Phyzzicality: Brogrammed for men

How many times you’ve been to a yoga class and wondered if there was a yoga class only for guys to tone up? Out of such anxieties was born Broga, a short form for Yoga for Brothers. It was created as a reaction to the fact that in America 81 per cent of the students in yoga classes were women. Men would stay away from these fitness classes as they would cater to  flexibility and was considered too ‘soft’ for men to try. That was when Broga was created for men to be able to do yoga within the camaraderie of brothers.

Broga gets men to work out in a yoga-inspired fitness regime, while also getting the benefits of deep stretching and de-stressing. Broga is designed as an intense workout that gives the benefits of cardio, core-training and muscle-toning while also getting the traditional benefits of yoga practice. The best part is that the men wouldn’t need to worry if they couldn’t reach their toes easily.  

Co-founders Robert Sidoti and Adam O’Neill created Broga as a safe space for men who may be self-conscious about not being as flexible as the woman on the mat next to them in the class, or claim benefits of yoga without the Sanskrit chanting. They reassured men saying: “Broga is a yoga class geared for men (where it’s okay if you can’t touch your toes).”

In the modern day fitness in the West, yoga has become so inextricably linked to studio and gym classes helping with flexibility and catering to a niche ‘new-age’ spirituality that most men find it intimidating and embarrassing to enter a yoga class. Something like Broga is a way to get men to practice yoga at ease.

— The writer is a yogi, blogger and co-founder of Total Yoga

Chaturanga Dandasana (4-limbedstaff)

• Begin on all fours and then stretch in to a plank.
• Now engaging your core muscles, bend your elbows till your body drops to a half-push up pose.
• Hold the pose while breathing deeply for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
• Then raise the body back to plank.
• Chaturanga Dandasana strengthens your core muscles and upper body.

Veerabhadrasana (Warrior Balance)

• Stand with your legs wide apart.
• Turn your right knee and foot so that the toes are facing forward.
• Join your palms together and looking at a point on the floor stretch your arms and raise the back leg off the floor.
• The torso is reaching forwards and the left leg is stretching backwards as you maintain your balance.
• Hold the pose while breathing deeply for one minute. Then repeat on the other leg.
• Veerabhadrasana strengthens your hamstrings and trains you to balance.

Bakasana (Crane)

• Sit on your haunches and place your palms on the floor shoulder width apart.
• Bend your elbows and place the inside of your right knee on top of your right triceps.
• Now focus and using your balance, place the other leg up as well.
• Hold the pose while breathing deeply for one minute.
• Bakasana strengthens your arms, shoulders and helps you focus.

Veerabhadrasana (Warrior)

• Stand with your legs wide apart.
• Turn your right knee and foot so that the toes are facing forward; while your hips remain facing the side.
• Stretch your arms outwards and focus your gaze on the right middle finger.
• Bend till your right thigh is parallel to the floor. Hold the pose while breathing deeply for one minute. Then repeat with the other leg.
• Veerabhadrasana strengthens your thighs.