Yoga for Men: Breaking Stereotypes and Finding Inner Strength

Yoga For Men: Breaking Stereotypes And Finding Inner Strength

Prisons Can Be Pretty Chaotic, With All The Noise And Constant Interruptions. Imagine Trying To Teach Yoga In Such An Environment! But That’S Exactly What Rory Bradshaw, A 31-Year-Old Yoga Teacher, Does. He’S On A Mission To Bring A Sense Of Stillness To The Men In His Prison Yoga Class, Despite The Challenges.

“It’S Always A Challenge In The First Few Minutes With All The Energies They Bring Into The Room,” Says Rory. But With A Combination Of Physical Postures, Breathing Exercises, And Meditation, He Creates An Immense Sense Of Stillness In The Class. It’S Remarkable How The Power Of Yoga Can Transfer To Any Environment, He Says.

Overcoming Resistance And Scepticism Is No Easy Feat. In A Macho Environment, Men Often Think Yoga Is Not For Them. But Rory Is Determined To Change That. He Believes That If He Can Get Guys In Prison To Do Yoga, He Can Get Men Anywhere To Give It A Try.

With His Shaved Head And Muscular Physique, Rory Sometimes Gets Mistaken For A Fellow Prisoner. But The Reality Is That He Had A Middle-Class Upbringing And Enjoyed Sports Like Football, Rugby, And Cricket. However, A Mugging Incident At Age 13 Changed Things For Him. It Led Him To Build Himself Up Physically And Find Inner Confidence Through Fitness And Training.

After Graduating, Rory Started Working In A Pupil Exclusion Unit And Later Pursued Teacher Training At University College London. His Dedication To Helping Those Who Are Hardest To Reach Led Him To Volunteer In A Prison And Run A Discussion Group In A Challenging Area Near Brixton.

Yoga Wasn’T Something Rory Thought Was For Men, Especially After Seeing Mostly Mums Attend Free Yoga Classes At The Community Centre Where He Worked. But After Finally Giving It A Try, He Was Hooked. Yoga Gave Him The Space To Connect To His Inner World And Notice His Emotions, Something He Had Been Suppressing For Years.

Now, Rory Teaches Yoga To Prisoners, Facing The Challenge Of Convincing Sceptical Men To Give It A Try. He Also Teaches Prison Staff, Recognizing The Tremendous Stress They Face In Their Jobs.

Through His Instagram And TikTok Accounts, Rory Shares Stories From His Fitness And Wellness Journey, Inspiring Thousands Of Followers. He’S Seen The Impact Of Telling His Story And Has Received Messages From Men Who Tried Yoga Because Of Him.

Rory’S Hope Is To Change The Perception Of Yoga For Men. He Believes That Vulnerability Is Not Weakness And That Traditional Masculine Pursuits Can Coexist With Yoga And Therapy. He Wants To Show That Yoga Is Not Just For The Hyper-Flexible And That It Offers Mental And Physical Benefits For Everyone.

With His Men’S Yoga Club, PILLA, Rory Aims To Create A Space For Men To Benefit From Yoga And Improve Their Overall Well-Being. His Ambition Includes Progressing Yoga Throughout The Entire Prison System, Recognizing The Need And Benefit Of Yoga For Men In Such Environments.

So, If You’Re A Guy Who’S Never Tried Yoga, Maybe It’S Time To Reconsider. After All, If Men In Prison Can Find Inner Strength And Stillness Through Yoga, Why Not Give It A Shot?