---
title: "A Man's Guide to Yoga: Embrace Your Inner Beginner"
description: "A Man's Guide to Yoga: Embrace Your Inner Beginner"
---

[Chicago Athletic Clubs | The Daily Burn Blog ](https://www.chicagoathleticclubs.com/blog)

# [A Man's Guide to Yoga: Embrace Your Inner Beginner](https://www.chicagoathleticclubs.com/blog/2015/02/a-mans-guide-to-yoga-embrace-your-inner-beginner/)

 Written by [sasha@chicagoathleticclubs.com](https://www.chicagoathleticclubs.com/blog/author/sashachicagoathleticclubscom) | February 16, 2015

**Real men do yoga. For men or women, embracing your inner beginner is key. Here are some tips to get you started:**

## **It's not what you think**

Yoga meets you where you're at; you don't have to be flexible or strong to start. Yoga is actually a complex system of poses designed to increase flexibility and mental and physical energy.

## **You’re Going to Suck At It**

Men do have a different pelvic structure than women and are generally less flexible. Only certain poses will be more challenging and it gets easier with practice.

## **Your Ego Will Get Hammered**

Yes, you will see some women do poses with seemingly without effort. Yoga is not competitive, so don't look around the room. Simply focus on yourself and improve your mental concentration.

## **Embrace Your Inner Beginner**

Drop the ego and the scorecard and just accept your newbie status. And that means sticking to beginner classes where detailed instructions are provided.

## **Forget About “No Pain, No Gain”**

This mantra may work for some sports, but it is dangerous on your yoga mat. Yoga is a highly evolved system to slowly open the body as well as the mind.

## **Strive for “Sweet Discomfort.”**

Only work to YOUR personal edge: the point where is feels a bit uncomfortable, yet still feels good. Be mindful of your movement and measure it by how you FEEL, not how far you go into the pose.

## **Commit Yourself**

At this point you may ask yourself, "why do this?" The answer: because you will love it! Many guys love the buzz they feel after class. Give yoga a chance:do it twice a week for a month and see how you feel.

## **You *****Need***** Yoga**

Most of what you do daily (sitting at a desk, channel surfing, even running and cycling) shortens and tightens your muscles. Regular yoga practice lengthens and loosens muscles in addition to reducing stress and improving mental focus.

## **Check out CAC intro classes**

This month we are offering special intro classes for you to explore and ask questions about the many group fitness classes we offer. [Check our schedule for dates and times](https://www.chicagoathleticclubs.com/services/yoga).

<https://www.chicagoathleticclubs.com/hs-fs/file-3927868813-jpg/blog-files/web_ken-cox-140x140.jpg>[Ken Cox](https://www.chicagoathleticclubs.com/team-members/ken-cox/)  
CAC Yoga Instructor

[View full post](https://www.chicagoathleticclubs.com/blog/2015/02/a-mans-guide-to-yoga-embrace-your-inner-beginner/)

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