Yoga for Men: Postures for Healthy, Stress-Free Living

247 Pages·2008·10.33 MB·English

“This has to be one of the best books of the decade on yoga in general as well as being a
‘first’ in discussing yoga for men (although women will love it, too). The book has both depth
and breadth. It covers the full spectrum of contemporary and classical yoga practices and at the
same time delves deeply into these practices with loads of useful information, precautions,
references, photographs, instructions and most importantly a realistic and easy to under-
stand treatment of the subject. What I appreciate the most is the straightforward informa-
tive approach without the embellishment and dubious information often found in some
contemporary yoga texts. Thomas Claire writes in a way that makes the book difficult to
put down and regardless of how experienced or inexperienced a man you are in the practice
of yoga, it’s sure to be helpful. It will be on the required reading list for all of our students.”
—Michael Lee, M.A., Founder, Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy and author of
Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy–A Bridge from Body to Soul
“Yoga for Men is not only an excellent overview of the mPanyo scthuoorles sof the
contemporary yoga scene. It gives practical instruction on how to begin and to deepen
your practice.” for
—Richard Freeman, Senior Teacher of Ashtanga Yoga and Director of
the Yoga Workshop in BouldHer, eCaololrtahdoy,
“Yoga for Men is educational and practical. It illustrates the practice of yoga for men of
Stress-
all ages and interests. Thomas Claire has provided men with everything they will ever need
to know about this practice and does so in a way that will encourage and support them on
their journey.” Free
—Jon Giswold, Author of Basic Training and Beyond Basic Training
Living
“Yoga for Men is a clear and comprehensive study of the yoga traditions which have
been embraced by the serious practitioners of our times. This book is a great tool for men to
add a deeper dimension to every area of their lives.”
—Ravi Singh, Author of Kundalini Yoga for Body, Mind, and Beyond
“Yoga for Men offers a storehouse of information for men, or anyone, seeking
to deepen their understanding and experience of yoga. The book is easily
accessible and clearly presented, and most importantly, Thomas Claire holds true to
the authentic teachings of yoga. I highly recommend this book.”
—Cain Carroll, Author of Partner Yoga: Making Contact for Physical,
Emotional, and Spiritual Growth
“Yoga for Men provides an excellent analysis of yoga postures for the male body and
mind and their energetic usage, as well as giving a good overview Tof thHe mOain Mtypes Aof Syoga
most popular in the West today and their relevance for the contemporary yoga student.”
—David Frawley, Director of the American Institute of VedCic SLtudAiesI anRd E
author of numerous books, including Yoga and Ayurveda and Yoga for Your Type
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“Stress is one of the most basic factors that impacts a man’s physical, mental, and
emotional health. Yoga is one of the best ways to deal with stress. Men facing serious
medical conditions can use yoga as a way to gain control and hope in their lives to better
cope with their conditions. I’ve observed that my patients who practice yoga have an inner
control, without the use of drugs. I’m also amazed at what good muscle tone these patients
have, especially in their core abdominal area. In addition to these physical benefits, they
have an inner peace that only seems to grow with time. Yoga for Men deals with all of these
issues and more. It is an excellent resource for any man who wishes to maintain and im-
prove his health and well-being. This book is destined to become a ‘bible’ it its field.”
—John Montana, M.D, New York City, Internist specializing
in men’s health issues
0 YM endorsement.pmd 2 10/8/2003, 12:32 PM
YOGA
for
MEN
Postures
for
Healthy,
Stress-
Free
Living
THOMAS
CLAIRE
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Copyright  2004 by Thomas Claire
All rights reserved under the Pan-American and International Copyright Conventions. This book
may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system now known
or hereafter invented, without written permission from the publisher, The Career Press.
YOGA FOR MEN
EDITED AND TYPESET BY KRISTEN PARKES
Cover design by Cheryl Cohan Finbow
Interior photography by Thomas Amador
Printed in the U.S.A. by Book-mart Press
To order this title, please call toll-free 1-800-CAREER-1 (NJ and Canada: 201-848-0310) to order
using VISA or MasterCard, or for further information on books from Career Press.
The Career Press, Inc., 3 Tice Road, PO Box 687,
Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
www.careerpress.com
www.newpagebooks.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Claire, Thomas, 1951 –
Yoga for men : postures for healthy, stress-free living / by Thomas Claire.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
ISBN 1-56414-665-0 (paper)
1. Yoga, Hatha. 2. Men—Health and hygiene. 3. Stress management. 4. Exercise for
men. I. Title.
