New Yoga Designed for Men

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. flexibility [flek-suh-BUH-leh-tee] – the ability to be bent without injury

Example: Dancers need flexibility to create complicated movements.

2. session [SESH-uh n] (n.) – a meeting in which a group of people with the same interests come together

Example: Lisa and Anna always meet before their daily dance sessions.

3. stamina [STAM-uh-nuh] (n.) – the strength that allows a person to do an activity for a long time

Example: The gym instructor advised me to reduce my rest hours to improve my stamina.

4. relieve [ri-LEEV] (v.) – to lessen, lighten, or completely remove

Example: An active and healthy lifestyle relieves stress.

5. enhance [en-HANS, -HAHNS] (v.) – to improve

Example: Regular practice enhances one’s skills.

Article
Read the text below.

An all new kind of Yoga called “Stiff Guy Yoga” is now making way for male adults to experience the positive results of Yoga. Yoga has always been common among women because most men think they lack the flexibility needed for the discipline. In 2010, however, a devoted yogi named Paul Shapiro started conducting “Stiff Guy Yoga” classes in Baltimore to encourage men to do Yoga. Shapiro has been doing Yoga for 20 years. Shapiro holds yoga sessions to about 11 men who are between 30 to 60 years old. He starts his classes with stretching before doing the yoga positions. He uses music in low volume to set a relaxing and peaceful mood during the sessions. Different yoga formations are designed to improve mainly the yogis’ concentration, stamina, and flexibility. After doing different positions, Shapiro lets his yoga students to cool down by lying on their mats while spreading their arms and legs. Shapiro is definitely achieving his goals in teaching Yoga. In fact, his students gave some positive feedback about Yoga. One student says Yoga relieved him from hip and back pain. Another yogi said Yoga helped him improve his balance and flexibility. Aside from the physical benefits, Yoga also gives mental and emotional benefits such as easing stress. Yoga has been gaining avid practitioners because it also generally enhances one’s life, body, mind and spirit.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         Given the chance, would you want to practice Yoga? Why or why not?

·         Why else do you think men are not much into activities like Yoga?

Discussion B

·         How does regular physical training affect a person’s health?

·         What do you think are the disadvantages of lack of physical training? Please explain your answer.

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