19 Dec MEET THE BOYS THAT ARE MAKING YOGA COOL

Smashing down a stereotype is something we all like and strive to do to create change. Whether the sterotype be: vegans can’t be professional athletes or blonde people are unintelligent, taking away a stigma allows a bigger picture to be seen. Someone who is smashing a huge stereotype is Michael James Wong of Boys of Yoga. So who exactly are the Boys of Yoga and what do they do? We break it down.

It’s typically thought that men don’t/can’t do yoga. It’s either too light of an exercise, not masculine enough or more often seen as social suicide. However, yoga for men is so beneficial for not only the physical body, but the minds.

So, what do Boys of Yoga actually do? Boys of Yoga is a project that believes in the strength and flexibility that yoga offers both on and off the mat. To us, yoga is a culture and a lifestyle, not just a practice. And similar to surf, skate and snow sport cultures, yoga creates a community of the like-minded. The deeper you go, the more it pulls you in.

Boys of Yoga was born in 2015 to remove stereotypes and misconceptions of guys who yoga. Michael says that once you remove the stereotype that yoga is “pink lycra and vegan chicks”, it’s pretty simple: yoga is good for everyone, the benefits are undeniable.

Starting in London and quickly spreading around the globe, Boys of Yoga allows people to share their stories (our very own Duncan Peak is in amongst these boys!), creating a like-minded and inclusive community with the intention to bring more men to the mat!

Not only does Boys of Yoga break the mould that men ‘don’t yoga’, this conversation can also help men’s mental health. Men are more inclined to bottle up their emotions, not talk about what they’re experiencing, therefore increasing their risk of mental health issues. Beyond Blue states that one in eight men will experience depression and one in five men will experience anxiety at some stage of their lives. Yoga and creating a community can make space for men to talk, create an outlet and simply feel like they belong to something.

So boys, why not jump on the mat and see what all the fuss is about!? Bonus tip: yoga can drastically benefit your surfing (more on this soon).

Want to attend a Boys of Yoga event here at Power Living? Boys, girls, everyone is invited. Find your studio below and book in to learn from Michael.

Manly studio

Mindfulness Vinyasa is dead: Finding stability in your lunges & twists – 9 February 2019. Book here.

Bondi Junction Studio

Finding the path of least resistance – 7 February 2019. CANCELLED – Join us in Bondi Beach for the Yoga Origami: Learning Binds, Locks and How To Plug In workshop.

Bondi Beach Studio

Yoga origami: Learning binds, locks, and how to plug in – 10 February 2019. Book here.

Neutral Bay studio

Flying Hanuman: An inversions practice – 8 February 2019. Book here.

Fitzroy studio

Flying Hanuman: An inversions practice – 13 February 2019. Book here.