Veggie Blog

YOGA FOR MEN is written for men who find themselves overwhelmed by work-related stress and other health risks posed by the demands of modern life. Beginning with disturbing statistics about stress and stress-related immune disorders, Bruce Eric Van Horn offers YOGA FOR MEN as a tool to defuse their effects, decrease the risk of diseases (including prostate cancer), and improve sexual performance. Van Horn, who suffered an ulcer while running himself ragged working in corporate America, has designed a tool men can use both at home and in the office to improve the quality of their lives. His text is essentially a basic explanation of the rudiments of mind, body, and spirit aspects of yoga, and contains a suggested yoga routine. It is written in a style that will appeal to men who may have the preconceived notion that yoga is for the fairer sex or that it involves painful positions.

Book: Yoga for Men by Bruce Eric Van Horn
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In Yoga for Transformation, Gary Kraftsow invites readers to look beyond the physical side of yoga. The book is interested in how posture, breath, attention and reflection can form a more personal practice. For readers whose experience of yoga begins and ends with stretching, it offers a different way to think about why they come to the mat.

What does the book cover?

The publisher describes a wide-ranging introduction to the physical, emotional and contemplative dimensions of yoga. It includes breathing techniques, exercises intended to sharpen attention and meditation practices for self-awareness. More than 350 black-and-white photographs support the explanations. Kraftsow is known for his work in the Viniyoga tradition, which places emphasis on adapting practice to individual needs.

Who is it written for?

This is most likely to appeal to a curious reader who wants yoga to be a regular personal practice rather than an occasional workout. It may also interest people who already enjoy postures but have not explored breath work or meditation. A reader looking only for a quick illustrated list of stretches may find its wider philosophical scope more than they need.

How does it fit with current evidence?

Yoga combines multiple elements, and that is part of what makes it difficult to study as one single intervention. The NCCIH summary of yoga research reports potential benefits for stress management, sleep and balance, while noting that results depend on the population and the kind of yoga studied. Spiritual or personal claims made in a book should not be confused with demonstrated treatment effects.

For a practical start, you might combine a gentle posture, a few minutes of unforced breathing and a quiet pause at the end. Stop if a movement causes pain, and seek individual advice before changing your routine if you have a relevant medical condition.

Can you buy it today?

Yes, the book remains in the publisher’s catalogue, with a paperback and ebook listing. It is an older title, but its availability does not depend only on second-hand sellers.

Check editions at Penguin Random House.

Related on Veggie-Blog: A Short History of Yoga and What Is Yoga?.

Book: Yoga for Transformation by Gary Kraftsow
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Do you know what the symptom of any disease in the world is? It’s the stress. You don’t know how strong the stress feeling can harm your health. Stress feeling can also connect to your body and health, the more you feel stress the more your body will feel tired as well. This is the thing that doesn’t have to take the professional to answer it but you can also feel it with yourself.

For example, when you have a fight with your girlfriend or boyfriend, after that do you feel tired and want to fall asleep? That’s the example of how the stress can harm your health. The job is the basic aspects where we can get the stress from, so if you want to have good health you have to control your stress. I know it’s not easy to take away the stress, that’s why they have the sport, hobby, meditation and other things nourishing in the world. They are for people to relax their mind or convince the mind to focus to something else in order to get rid of stress.