Real Men Do Christian Yoga
October 14, 2009 by Yahweh Yoga
Filed under Your Stories
A Top Gun Embraces Christian Yoga
Judi Morgan and Rich Baumann
Rich Baumann seldom shies away from a hard workout.
Retired as an Air Force fighter pilot, Rich is accustomed to physical fitness. He maintains a solid gym schedule, working out 3-4 times a week to target different muscle groups.
Yet something was missing from this 47-year old Top Gun’s physical conditioning: balance and flexibility. Rich discovered Christian Yoga 21 months ago through his girlfriend, Yahweh Yoga teacher Judi Morgan, and now considers it the bedrock of his workout regime.
“I have come to love yoga,” says Rich. “It is a great physical workout that I look forward to every week.”
Why Christian Yoga?
Rich has taken yoga classes at other studios and settings, but finds that practicing at Yahweh Yoga gives his workout a bonus.
“As a Christian man, I find a Christian setting to be the perfect complement to yoga,” Rich says. “God encourages us and expects us to take care of our physical bodies. I also love the fellowship of the other students as we practice Christ-based yoga together.”
Rich’s Favorite Classes
Of all the classes offered at Yahweh Yoga, Rich finds that Courtney’s Faithful Flow and Praise Power are the most challenging. “Those classes totally take it out of me!” Rich says. “DeAnna also does great core work in her Gentle Flow Journey class.”
Words for Other Men
For other men who may be interested in Christian Yoga, but are unsure if it is right for them, Rich offers this perspective: “You can begin at whatever level makes you comfortable, and progress from there-you can always find a class that challenges your abilities so that you will continue to grow.”
What about concerns that Christian Yoga classes are mostly for women? Rich dismisses those notions. “Real men do yoga,” he says. “I have so much fun, I keep wanting to come back every week.”
I appreciated the comments Rich made. Allow me to share a few thoughts based on my two plus years as a male Christian yoga teacher. I am disappointed that so few men even try yoga.At least ninety percent of my students are women, and the few men that do show up are there as a result of the soft, but insistent coaxing of a spouse or girlfriend.Ah, but what wouldn’t a man do for love? Indeed, love propels us to move outside of our comfort zone, even into the scary realm of yoga which American society has for some unknown reason labeled a “chick thing”, and it seems even more so with Christian yoga. Yes, sadly it is pride that holds men back from enjoying the many rewards of a consistent, intentional and worshipful practice.We just seem to hate to get our butts whipped by some woman on the yoga mat, maybe even one in her fifties or even sixties! I have learned a whole new respect for women through the practice of yoga. Under that soft exterior lie quads of steel, courage to try new poses, and stamina to push through the discomfort that would make most men quit. To men that are thinking about trying yoga: Embrace humility! A real man is measured not by how many push ups he can do or by the size of his biceps, but by his ability to honestly admit his limitations, his weakness before God (and on the mat) in order to gain His strength. Mature love casts out fear and pride is a manifestation of fear.Allow your love for GOD to propel you into that studio, that gym. Suck it up. Don’t try to beat them, join them. Thanks again to Rich for his input and best of luck to him and his lovely girlfriend. Blessings to all. Pete Brown, RYT, LMT