John Buckentine demonstrates the Warrior II pose, also known as the Virabhadrasana II. Photos: Chris Emeott
More men are stepping onto the yoga mat.
When Edina’s John Buckentine first stepped into a yoga class, he wasn’t sure what to expect. “I felt a bit out of place. I wasn’t coordinated like everyone else. But it didn’t take long [before] I could keep up, and I felt proficient at it,” Buckentine says.
That first class, more than 10 years ago, came by way of a buddy pass with his wife, Laurie Wien. She was attending classes at YogaFit’s Linden Hills location, and convinced Buckentine to give it a try. “I’ve been going ever since,” he says. Now in his 50s and still an avid runner, yoga has also become a central part of his fitness routine.
The benefits, he says, go far beyond exercise. “It really has noticeably made me more balanced, stronger, definitely more agile and flexible. And I don’t know if it’s just my imagination, but I think I’m taller,” Buckentine jokes. He also points to his mood. “I always feel like I’m in a good mood, and especially after I go [to a yoga class],” he says.
Even small improvements in his well-being surprised him. “One thing I noticed is I don’t mind being barefoot,” Buckentine says. “I just feel like my feet have really good traction.”
Still, he admits that starting out wasn’t easy, especially as one of the older folks in the class—and still sometimes the only man. “It can be kind of daunting,” he says. “But everyone is really accepting … Everyone’s really friendly, so it doesn’t take long, and you feel at home.”
His advice for beginners is simple. “I’d start out slow,” he says, and choose a gentle flow designed for newcomers. Instructors at local studios are always happy to talk through the options if you call ahead and ask for their recommendations.
Ashok Dhariwal of YogaFit.
Buckentine still practices at YogaFit Studios, a local studio owned by Edina’s Ashok Dhariwal that is part of a larger chain. “We definitely have more and more men coming into our studios,” Dhariwal says. In the United States, yoga had trended as more popular with women over the past several decades, and for some men, they might still feel a stigma that the practice isn’t as “intense” as other workouts.
That hesitation is common. One thing Dhariwal often hears from men? “‘I’m not flexible enough.’ I hear that especially from older men,” he says. “And I ask, ‘How do you think you’re going to get more flexible?’” The answer, of course, is to get started with yoga, which is designed to gradually improve flexibility.
Dhariwal also emphasizes the mental benefits. “The common theme between yoga and fitness classes is really clearing your mind,” he says. “We set up everyone’s intention, and it just kind of puts some grounding in what you’re doing … it gives a person some time to focus on something they can’t focus on during the day.”
For Buckentine, the practice is one he’ll keep recommending. “I highly recommend it to anyone of any age or background. It’s been really beneficial to me,” he says.
YogaFit
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