Yoga has deep roots in history, and interestingly, it was first practiced predominantly by men. Early yogis — often ascetics or sages in ancient India — devoted themselves to mastering the union of body, breath, and mind. Many foundational texts, including the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, were written by men for male practitioners, emphasizing discipline, focus, and inner strength. While yoga today is a practice for everyone, its origins highlight the longstanding connection between yoga and men’s holistic health.
We spoke with a few teachers from the Manduka community to explore how yoga supports men’s wellbeing today — physically, mentally, and emotionally. From Ashtanga to meditation, from cognitive yoga to Acro and strength-based practices, each shared a perspective that reminds us: yoga isn’t about flexibility or perfection. It’s about presence, resilience, courage, and the willingness to show up — on the mat and in life.
Join us in inviting more men into the practice — to discover that strength and softness can coexist on the mat, and that true health unfolds when body, breath, and mind move together.
Miles – Calisthenics Yoga Teacher from Greece based in Germany
Your teaching bridges strength training and yoga. How do you think mindful movement shifts the way men approach physical fitness?
Miles: "I think mindful movement helps men shift from always trying to perform (how much they lift, how hard they push), to actually understand how their bodies and minds feel. When you bring yoga and strength training together, it stops being just about the muscle, it becomes about awareness too.
A lot of men grow up feeling like they have to wear this type of "armor" all the time, thinking that showing sensitivity or slowing down somehow makes them weak, but mindfulness flips that idea. It teaches you that softening doesn’t take away your strength- it deepens it. You start to see that focus, breath, and presence can be just as powerful as physical effort.
For me, mindful movement is about searching and finding balance between strength and vulnerability. It helps you stay calm under pressure, but also more open and grounded outside the gym. It’s less about proving something and more about being real with yourself."
Nikhil – Hot Yoga Teacher and owner of Sweat Yoga based in Los Angeles
Yoga is often overlooked in conversations about men’s health. What do you wish more men knew about the benefits of practice, beyond flexibility or fitness?
Nikhil: "It's ironic because most men who don't practice yoga have told me, "I'm not flexible enough to do yoga; I need to work on that first—then I can try yoga." If I'm being completely honest, yoga is what gave me the flexibility. That's not the only purpose of yoga, but it's an incredible byproduct. What often gets overlooked is that yoga is seen as the destination, rather than the journey it truly is. Learning how to breathe while moving, or while holding a challenging position, is the practice that helps us find our edge and make it to the other side. We first learn how to move through the sensations in our body, then we can take those lessons off the mat and into the real world."
Borja – Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Teacher based in Spain
Yoga can be such a powerful tool for men’s health — physically, mentally, and emotionally. How do you see yoga supporting men in particular?
Borja: “Yoga completely changed my life. It’s a very demanding practice — quite the opposite of what many men might think. We work with our own body, yes, but I believe there’s nothing more complete. Physically, it develops flexibility and balance, and in Ashtanga specifically, strength and power.
When you learn to work with your bandhas and conscious breathing, the practice transforms — it becomes energetic work. The feeling is truly unique.
I believe yoga is the perfect complement to any other physical activity or sport.”
Sheng – Cognitive Therapy Yoga Teacher from China based in the Netherlands
You teach a blend of cognitive science and yoga. How does that approach help men connect with their mental health?
Sheng: “With a background in cognitive psychology, I've learned that thinking alone isn't enough. Moving your body matters just as much. That's why yoga and cognitive science work so well together. For example, some men carry tension in their jaw and shoulders without realizing it. Once you recognize what's happening, yoga (breath led movement) helps your nervous system settle for clarity. Then it becomes easier to choose the right tool for the moment, whether that's catching and reframing distorted thoughts, releasing physical tension through movement, or using breath techniques to build mental resilience that lasts."
Eugene – Acro Yoga Coach from the United Kingdom based in Indonesia
Acro yoga requires trust, balance, and communication. How do you see these elements helping men step out of their comfort zones — both on and off the mat?
Eugene: "Despite the common misconception that strength must be the most relevant factor for men to bring to the table in AcroYoga it couldn't be further from the truth.
If strength isn't the number one factor, what is? By a country mile the answer is communication.
In reality men get to experience a practice where creating a sense of safety for their partner is the first key to success. Safety is established by patience, clear communication and connection.
With one partner being supported 1 meter or more in the air and sometimes upside down, there is an unavoidable safety factor. This can be an advantage if partners choose to proceed with patience and caution. There is a lot going on when two people are learning this practice for the first time. Slowing down takes the pressure off and makes it easier to establish trust and connection. "Slow is smooth and smooth is fast".
Connection defined by being in the moment together, on the same page, with open communication in both directions. This kind of harmony is the ultimate environment for partners to learn the technical requirements of AcroYoga. It's also fun to practice and fun is one of the best ingredients in learning anything.
Do the habits of patience, communication and establishing a sense of safety have practical applications in other areas of life? We'd like think so!
The roles of base and flyer are not set by gender, but the most effective way for 2 partners to learn is with the bigger, taller person basing/supporting the smaller partner.
The word yoga means "Union", usually referring to union of mind, body & spirit. AcroYoga is unusual opportunity to explore the potential union of two mind, body, spirits.
Men get to develop a different kind of strength. One of calm, patient, grounded support and stability which unlocks a collaborated effortless strength. Theres a saying in Acroyoga that "straight is strong" referring to the physical alignment between partners which brings an ease and efficiency to the practice
This effortless approach to the practice also opens the door to explore AcroYoga's potential as a beautiful human art form. As a yogic practice the idea of beauty relates first and foremost to how it feels. Visual aesthetics are secondary to this. However, I'm convinced that a practice that feels beautiful will also look beautiful in a way that could not be accomplished by focusing on aesthetics first.
Daniel – Meditation Teacher based in Spain
Your practice is rooted in meditation. What have you observed about how stillness affects men’s wellbeing?
Daniel: "Stillness is where men remember who we are beneath all the noise, pressure, and standards we set for ourselves — thinking we have to hold it all together at all times.
In a world that celebrates doing and pushing to the extreme, often taking our health to the edge with us, it’s an act of courage to simply stop, slow down, listen, breathe, and actually feel.
The more we learn to pause, the more space we create for softness, clarity, and truth to rise.
From that place, strength starts to look different — not as control, but as presence.
It’s in that softness that we find our most powerful selves.
Stillness doesn’t make us less masculine; it makes us more human."
Álvaro - Mindfulness Teacher from Spain based in the Netherlands
Your work through Enfoque Salvaje merges movement, nature, and embodied presence. How do you see that connection between wildness and yoga supporting men in rediscovering their physical and emotional strength?
Álvaro: “We are living in a time of change. Many men (myself included) are realising that we need to find the courage to feel more vulnerable, work on introspection, and understand our emotions, because women can teach us a lot in this regard, and we need to do so because it is part of our being.
Men must stop focusing solely on the physical, and yoga is an effective tool for this. It has helped me a lot to connect with my more feminine side, and all men can do it if they set their minds to it."
Practice on
Whether you’re stepping on the mat for the first time or deepening your practice, we invite you to explore yoga as a path toward holistic health — one breath, one pose, one quiet moment at a time.
