Men\'s Health Australia - 11.2018

November 2018 129

STRETCH YOUR POTENTIAL

WORDS: AARON TOUMAZOU; PHOTOGRAPHY: ADAM WHITING, STUDIO 33; ILLUSTRATION: BEN MOUNSEY

YOGA STYLES

AND THEIR

SUBSTANCE

Use our flow glossary

to separate the

chakra-cleansers from

the muscle- builders

and find the best yoga

offshoot for you

(^1)
WHERE DO I START?
Before you go to a local class, Sit down, Be Quiet. That’s not
an order – it’s a book and the essential first stop for men who want to
give yoga a try. Especially those wary of chakras, or being the only
man in the class. Written by Michael James Wong and his Boys of
Yoga collective, it’ll guide you through everything from selecting
your class to practising at home.
VINYASA
For a sweat
session with
aerobic benefits,
the most popular
form of yoga
synchronises
motion with breath
in a series of
fast-paced poses,
often rounded off
with meditation.
POWER
Unashamedly
fitness-based,
this is your best
shot at a chant-
free session, with
the focus on
strength and
flexibility.
Usually set to a
decently upbeat
soundtrack.
HOT
Step into a room
with the heating
cranked up to
around 40°C. The
temperature is
intended to
prevent injury
by warming up
muscles, while
also burning
fat faster.
YIN
This aims to reset
hard-worked
muscles with
longer poses that
target joints
and improve
flexibility.
STRETCHYOURPOTENTIAL
Quit omming and ahhing about yoga’s place in your
regimen. Hit the mat to become a complete athlete
(^3)
WILL IT GET
ME RIPPED?
No, but it will facilitate it
during your other workouts,
lengthening muscles and
upping flexibility.
One “active” and
“restorative” flow
per week will prime
muscles for the
gym, making the
toughest moves
a little easier.
(^2)
WHO’S IT FOR?
The serious trainer. Though it may not fit
with the incense-infused stereotype,
yoga’s pay-off extends beyond the
mindful and mental. Its varying “flows”
(or sequences) will boost your weights
training, build a stronger core, improve
your balance and accelerate recovery.
(^4)
IS THERE A SIGNATURE
MOVE TO MASTER?
Start with a classic. Too often, men
overlook the “downward dog” to focus
on show-off moves, but check your
ego. With your hands on the floor,
shoulder width apart, lift your hips to
create a reverse V shape and hold. This
strengthens the back and shoulder
girdle – areas weakened by desk jobs.
GET DOWN
WITH THE
BASICS.
(^6)
WHAT SHOULD
I AVOID?
A sure-fire way to disrupt
your classmates’ Zen is to
leave early. Most sessions
end with a five-minute
“savasana” – in essence,
lying still and calming both
body and mind. You may be
there to lengthen and
strengthen, but the
meditative aspect is equally
important for most
attendees. So try it. While
lying flat on your back,
mindfully “scan” your
body, relaxing each limb as
you wind down, and you’ll
return to the office with a
clear head.
(^5)
DO I NEED ANY SPECIAL KIT?
No, not harem pants. Your mat
is what “connects” you to the floor, so
if you’re going to invest
in one thing, let’s start there.
“The best ones are super-grippy to
create a solid foundation,”
says Wong. “When I have the choice,
I practise on a Liforme yoga mat.”
($247; net-a-porter.com)
STAY LIMBER TO
UNROLL NEW
FITNESS GAINS.