“Hey, Brian, you going to happy hour?”

“Naw, dude, I can’t. Got yoga at the gym tonight.”

Now, when was the last time you heard someone say that? Probably never (and I didn't exactly say it that way – I told the guy I was "running behind" and that I'd meet the fellas later). If the idea of some big, bald guy in a leotard trying to balance on one leg with the other one wrapped around his neck seems far-fetched to you, imagine how it seemed to me. But here’s the deal: after years of lifting weights, doing all types of cardio, from running to shooting hoops to playing volleyball recreationally, I was getting bored with my routines. I’d exhausted all of the machines and exercises I could do in the dinky gym at work. I wasn’t interested in being the strongest employee in the building, just one of the fittest.  Not to mention, my muscles and joints weren’t bouncing back after workouts the way they used to.

What is yoga? It’s exercise and meditation through a series of poses intended to strengthen your muscles, increase your flexibility and balance, while simultaneously calming the body and mind. It employes stretching, resistance training (working against your own body weight), and bursts of cardiovascular exertion to relax and loosen your body while at the same time, making it stronger. The attraction to doing yoga has hung over me for about five years before I actually broke down and went to a class. I had heard about the benefits; I knew men who did it. I nodded in total understanding and agreement.  Still, I couldn’t get past the preconceived notions of a roomful of religious men in turbans and long beards or Earth-mother women with crystals wearing patchouli (which isn't all that bad, really, if you've ever been to Bonnaroo).  And then I blew out my knee playing volleyball (beautiful spike, bad landing). It became apparent that I was going to need a lower-impact form of exercise and some way to regain the flexibility I was clearly losing.

Enter Eddie George. You know, former Heisman Trophy winner, 10,000- yard running back for the Tennessee Titans, cut-from-stone Eddie George. I found out he did yoga to help his body recover from the rigors of pro football and maintain the sort of flexibility needed of an athlete of his caliber. Well if he can go to class and do "downward facing dog", then so can I. And he didn't wear a leotard - at least he wasn't pictured in one. If this seems shallow and stupid in a way that only men can be, then I’m guilty as charged. Hey, at least I didn't take up ballet just because Lynn Swann did, so lay off.

So I signed up for a class. My initial yoga experience was an eye-opener. I wasn’t the only guy in the “room,” which was actually a hallway on the top floor of my office building. We started with warm-up stretches, lying on our backs with our legs and butts on the wall. This worked our hamstrings and lower back. The stretching was what I expected, and though I’m not the most limber person, I do OK for a big guy. Then we started with the poses. Poses like pigeon pose and bound-ankle pose (or butterfly stretches, for those who ran track) for the hip flexors, thighs, and back, reminded me that I spend a lot of time on my ass in a chair. But as fit as I thought I was, having to support my own body weight for extended periods of time proved, shall we say, hard as hell.

Doing dolphin pose for up to a minute at a time killed. It’s not just the arms and shoulders, but your entire core which has to support your full body weight. This is arm-shaking, stomach spasm-challenging stuff, brother. Bridge pose was “just a back bend,” yet somehow my legs and arms could barely keep my torso up. Plus, my shirt kept riding up and falling into my face. Did Eddie have these sorts of problems?

The whole time, the instructor, Karin, assured us we were doing well. She’s a former runner who came to yoga with the same notions that many jocks have. Karin likes to let everyone in on the joke that these “simple” poses are tough, knowing that the handful of guys who show up probably aren’t quite sold on yoga as a true form of exercise. After finding out how difficult the poses were and how helpful it was for her runner’s muscles, she became a convert and is now a full-time instructor. She’s not some Zen goddess who hasn’t experienced the pain and frustration of trying to sit in lotus position for the first time. Some instructors call it therapeutic irritation. I call it “muscles tearing from ligaments and bone faster than Pacman Jones can ‘make it rain’ at a strip club.” This is when a peaceful mind is supposed to allow you to take your body beyond its current limits – pain management without a doctor or a local corner connection.

Since that initial class, I’ve taken classes with other instructors and decided that yes, I actually dig yoga. I look forward to the classes and I feel great afterwards. It's relaxing, strengthening and I really do feel more alert after each session.  The thing guys have to get over is that chances are, they'll be one of only a few men in the class, which is a blessing and a curse. While you don’t have the testosterone rush of guys trying to outdo one another on the bench press, you do have the issue of frequently being the least competent person in the room while trying not to peek at everyone else to make sure you’re doing the pose right. Don’t sweat that. Fact is, no-one's looking at you (they're all too busy looking at themselves). 

Instead, think about the added benefits to your workout by introducing a yoga class once a week, which is what I do. You may not be into the spiritual aspect of yoga, but that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from the exercise.  You know as well as I that you're better off if you can diversify your workout as much as possible. And ultimately, isn’t that why you workout?  No need to feel ashamed or embarrassed about a yoga class because while the blood's rushing to your head and you're seeing colors and spots while in downward dog, I’ll be the big guy in back, losing my balance trying to hold tree pose.

There are several styles, but those most common yoga practices in the US are:

• Ashtanga, which focuses on the primary and secondary poses, is the style most guys will see in studios or their local gym. Great introduction to the practice, especially those looking to diversify their exercise routine.  Combines all of the basic yoga elements of stretching, balance, relaxation and fitness
• Kundalini is the one with men in beards and white robes, chanting to the universe while hopping off of the floor in lotus position. More spiritual than exercise, possibly the truest form of the practice
  
• Power yoga is designed for those who want the exercise without the whole spirituality, chanting aspect. Definitely for Americans. Targeted to those already in shape looking to enhance their workout. That would be me.
  
• Bikram, also known as “hot yoga.” You go through 26 poses in 90 minutes, all the while in a room upwards of 90° F or more. This is not for the novice, faint of heart, or anyone who’s eaten a Twinkie in the last week. You’ll sweat, like buckets-full. Bikram will break you in two and make you call your mama for a ride home.