Mario Lopez: Yogavangelist

I was honored to be the yoga consultant to Mario Lopez for his new fitness book, Mario Lopez Knockout Fitness  (Rodale). 

It’s great that Mario is open to using yoga in his workout program, which also includes boxing, weightlifting, and cardio routines.  Having a muscular, masculine man like Mario advocate yoga is wonderful, since he will undoubtedly bring it to a new and diverse audience. 

When I teach yoga, I notice that my students that engage in boxing and weightlifting tend to have extra tightness in their backs, shoulders, and legs.  If these parts of the body are not stretched out and the tension released, over time this constant cramping and constriction can lead to serious joint problems. 

As Mario himself points out, yoga helps you become more limber and more flexible.  A greater range of motion can translate to better performance in lots of different sports and physical activities.  That benefit should be attractive to men in particular.

My teacher, Dharma, teaches that any time your body is in an asana (yoga pose), it puts your mind into a specific state of consciousness. The corresponding mental state is different for every pose.  As practitioners become able to hold their poses longer, they can practice slowing their pranayama (conscious breath), causing stress levels to decrease.  This technique helps their minds stop darting one way or another (mind fluctuations= chittas), leading them to be more mindful, present and calm.  After practitioners leave the studio, this inspired calmness continues to level their reactions, helping them to not get angry or stressed quickly.

Drawing more people to practice yoga asanas will be hugely beneficial to them, especially if yoga is not something they would have previously considered. Even someone who comes to yoga for physical reasons alone will, consciously or unconsciously, receive mental and deeper benefits.  Who knows, they might just learn to really like yoga and be inspired to explore its philosophy and other branches more deeply. 

Om Shanti (peace) to Mario Lopez for helping to bring the benefits of yoga to a new audience!