by Kirk Stefanski

Created on: June 08, 2009   Last Updated: June 09, 2009

It's really sad that women have dominated what has come to be known popularly as yoga in the United States. Not sad because theyre women. Women are great. Of course, being male, one can immediately take heart once one realizes that what passes for yoga in this country is usually just an hour of asana practice, and usually little more...if that is even conducted correctly. If one would venture to India one would see mostly only men practicing yoga.

Women or men...it matters not. Few have any insight into the depth of true yogic practice. Women are looking for fitness, comradery, escape, and peace of mind in their 'yoga class'. Men are looking for these things as well....only difference men go to bars, shoot pool or guns, play video games, work on cars, do drugs or watch movies (or all those things together at once) To a man the idea of yoga conjures up a room full of women stretching and bending over outlining their goodies. Certainly no room for testosterone there, eh? To most women yoga evokes images of physical perfection that is out of their grasp....either that...or a method for enhancing their physical and mental beings in relation to their daily lives and no more. Either way both sides are screwed without proper guidance.

Unfortunately....the prospects are dim and grim in the U.S. for men who wish to undertake yogic practice. All theyre likely to find are rooms full of cute girls in tight clothes stretching, bending over and outlining their goodies. Now....that's all well and good....if you just want to hook up....or get kind of more healthy, in a watered-down sort of way. Yoga and men....what can be said? Most yogies have been men. A spiritual longing....a deep burning to seek experience and knowledge beyond the ordinarily perceptible....that is the prerequisite for any man wishing to undertake real yogic practice (sadhana or abhyasa). Postures come after proper attitude between you and the world - yamas and niyamas. When postures have been mastered and you can sit motionless for a few hours, you master your body's nerves and energy through breath control- pranayama. After that you can begin to withdraw your sensory channels and start to look within-pratyahara. Then you can begin sit and concentrate....dharana.......and concentration is what allows you to really see and know....who you are....what you are.....and all the rest of it.

Google the terms: pratyahara, yamas and niyamas, patanjali, swara, chitta, siddhasana, raja yoga, trataka for a good

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