«Yoga kills me» – behind the scenes at an all men’s class
29-6-2026
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
Pictures: Anika Schulz
Men-only yoga classes are all the rage. I spoke to a yoga instructor about stiff hips and why men need different asanas than women. I got on the mat, too.
I’m in an idyllic neighbourhood on the outskirts of Hamburg. Detached houses, lots of green space, not many cars. I’m here to meet Maik Güldenstern. He’s a yoga instructor and offers men-only classes at My Yoga Place. Today, I’m allowed to join in as the only woman.
Aren’t I defeating the whole purpose of an all-male yoga class by taking part?
Maik: No, not at all. We’re actually quite excited that you’ll be joining us.
How is men’s yoga different from mixed classes?
All-male classes are a kind of safe space. The guys are among themselves and don’t have to feel embarrassed if they’re not quite as graceful as women. I know first-hand what that’s like. When I first got into yoga many years ago, it took me a lot of courage and willpower to keep going. It’s just that you see others progressing and start comparing yourself to them. Not to mention that I was usually the only man.
Classic!
Yeah, the token guy (laughs). Overcoming that hurdle in a mixed class is tough. In an all-male group, that hurdle simply doesn’t exist.
What’s the atmosphere like in the men’s classes?
Pretty unique. Maybe because we’re just among ourselves and can talk to each other as equals. Some of the participants have become friends. We often stay after class and chat about stuff. It’s like networking but with added trust. I’m happy that it’s become that kind of place.
What kind of men join your classes? Is there a type?
We’re a big mix. In the class you’re about to join, the participants are aged between 40 and 50 and from all walks of life. I also teach another class where the oldest member is 71. But not all men are here of their own free will.
What do you mean?
Many men only start taking up yoga when they feel their bodies getting older. Think a sore back or dodgy knee. Just something that no longer works the way it used to. That’s when their orthopaedist sends them to yoga class. Or their wives. Some participants were actually signed up by their wives. I suppose those were cases of «Just give it a go, honey». The cool thing is that most of them love the classes after just a few tries and start coming back on their own accord.
Do men need a different workout than women?
Absolutely. Men are often less flexible because of their anatomy or medical history. There are football players in my classes who run incredible distances but hardly ever stretch their legs. The backs of those guys’ legs are so tight that they can’t even touch the floor with their fingertips when they bend forward. Or take men who swim a lot and are focused on strength training. Their shoulder girdles are often very stiff. They’re often incapable of lifting their arms all the way up or holding them out straight. Yoga is a good way to open up those parts of the body and make them more flexible. In general, hips are also a challenge.
Why’s that?
Men’s hips are narrower than women’s. That can make it hard for them to sit cross-legged. I recommend sitting on a cushion, as this slightly elevated position takes pressure off the lower back and opens the hips slightly. This makes sitting less tiring.
You also give classes for women. Are there any exercises that are challenging for them?
Yes, anything to do with arm and upper-body strength. So, the plank, push-ups or the Dolphin pose, where you support yourself on your forearms. I have to be careful not to overwork women in mixed classes with those exercises. Worst case, you’ve got the ladies collapsing on their mat, gasping for breath, while the men are hardly breaking a sweat.
Women have less arm strength, right? At least that’s the case for me.
That’s right. And women also aren’t particularly into doing strength exercises in a yoga class. Building muscle just isn’t that important to them. Men, on the other hand, often create a group dynamic where they encourage each other to stick out even the most challenging asanas. That’s why I always incorporate strength-building exercises into my men’s classes.
This might be the most clichéd question ever, but: Do men enjoy meditation and mindfulness, or is that too new-agey for them?
They like it. It just takes a little while for them to get into it. Most of them start doing yoga as a form of exercise. Only over time do they realise that there’s much more to yoga than exercising. The silence, observing your breath, tuning into your body – many participants start to deeply appreciate these moments because they lack them in their daily lives. Those class members who’ve been practising yoga for a while know that yoga helps you build a whole new kind of stress resilience, which also helps in the work environment. To me, yoga is a holistic concept, not least because of it has a spiritual connection. So it goes without saying that I incorporate these elements regularly.
How did you become a yoga teacher?
I did my training in Greece and India. Initially, I did it purely for myself, and I wasn’t planning on giving courses. But I reached the point when I thought teaching yoga would be a nice addition to my day job as a high school teacher. At least it would be related to teaching. I never wanted to be a PE teacher, as it’s tough to motivate teenagers. But adults who feel like exercising sounded good to me.
What’s on the agenda for today’s class? It starts in 15 minutes, after all.
We’ll start with a gratitude meditation and do two rounds of sun salutations to warm up. After that, I put together a short workout that’s challenging but not too intense. And to finish up, we’ll do some core strength training before taking a moment during the final relaxation exercise to thank our bodies for carrying us through the yoga class.
The only woman on the mat
With these words, Maik goes into the yoga room. I grab my mat and follow him. A few men equipped with meditation cushions, water bottles and towels are already sitting in a semicircle. Summertime is upon us, so it’s hot in the room. I sit down with them. The men’s yoga class starts.
Maik expertly leads the class, incorporating all the elements he’d announced to me. A mediation at the start followed by more dynamic parts. I join in and start working up a sweat pretty quickly. I’m familiar with all the asanas, but the pace is much faster than in the class I’ve been attending for three years. So that’s what Maik meant when he said men want challenge. I stick it out. As we take a brief breath in downward dog, I look around. All the participants are giving it their all, and yet I can see exactly what the coach described to me beforehand. Hunched backs, bent arms with tense shoulders. There’s definitely room for improvement in the flexibility department.
Not so when it comes to strength exercises for the upper arms, though. As expected, these gentlemen are leaving me in the dust. Maik guides us as we move from a deep squat into the crow pose. It involves squatting with your hands on the floor in front of you. You then lift your bum and feet of the floor so you’re only supported by your palms. Sweat drips from my nose. I give up and reach for my smartphone to take a few photos of this impressive asana. Nice save, Anika.
Sweating is a shared experience
After the final relaxation, shavasana, I strike up a conversation with the guy on the mat next to me. He’s been huffing and puffing quite a bit over the past 75 minutes and looks exhausted. I ask him why he does yoga.
«My body needs this; I’m way too stiff,» he says. Then he rolls up his mat. As he’s leaving, he looks back and adds: «I’m athletic, you know. I play football, swim and ride my bike a lot.» But yoga kills me.» I smile, «Yep, me too sometimes.»
After class, a few men are still sat, drinking tea with Maik. They’re talking about their weekend and work. It’s a perfectly ordinary conversation that could just as easily be taking place in a bar. Probably over beer, though, not tea.
Header image: Anika Schulz
Anika Schulz
Teamleader Editorial
Anika.Schulz@galaxus.deAs a child, I was socialised with Mario Kart on SNES before ending up in journalism after graduating from high school. As a team leader at Galaxus, I'm responsible for news. I'm also a trekkie and an engineer.
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