Real Men Do Yoga: 21 Star Athletes Reveal Their Secrets for Strength, Flexibility and Peak Performance
December 30, 2009 | Posted by goonerrambke 
- ISBN13: 9780757301124
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
With its revolutionary approach to yoga and innovative, male-oriented instruction, Real Men Do Yoga will be the definitive guide for both novice and veteran men who are discovering the innumerable physical and mental benefits of yoga. Satisfying the male fascination with sports and admiration for athletes are interviews with more than twenty pros, all of whom are enthusiastic yoga practitioners: football’s Eddie George, Shannon Sharpe and Amani Toomer; baseball pit… More >>
Categories: Men's exercise and Yoga guides | 
Tags: Athletes, Flexibility, Peak, Performance, Real, Reveal, Secrets, Star, Strength, Their, Yoga | 
5 Comments »
a useful contribution to those learning about Yoga. As the Amazon.com in-house reviewer notes, the author seems obsessed with pointing out that men do Yoga, hence the title. Unfortunately, this is based on the ridiculous assumption that men never did Yoga. Can we say Iyenger? Or Baptiste, Yee, and many others. Silly, stupid, and insulting!
Having said that, the author seeks to “mainstream” Yoga (similar to the great Beth Shaw), by using non-Sanskrit names for the asanas. I sincerely feel that this helps someone new to Yoga. Mr. Capouya also spares the reader the preaching about the eight “limbs” of Yoga (non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing…) and the horrors of eating meat.
The book is poorly laid out. It bounces around from pose to pose interspersed with quotes from professional athletes and alleged Yoga practioners. Sadly, they mostly aren’t true Yoga practioners because they only do Yoga 2-3 times a week (often in a class). Yoga is not weightlifting: it is not mean to done every other day, but rather daily (talk to a Yogi about how terrible they feel if they are unable to do at least a 30 minute session). Moreover, most Yoga books (Baptiste for example), advocate a 90 minute daily practice. This book seems to feel that 60 minutes is adequate. I disagree. Anything less than 90 for me is inadequate. But the use of the athletes quotes serves to perpetuate the notion that “real men” do Yoga, so I guess that don’t need to do it that long.
Unfortunately, the book leaves out the variations inherent in all Yoga poses for beginners. This is a grave disservice to Yoga. Yoga is perfect for ANY-BODY. Fat, thin, weak, non-flexible etc. By using professional athletes as examples, Mr. Capouya may unwittingly intimidate someone less physically gifted.
It’s worth a look, but I prefer Hatha Yoga Illustrated, Journey into Power (Baron Baptiste), and Liz Lark’s (egad, a woman!)Power Yoga and Yoga for beginners.
Rating: 4 / 5
I gave this as a gift. He never used it. It may be a great product but I will never know.
Rating: 2 / 5
This is the perfect boyfriend Christmas present. Written for men, the sports/health/workout material is woven into a format that reads beautifully and informs easily. Great product, great gift.
Rating: 5 / 5
Only about 20% of the book tells you how to actually do yoga. The explanation is clear and so it’s fairly helpful, but there’s so little info that a lot of basic material is left out. Most of the space – 80% is not at all an exaggeration – is spent on quotes from various guys, mostly athletes, talking about how great yoga is and how it isn’t feminine or new-agey. If you want to spend your time reading a book that will convince you to do yoga, go ahead and buy this. You can have my copy. But if you want to know HOW to do yoga, look somewhere else.
Rating: 2 / 5
I purchased this book for my boss. He was a little thrown in the beginning, knowing that he isn’t able to compete at the level these men are, but….he’s still happy with the book itself!
Rating: 5 / 5