‘Amazing’ Yoga and talk the perfect mix to improve men’s health
TWO Bristol-based organisations are coming together to offer sessions that encourage both mental and physical fitness … and ultimately save lives.
The founders of Talk Club UK and Yoga for Men firmly believe men in particular are in need of urgent support, now more than ever.
They say they are taking the initiative because suicide rates among men are so high – in fact, it is the biggest killer of the under-55s.
It meant men had to remain mentally fit, keep talking and generally look after themselves.
Individually, both Yoga for Men and Talk Club UK have long worked to improve men’s wellbeing, with Yoga for Men classes designed for male-presenting bodies and Talk Club offering a mental health support network for men in Bristol and beyond.
Recently, Yoga for Men has initiated sessions with a Talk Club structure, which poses two simple questions to yoga students during every class: “How are you?” and “Out of 10?”
Both groups hope by incorporating both yoga and therapy, they can empower men to finally talk and listen within a safe, inclusive environment.
Gavin Thorpe, co-founder of Talk Club UK, said: “In lockdown, when we were allowed to leave the house, we came up with the idea of Talk & Run, where people joined me for a run at my local park.
“At Talk Club, there’s four rounds in a talking group where the first round is ‘How are you out of 10?,’ second round is ‘What is working for you at the moment,’ the third round is ‘What are you doing this week for your mental fitness’ and round four is ‘What is your checkout number now?’
“That’s when I thought about how it would work with talking and running, so instead of just sitting around in a circle with men, you have a talk and movement environment, as we now have Talk & Lift, where men talk and do weightlifting together.
“There’s Talk & Skate that we’re starting, Talk & Bike that’s up and running. And, of course, Talk & Yoga.
“Any way we can get men to open up, we will do it. The great thing about that is that when men attend any Talk & Move session, they go on to do the ‘proper’ Talk Club, where men are sitting in a circle and talk about how they’re feeling, which is fantastic.”
Rob Reid, Yoga for Men founder, was inspired to collaborate with the mental health charity after Talk Club UK was among the charities whose work was highlighted in Yoga for Men’s health series last November.
After becoming a Talk Club participant himself, Rob was determined to join forces with the organisation, leading to the formation of Talk & Yoga.
With regular classes under way, both Rob and Gavin say Talk & Yoga has garnered positive feedback that has resulted in even greater improvements through just one hour of yoga.
Rob said: “The brilliant thing was, for me, that these guys initially turned up to do yoga because basically it was about physical fitness – they thought it would be some downtime from everyday life.
“But over the past month or so, it’s been incredible to see, as I wrote in my Talk is Cheap blog, because to be at the centre of power and influence through an hour of yoga has been a real privilege.
“We’ve had people in the first few weeks really open up about what they’re dealing with in their lives, whether it’s external stuff like what’s going on in Ukraine, or if it’s closer to home.
“Last week, I was scrolling through my emails and I heard back from one of the guys who opened up about one of the issues he was facing and was in awe of the supportive response from the other men.
“I was almost in tears after that session, to be honest, because of the way they opened up anyway, and to get that email later was even more touching.”
He added: “Even from getting texts about how amazing the sessions have
What we’re about is why don’t you do something about it before it’s an issue? Come to yoga before it’s too late
Gavin Thorpe
been, you can already see how the two married together, bringing physical and mental benefits. We’re just a month in, but it’s been amazing.”
Rob and Gavin have emphasised that there is a long way to go, but they hope to succeed by continuing with Talk & Yoga and via other projects in the works. They have a determination to empower men into recognising their worth beyond binaries.
Rob added: “I’ve been doing Yoga for Men in Bristol for three and a half years, and it’s hard work getting men on a mat to do yoga, and I’m sure it’s the same with Talk Club.
“If men try to realise what we’re trying to do, even if it’s one man to come along to do Talk Club or Talk & Yoga, by normalising this, you have an opportunity to help support in some way and help others find a way forward, which can be totally transformational.”
Gavin added: “Yoga is an absolute perfect fit for asking people how they are out of 10, and being in the moment, so it makes sense to do this.
“Men tend to do something only when it’s reactionary, and that’s why we use terminology such as mental fitness because it’s about being mentally fit for your mental health. It’s preventative.
“Having that awareness every day means you’ve got to do something about it. What we’re about is why don’t you do something about it before it’s an issue? Come to yoga before it’s too late.
“What I’m asking the general public, if you’re a man, is to go on and try it. Do it for you, and if you’ve got a family, do it for them.”