Only a few years ago, yoga was believed to be something for women only. In adverts and on websites, we would only find images of women practicing yoga. But what about yoga for men? Who has told us to believe that yoga can’t be extremely beneficial for men? Luckily, we have come a long way since then and the diversity in the industry is finally showing. In this blog, we will run you through seven yoga positions for men. Whether you are practicing yoga to gain more flexibility, you’re trying to loosen up your tight muscles or you simply love the meditative side to yoga; we have got you covered.

Yoga poses to gain more flexibility

To make this a bit more simple, we will divide the yoga positions into three different end goals, starting with gaining more flexibility. There are a lot of men out there who would love to improve their flexibility. If you’re one of those people, you will be happy to learn that yoga can help you to become more flexible. This can help you to do better in other sports, such as football but also basketball, tennis or even fitness. If you have a job that requires you to move a lot, yoga can also help your body to feel better overall. Our three favourite yoga poses to gain more flexibility are:

1. Forward fold

This one might feel a bit uncomfortable at first but remember to trust the process. If your hamstrings are particularly tight and you don’t have a lot of flexibility in your back and legs, this pose is an absolute must! Place your feet next to each other, keep your legs as straight as is comfortable and slowly lower your upper body down as a “fold”.

2. Downward facing dog

Another great pose to increase flexibility, especially in your hamstrings and shoulders, is the downward facing down. From a standing position, place your hands on the ground and slowly move them forwards. You will be in a triangle position with your hand and feet placed on the ground, your hips pressed upwards.

3. Warrior pose

The third flexibility improving yoga pose is the warrior pose. A simple, yet very effective pose if you’re interested in gaining more flexibility. This yoga pose helps to stretch your shoulders and hips, and feels particularly good after leg day or cardio workout. 

Yoga poses to loosen up tight muscles

Have you been working out a lot recently or has your work taken its toll on your body? Most of us are - unfortunately - way too familiar with the feeling of tight muscles. It can impact your daily life and simply doesn’t feel great. Yoga can be practiced to loosen up tight muscles. Depending on the muscles that feel particularly tight, you can alter your yoga routine and add in any stretches that might be needed for your body. 

4. Reclining pigeon pose

If your hamstrings are sore, this will be a pose that will do wonders for your body. Lie down on your back, bend your knees and cross your left ankle over your right thigh. With your left arm, reach through the space between your thighs and pull your knee inwards. Hold this pose for 30 seconds before switching to the other leg. 

5. Bridge pose

Men often experience tight muscles throughout the torso. By doing the bridge pose, you can help to open up the upper body and release tight muscles. Lie down on your back and place your feet on the ground, pushing your hips up.  

A regular practice of Bridge Pose will generate more space in the chest, and also helps with insomnia, fatigue, anxiety and headaches.

Meditative yoga poses for men 

Finally, if you enjoy the spiritual side of yoga mostly, these are our favourite meditative yoga poses for men. These poses will help you to relax, 

6. Sukhasana

This might be the most well known yoga pose when it comes to meditation. This cross-legged yoga pose is comfortable when you’re just getting started with yoga and helps you to relax. Take a conscious moment to breathe in deeply, before slowly exhaling. 

7. Vajrasana

Lastly, the Vajrasana pose is a popular meditative yoga pose for men that can be performed by beginners. This pose helps to calm the body and mind. Besides that, Vajrasana helps to stimulate digestion which is why it’s recommended to sit in this position after a meal.