“The only man on the mat”: yoga as a therapeutic pathway for men’s mental health

Objective: Men’s engagement in mental health treatment significantly lags behind that of women, despite prevalence rates highlighting that poor mental health is a public health issue shared equally between them. As such, examination of complementary and alternative mental health approaches that might support men’s mental health is crucial. The aim of this study was to explore the benefits and barriers associated with ongoing yoga practice among men currently attending community-based yoga classes, with an emphasis on identifying mental health outcomes. Method: Qualitative data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with 14 men practicing yoga and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Themes related to six main aspects, including: a) being the only man in a yoga class, b) perceiving deeper elements of the practice and c) yoga and healthy ageing. Conclusions: Findings from this study extend upon existing research supporting lifestyle interventions as an efficacious mental health treatment approach and provide support for initiatives enabling greater access to yoga among men. Factors influencing adoption and ongoing engagement are discussed accordingly. KEY POINTS: What is already known about this topic: Men experience substantial rates of mental illness, yet significant barriers remain for accessing and engaging with treatment options. As a lifestyle intervention with established benefits, yoga is a promising approach for supporting men’s mental health. The barriers and enablers to men adopting and maintaining a yoga practice are not well understood. What this topic adds: Benefits of combining improved flexibility and increasing mindfulness improved mental health in specific ways. Ongoing outcomes also led to self-discovery, serving as further motivation for maintaining regular practice. Participants noted yoga’s capacity to improve mental and physical health across the lifespan.