“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 manyPostures schools of 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 Boulder,Healthy, Colorado “Yoga for Men is educational and practical. It illustrates the practice of yoga for men of all ages and interests. Thomas Claire has provided men with everythingStress- 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 THOMASof the main types of yoga most popular in the West today and their relevance for the contemporary yoga student.” —David Frawley, Director of the American Institute of VedicCLAIRE Studies and author of numerous books, including Yoga and Ayurveda and Yoga for Your Type 0 YM endorsement.pmd 1 10/8/2003, 12:32 PM “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 00 YM front matter.pmd 3 10/8/2003, 12:32 PM 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 00 YM front matter.pmd 4 10/8/2003, 12:32 PM 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. a YM please read.pmd 5 10/8/2003, 12:32 PM 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. ab YM dedication.pmd 6 10/8/2003, 12:32 PM 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. ac YM ackno.pmd 7 10/8/2003, 12:32 PM 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.