The men in our studio…
So, in case you’ve missed our social media posts this month you may not be aware that we’ve had the spotlight well and truly on the men in our studio. There is a misconception that yoga is for women, and whilst the ladies may dominate the space overall, we’re pleased that our studio is representative of the men in the North West who are looking to reap all the benefits of a regular practice.
We’ve shared lots of stories on our social media throughout September but we have also had many other responses to our questions that we wanted to share here for those who don’t really do social media. So here goes…
Mark, what brought you to yoga?
“I wanted to try yoga as part of my rehabilitation following hip replacement surgery.”
How did it match/differ from your expectations?
Very different. I didn’t realise there were different types of yoga, from physical ‘work outs’ to meditation and relaxation.
What advice would you give to a bloke thinking of starting yoga?
Give it a try! Yoga is so varied that you should be able to find something that suits you. I regret not finding yoga when I was younger, not only would it have helped with general fitness and be helpful for other sports I did, the mental awareness aspects and breathing techniques could have been useful in stressful and difficult times.
Julian, what do you like most about yoga and/or Studio One?
“The thing I probably like most about yoga is the variety.. every class is different. Before I took it up I struggled a bit with exercise because I'm rubbish at sports (poor hand\eye coordination) and the repetitive nature of most gym exercises meant I quickly got bored and stopped going.
So for example with Yoga if you want a good workout and aerobic exercise you can do a Vinyasa or Mandala class which will burn some calories and at the same time improve core strength and flexibility. If you feel like something a bit gentler\slower then do a Beginners class which is more focused on building strength by holding poses for longer periods.
I ride motorbikes to relax and yoga has helped me massively by improving my core strength and balance. As a result my control of the bike is much better and I'm more alert so I'm a lot safer as a result. I'm sure cyclists would get the same benefits.
Mentally yoga has helped me deal with anxiety as it gradually conditions your mind to switch off any other thoughts during the practice. You have to concentrate on what you are doing; it's form of meditation. As a result, over time I think I've got better at pushing negative thoughts aside when they happen in normal life and generally feel calmer as a result.
Studio One is great because it's always relaxed and friendly and you'll meet people from different backgrounds and age groups. You'll always have a laugh and at some point you'll probably fall over, but that's part of the fun! Plus as well as the yoga there are social events you can take part in such as the walking club.”
Terry, what are your thoughts about Studio One Yoga?
“Studio one became my Happy Place, so much laughter and enjoyment. I became fitter and calmer, loosing my anxiety and at ease with life. We went Sky diving, Xmas party time. Most of all I made real friends! I enjoyed the Yoga and all it gave to me! My wonderful friends who supported me at the time of the loss of my wife and funeral. I have now started a new chapter in my life and moved too Spain! I will continue with my yoga in Spain! But I have to say thank you to you all and I miss you”
