The next is an excerpt of the book, The Power of Yoga for Men and interview with co-author Caleb Jude Packham
Through their very own personal trauma of losing a parent at a young age, and being put up for adoption at only 5 weeks old, yoga has been a life-long teacher and healer for Londoner’s Caleb Jude Packham and Jarod Chapman. Over the past 5 years, their personal mission has been to share the facility of yoga with men internationally, and there’s no stopping them! Together they created a platform for sharing the traditional practice and philosophy of yoga for the trendy day man. And so, Wellness Warrior was born.
Their latest book The Power of Yoga for Men is an easy guide to constructing strength, mental clarity and emotional fitness. From breath practices, 40+ asanas and poses, meditations, and timed sequences, the book breaks every part down into easy terms, together with clear definitions and directions. Leaving no excuses.
From Rob the Royal Marine in recovery, to Nate hitting burn out after working 4 jobs, and Max surviving a serious brain injury. The inspiring first person stories from men included within the book really prove how yoga has helped to rework their lives, helping them to deal with stress, depression and anxiety.
We sat down with Wellness Warrior, Caleb Jude Packham, to speak in regards to the latest book:
So, how did you and Jarod actually meet?
We met about 15 years ago as we each ran a personal personal training studio in West London. We founded Wellness Warrior in 2018 recognising the rising men’s mental health crisis. Our platform was created for men to access yoga as a complimentary healing tool.
What inspired you and Jarod to jot down your latest book, The Power of Yoga for Men?
There are lots of misconceptions about what yoga is to most men. The concept that yoga is just for girls, it’s not a correct workout, it takes up an excessive amount of time, all yoga is identical. We desired to debunk these myths and write a book that speaks to men in a straightforward and relatable way – man to man – inspiring them to the mat to experience the facility of yoga.
What’s an important thing someone can learn out of your latest book?
When practiced day by day and consistently, yoga is really life-changing. That’s because yoga isn’t only a physical practice. Unlike other physical activities, equivalent to sports and gym, yoga also enhances mental and emotional fitness.
How did you discover the true life stories of various men within the book, and which story stood out to you essentially the most?
Through the years, Jarod and I even have had the privilege of meeting all varieties of guys from every walk of life, each with their very own unique story of how yoga found them and adjusted their lives. Whilst each man’s story in our book is equally as vital and provoking, Rob’s story stands out. As an ex-serviceman, he has made it his personal mission to make sure men returning home from conflict can access yoga and heal through the practices.
Why do you’re thinking that men are currently facing a mental health crisis?
I feel lots of men struggle with upholding the standard masculine ideals of being strong, capable and emotionally solid. But lots of men are suffering in silence. Men don’t typically express their emotional truth and this internalisation can result in a person being in crisis. This has been magnified over the past few years as a result of the pandemic.
Why men need this practice of their life:
The Power of Yoga For Men Book Launch at Ministry of Sound
- Yoga helps tame the restless mind. Anxiety is one in all the largest men’s mental health issues today, and it’s often suffered in silence. The ability of yoga will be experienced immediately, As you progress, as you breathe – as you determine where to place your foot, your hand, you focus – yoga channels your mind away from anxious thoughts and into your body.
- Yoga helps you kiss insomnia goodnight. As anyone who has suffered it can know, it leaves you feeling moody, foggy-headed and exhausted. Regular yoga practice, including breath-work and meditation, will enable you to develop the power to quieten the inner chatter of your mind and chill out your body too.
- Yoga helps you get it up. One in five men suffer from Erectile Dysfunction. A variety of ED causes are physiological, equivalent to anxiety, depression, and stress. Getting on the mat on a regular basis might help pull you out of those negative thought patterns. The mixture of a relaxed mind and healthy circulation restores sexual vitality and confidence.
- Yoga helps you walk the black dog. Let’s put paid to the commonplace notion that men don’t suffer with mental health problems as every bit as much as women do. We also make up three quarters of suicidal deaths that happen every yr. The focussed and controlled movements of the practice strengthen your mind-body connection, while meditative element brings you into the current moment, which helps clear your mind.
- Yoga helps you heal from burnout. Work, family, responsibilities, commitments can slowly erode you to the sting of exhaustion. Sometimes you might not even realise you’re burned out until the stress takes its toll physically, mentally and emotionally, leaving you are feeling empty and depleted. Taking outing for yoga helps relive the impact of long-term exhaustion by educing cortisol (stress hormone), boosting immunity, increasing circulation and restoring energy.
- Yoga helps boost confidence. as much as certain supposedly masculine standards, often makes us guys feel insecure. As men, we’re expected to independent, powerful, the leader of the team. Yoga teaches authentic confidence that starts inside and radiates out. It gives you the strength, clarity of mind, which lets you have a healthy sense of yourself.
There’s a shift happening. Increasingly men are stepping on to the yoga mat, accessing its power in body, mind and spirit. They’re becoming stronger, more flexible, mentally clear and emotionally attuned. “Yoga is the proper tool to align body with mind, something all of us need on this mad and busy world of ours”, Jarod Chapman.
This excerpt was taken from The Power of Yoga for Men by Caleb Jude Packham and Jarod Chapman (Bloomsbury).
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Caleb Jude Packham is an Australian MTV presenter turned internationally renowned yoga teacher and co-founder of Wellness Warrior. He’s committed to creating yoga accessible to all – particularly men. @calebjudepackham
Jarod Chapman is a health and wellbeing expert, yoga teacher and former personal wellness coach to Tina Turner. He’s co-founder of Wellness Warrior and alongside Caleb Jude Packham is on a mission to encourage more men onto the yoga mat.
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