RA781.7.C578 2004
613.7’046’081--dc22
2003058194
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IMPORTANT:
PLEASE READ
The information in this book is intended to increase your knowledge about yoga and
the yoga lifestyle, but in no way claims to fully teach the techniques described. Therefore,
personal instruction is recommended. Yoga for Men is by no means an independent guide
to self-healing, nor is it intended to diagnose or treat an individual’s health problems or
ailments. The information given is not medical advice, nor is it presented as a course of
personalized treatment. There may be risks involved in connection with some of the prac-
tices suggested in this book, just as there may be risks involved in connection with any type
of physical activity or therapy. The practices and suggestions in this book should be fol-
lowed only under the guidance and supervision of a medical doctor. Thomas Claire,
Clairefontaine Inc., and Career Press Inc., make no claim or obligation and take no legal
responsibility for the effectiveness, results, or benefits of reading this book, or of using the
methods described; deny all liability for any injuries or damages that you may incur; and
are to be held harmless against any claim, liability, loss, or damage caused by or arising
from following any suggestions made in this book.
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This book is respectfully dedicated to all seekers of
wholeness, balance, and the radiant light of inner
peace—men (and women) alike. May your journey of
self-exploration bring you ever closer to your own
greatest teacher: your inner self.
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Acknowledgments
Completing a book that covers as many practices and issues as Yoga for Men is a daunt-
ing task, which could not have been accomplished without the help of many people, most
of them sincere practitioners of yoga who volunteered their time and talent to help make
this book as reliable, photogenic, and helpful as possible. In addition to the venerated sages
of the yoga tradition whose writings and teachings provided the foundational information
contained in this book, I would like to acknowledge my indebtedness, in particular, to the
following individuals.
To the models of Yoga for Men, who came together to show real people doing real yoga:
Lola Brooks, Noll Daniel, Mark Donato, Gerrit Geurs, John Howard, Michael Latham,
Emily Ranieri, and Alan Rothenberg. Special thanks to Emily for helping to shepherd
everyone together; to Alan for providing a safe space for the shoot; and to Noll and Michael
for illustrating more eloquently than words, both singly and together, that yoga can be not
only skill, but also grace and artistry in action.
To my yoga teachers, who have taught me much. What is best in this book is due to
them; what can be improved is of my own doing. Two teachers, in particular, were espe-
cially helpful in reviewing the text of Yoga for Men for technical assistance: Jon Cassotta
and Mark Donato.
To other teachers, practitioners, and authorities in the field of yoga and men’s health,
who shared their expertise. The following were especially helpful: Prem Anjali; Lila Crutchfield;
Richard Faulds; Edward Goldberg, M.D.; Gary Kraftsow; Michael Lee; James Murphy;
Swami Ramananda; and Swami Sadasivananda. Many more people, too numerous to cite
individually, offered valuable input. You know who you are and I am very grateful to you.
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To my friends Clifford Milo and Artour Parmakian, who provided emotional support,
a quiet space to craft the final version of this book, and creative and design assistance.
To my agent, Jeanne Fredericks, who believed in this project from the start. And to all
the crew at Career Press, who collaborated with and supported Yoga for Men from begin-
ning to end—and especially to my editors: Stacey Farkas, Mike Lewis, and Kristen Parkes.
To Thomas Amador, who photographed all the illustrations in Yoga for Men. His calm
presence helped keep everyone, including myself, centered throughout the shoot—body,
soul, and mind. A gifted yoga teacher himself and a wise soul, he used his gifted eye to
bring Yoga for Men to life. Thank you, Thomas.
Finally, to the many masters of yoga—including T.K.V. Desikachar; Georg Feuerstein, Ph.D.;
B.K.S. Iyengar; Jean Klein; Swami Rama; Swamis Sivananda and Vishnu-devananda; and
Swami Satchidananda—whose teachings and writings have inspired me and are the whis-
per behind the words of this book.
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Author’s Note
The practice of yoga is frequently described as both a science and an art. It is, in fact, an
entire approach to living that originated thousands of years ago. Yoga has grown, evolved,
and branched in many directions in the many centuries that have followed. Because yoga
is rooted in such a long and rich tradition of practice, there can be numerous, virtually
countless, ways of interpreting and presenting its teachings.
The information in this book is the result of my own exploration and integration of the
teachings of yoga—a personal journey that spans more than 30 years. I have attempted to
present the many diverse facets of yoga in as complete a manner as possible and in the way
in which they are most commonly presented and practiced. I respectfully acknowledge that
other practitioners of yoga may view or interpret yoga in their own particular way, and
hope that the information contained in this book will be seen and used within the context
and intention within which it is presented—to help as many men as possible gain access to
the widest and deepest benefits that yoga can offer.
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