Three reasons men should be adding yoga to their daily routine

When most men think of yoga, they typically don't think of themselves doing it. Although yoga got its roots as a male only past time steeped in religion, it is now largely considered a woman's pastime. Yet more and more men are taking up their yoga mats and joining classes because of health benefits rivaling many prescription medications.

Yoga is being recommended by doctors for health conditions including back problems, chronic pain, and stress reduction. 

"To take 20 to 40 minutes out of your day to sit and be quiet, to gently stretch, and to breathe deeply," says Robert Bulgarelli, DO, FACC , "is a tremendous way to reduce stress." 

Men are often reluctant to admit how stressed they are feeling. Stress can have a poor effect on the cardiovascular system, resulting in heart disease that appears earlier in men than in women.

 For those who might feel embarrassed sandwiched between 30 women doing a downward facing dog, men only classes have started to pop up, making the transition easier. Doctors themselves are often outright prescribing yoga in place of other types of intervention, helping men to see it as a medical tool rather than a simple exercise class.

Other people such as Iraq veteran Dan Nevins, are helping to show the true power of yoga in healing. Dan Nevins lost both of his legs below the knee while deployed. He ended up having 36 surgeries and ended up going through a divorce since that time.

Yoga helped him find meaning in his life, and he has since helped save the lives of other men who have had no way to deal with the stress and pain in their lives.

 Yoga can help treat a number of problems from stress and pain to depression and anxiety. If you are searching for something more, it could be the thing you need to help restart your life.