Cape Men's Yoga

Getting it right upside down I am a yoga teacher and a meditator, not a physio, so this is not meant to be a medical introduction. What I have learnt about inversions is that you require preparation, sometimes a really patient approach to strengthening your upper body and improving flexibility. A few years ago I got really caught up with learning to do pincha mayurasana - the forearm balance. I work intensively without really understanding that I did not yet have the shoulder strength or flexibility. I injured my shoulders being in a rush and it tooks months to get them back to normal. I can do pinch comfortably these days - but the message is - slow, steady, grow your capacity and don't be in a rush with inversions. Pincha mayurasana is shown to the left here. Of all the inversions discussed here, pincha is the most stable as you have the full length of your forearm on the floor and you can use your hands and elbows to give you micro-adjustments. Headstands come second as...

Sunday 7 August - naked and sweaty  Yes, we are back on the mat. Winter is a glorious time for yoga. It is a time to explore body and mind and to concentrate on your inner world before all the crazy summer season starts. It also does not hurt to get your body into the shape that works for you while still in the winter season. This week is a regular all male, fully naked, fully fun vinyasa flow yoga class at our great venue in the southern suburbs of Cape Town. Last Sunday we did a special technical class on headstands, handstands and forearm stands which was a hit. On Sunday 14 August we are away on retreat so NO CLASS on the 14th. Catch us on the 7th and the 21st. Beginners are welcome. Get in touch and we will provide you with the venue details. It is helpful to have your own mat; we have some spare. Also bring a sweat towel along with you. You can reach us on: capemensyoga AT gmail.com and whatsapp 082 579  6868. Namaste,

Dear Yogis, We have a special class on inversions this Sunday, 31 July 2016. We are in the smaller yoga room, so we can only accommodate 10 guys. So please advise if you wish to attend or sign up on the facebook page. The class will include a warm up and then an introduction to handstands, headstands and forearm stands. These movements require both flexibility and strength in the shoulders and core. They also require some patience and a sense of humour. Guys who think they are going to jump up into a headstand or handstand will likely get injured. We aim for injury free practice so it is a great time to learn how to put your ego aside and build up a steady evolution in your practice that will take you to new positions and experiences. The class is 10.30 until 12.15 at our regular venue in the southern suburbs of Cape Town. This is a fully nude male yoga practice. We have extra mats for drop in visitors, otherwise bring your own mat and a sweat towel. The room will be heated....

July 2016 We have two distinguished guest teachers at CMY this month - Gavin will be teaching on 17 July and Aidan on 24 July. They are both respected senior yoga instructors. Gavin has a background in psychology, orienteering, kahuna massage therapy and yoga teacher training. He specialises in the mobilisation of inner energy and wisdom to guide yoga movement. Aidan is a hatha instructor, a published author and a reflexology massage trainer. He has monastic meditation training. Both teachers will also be contributing to our Tapestry of Life retreat in mid-August in the Overberg. Please join CMY for these two distinguished teachers at our new venue in the southern suburbs of Cape Town. Beginners are welcome. Note we only have a few extra mats for these particular classes so try to bring your own plus a sweat towel. There are showers on site. On 31 July we have a specialist class on headstands, handstands and forearm balancing. This is the in the small studio so only 10 st...

NAKED MEN'S YIN YOGA PRACTICE IN CAPE TOWN Join us for this special Yin yoga class. We will be teaching this unusual form of yoga - slow and using gravity rather than muscular strength. Yin draws on our lunar energy and the intuitive mind. Most yoga is 'yang' in that it is muscular and energetic. Yin allows us to let go, to let go of the physical effort and concentrate just on being. Yin is a way to explore the unexplored - to be mindfully exactly where we find ourselves.  Each posture is held for five full minutes - working through a sequence of floor postures where the focus in on the still mind rather than on the form of the asana.  This is arguably one of the most meditative styles of yoga. Though working without physical exertion it is still challenging and we confront our own mental reactions to comfort and discomfort, stillness and concentration.  We are at a venue in the southern suburbs of Cape Town. Beginners are welcome. It is a fully nude male practic...