I was really a yoga skeptic.
It was clear to me: "Yoga is a women's sport". Real men pump up their upper arms in the fitness center and jog around the Alster. My wife is an enthusiastic yogi and has been with "Your Yoga" for 7 years now. She goes up to 4 times a week to a wide variety of classes and never got tired of wanting to change my mind. Her argument was that I should first get an impression myself before commenting on it. We were also happy to bring up the subject when I complained about neck or back pain again. I countered: "I'm already doing so much sport, it's definitely not for me, what am I supposed to do alone among women" etc......
Eventually, on a whim, I said, "OK, OK, I'll take a look." That's how I ended up at "YourYoga" a good two years ago for a flow class. Up to that point I still thought we spent most of the time sitting cross-legged and singing Om's. What then comes physically, a trained guy can easily do. I had to correct that opinion a bit. What was true was that we sat cross-legged and chanted three Oms. The 90 minutes of asanas that followed were so exhausting for me that I could hardly do them properly and I didn't feel much of easy&locker anymore. After the class, I no longer had a dry thread on my body and was exhausted. At the same time, I felt incredibly free and relaxed. A feeling that I didn't know in this intensity either from jogging or after fitness training. Above all, I realized how immobile I actually was. From that moment, the skeptic became a fan.
In the meantime I've been to "Your Yoga" as often as possible. My body is so supple that I could hardly have imagined before doing yoga. Back and neck pain are history. I have left the fitness center in the meantime because the yoga gives me a much more holistic workout and I can effectively reduce stress through the exercises and breathing. I can't imagine anything better.
"Your Yoga" is a 100% recommended yoga school with very competent teachings. Judith and her team respond individually to the students during the lessons and offer a very varied range of activities. Like any form of yoga, each teacher has their own priorities and benefits.
Many thanks to Judith, her team and all the great people I meet there. Last but not least to my wife, through whom I was able to experience this enrichment of life.
And another note for all men who read this and may think like I did back then. In its origins, yoga was practiced "only" by men. So it's time to raise the male quota again. Besides, you're rarely alone among women in the lessons and if that's the case, let's be honest, it's not that bad ;-)