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Yoga is just as beneficial for men as it is for women. If you are a guy, before you roll your eyes or snicker at the suggestion to practice yoga, consider the positive influence it can have on your life. Yoga can improve your total health and reduce the risks of heart attack or stroke.

-Who's doing it? -

You may be under the impression that yoga is only practiced by women or "girly men". The reality is that it is practiced by male celebrities, athletes, business men and doctors. In fact, yoga was introduced to the western world by male yogi's. Champion wrestler Diamond Dallas Page began practicing yoga to regain his strength after a crippling wrestling injury. He is now a daily convert. Doctor Oz is routinely seen on the Oprah show preaching the benefits of yoga and baseball pitchers Barry Zitto and Kris Benson both practice yoga to help improve their pitching form.

Yoga can be just as physically challenging as other forms of activity or sporting pursuits. If you are looking for a physical challenge try Ashtanga or Kundalini yoga. These styles require strength, endurance and are guaranteed to build a sweat. Poses like the peacock pose where you support your entire body with one hand or handstand poses are not for wimps!

-The benefits of yoga for men-

As a regular guy you can benefit from yoga in a number of ways. Consider the average guy's lifestyle; it routinely involves pressures at work, family responsibilities and keeping up with the kids. Yoga can help you both physically and mentally to handle these tasks, with greater ease.

When you concentrate on performing yoga poses you give your mind a break, this allows you to relax, teaches you how to complete tasks with focus and after a session you should find that you are in a better mental place to return to other duties.

Yoga is a great energizer and continued practice builds endurance and increases circulation in the body. Many men suffer from back pain or other forms of chronic pain. Yoga can help relieve this pain because it can have a calming affect on the nervous system. Men also have a tendency to lack flexibility and balance. Yoga can really improve these traits.

If you play sport or lift weights, yoga is the ultimate balancer. For example, doing a lot of weights often creates bulk and tension around the neck. Yoga poses can help ease the tension and lengthen your muscles.

On a final note yoga can help you meet women if you are single, or if you have a partner it can have a positive effect on your sex life!

Learn more about this author, Kimberley Heit.
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