Special Easter Sunday class - Cape Men's Yoga & Meditation

FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions

Cape Men's Yoga 

Naked yoga with men?
Naked yoga is honest. Just who you are - without dressing it up. Bringing men together naked to do yoga is a way of stripping off social norms and customs. We dress up to give a particular picture of ourselves to the world. Stripping down is telling it like it is. Our aim is to bring yoga back to its roots. It takes balls to drop your shorts, and that is a great place to start. Yoga is all about knowing yourself and being honest about yourself. For some this is fun, for others it is quite a challenge.

Naked yoga has a long tradition in India. The Digambara (sky clad) yoga tradition dates back to ancient times and was even practiced by Siddhatta Gotama. Both the Digambara sect and the Naga sadhus continue a naked practice today in India. They reject material trappings and strip themselves bare to focus on their spiritual practice, renunciation of status and social acceptance, and to pursue their lives on a religious plane of austerity, challenges and exploration. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naked_yoga

Modern Western nude yoga seems to date back to Hot Nude Yoga in the United States, founded by Canadian yogi, Aaron Star in the 1990s in Manhattan. The practice has spread around the globe. The reasons are open to reflection, in part the trend seems to relate to the enormous expansion of yoga practice in the West and an interest by gay, bi and alternatively-oriented men to a physical and spiritual practice, including stress management.

In South Africa, with our history of religious conservatism and Calvinist rejection of pleasure and the body, nude yoga seems to speak to many men about reclaiming their bodies and self-worth, without it becoming part of the youth and beauty cult which is part of Cape Town's identity. Everyone is treated equally, respected and welcomed; any age, race, size or level of fitness. Despite the culturally challenging experience of the nudity, the class is deeply respectful of different religious traditions. Our members include Christians, Moslems, Hindus, Jews, Spiritualists, Wiccans, Buddhists and Atheists.

Do I need prior experience?
Classes are open to complete beginners, intermediate practitioners and advanced practitioners. If you are new, it is recommended you notify the instructor first and come 15 minutes early for a chat about your body fitness and any medical issues you have. If you have a heart condition, injuries, high blood pressure, retinal issues or other medically related problems you should consult a qualified physician or specialist before taking up yoga. Yoga is often used for therapeutic purposes but it may not be possible to provide adequate supervision in a general class.

Do I need to be fit?
It certainly helps to do yoga when you have a reasonable level of fitness. If you know you are out of shape, then the instructor will encourage you to approach the yoga slowly and consistently to avoid over-exertion or injury. Yoga however is not, as the media presents it, only for the fit and young. Yoga is for all ages and all levels of fitness. The valuable thing about yoga is that starting it at any point in your life can improve your health, breathing, flexibility, stress-relief, happiness and bone density.

Is this only for gay men? 
Cape Men's Yoga is open to men of any sexual orientation, age, body shape, religious or non-religious background. There is no particular focus on gay men but at the same time it is a gay friendly space. Whoever you are, you know why you want to join.

Where does Cape Men's Yoga practice? 
Classes are held at a yoga centre in Constantia, one of the southern suburbs of Cape Town. Naked men's yoga requires a discreet and pleasant venue and we are lucky to have access to this yoga and meditation centre with secure parking and a spacious practice hall. The room is heated in winter-time. Classes are at 10.30 am on Sundays for two hours.

In summer, Cape Men's Yoga sometimes takes its nude men's yoga to Sandy Bay beach, the Cape's most famous nude beach and part of the Table Mountain National Park. Summer beach classes are held earlier due to the strength of our summer sun.

We have winter and summer nude yoga retreats each year at a great venue in the Overberg. See blog postings for details.

Will I get an erection?
Our nude yoga practice is quite traditional, in the sense that it is oriented to a meditative state of mind achieved through breathing, mindful focus and yoga asana practice. Erections are in practice quite rare in class. Some classes involve contact or partnered work, where there may be more of a chance of arousal. If you get an erection - that is what is happening in your mind and body. As a class member all of you is welcome, your body, mind, sexuality, philosophy, doubts, strengths, breath - it is all part of your participation. The class is not sexually oriented but neither is it judgemental. The yoga philosophy includes 'brahmacarya' - to approach your sexuality respectfully and holistically. We expect you to respect yourself and others in the yoga space. It is a location of self-reflective practice.

Do I need to book in advance? 

Currently we are able to offer classes almost every Sunday. You are advised to contact us in advance to confirm the venue. Classes are free and paid by a voluntary donations (to cover the venue use). You can email us on capemensyoga AT gmail.com or use text / whatsapp (see the weekly posting for details). Whatsapp 082 570 6868 or use our email capemensyoga AT gmail.com

Weekend retreats require a deposit which is posted on the Facebook page. The Facebook page is private for members only and cannot be searched. You can join but getting in touch with us and you can be added there. The Facebook page has postings about yoga, pranayama (breathing) and meditation.

Besuchen Sie Kapstadt?
Cape Männer Yoga ist eine wöchentliche Yoga-Gruppe für nackte männliche Yoga-Praxis in Cape Town, Südafrika. Wenn Sie zu Besuch in Kapstadt, sind Sie bei uns herzlich willkommen. Der Unterricht ist in Englisch, aber auch Mitglieder sprechen auch Afrikanisch, Französisch, Niederländisch und Deutsch.

Nu au Cap?
Cape Men's Yoga est une pratique hebdomadaire de yoga nu masculin . Si vous visitez à Cape Town en Afrique du Sud vous êtes invités à nous joindre pour une classe ou un week-end. L'enseignement est en anglais et les membres parlent l'afrikaans, le français, l'allemand et le néerlandais.

Bezoek in Kaapstad?
Cape Men's Yoga is een wekelijkse yoga-groep voor naakte mannelijke yoga practice in Kaapstad, Zuid-Afrika. Als je in Kaapstad bezoeken, u bent van harte welkom om met ons mee. Instructie is in het Engels, maar wij spreken ook Frans, Nederlands en Duits.