggs believes yoga was pivotal in extending his soccer career at Manchester United into his 40's. Yoga is now practiced by players of every pro sport.

Everyone who practices yoga, from the average folks at the gyms we work out in to superstar athletes like Ray Lewis and Evan Longoria , cite the same benefits that yoga gives them.