Does this sound familiar?

You think the man in your life is a bit stressed out, could improve his flexibility and might benefit from a little more inner peace so he doesn’t get quite so crabby sitting in traffic.

You think yoga could help both of you. But your suggestion, “Honey, why don’t you come to a yoga class with me?” is met with solid rejection and an eye roll—or the type of silence that is not of the juicy savasana kind.

To get your man to the mat, you need a strategy:

1. If your husband is a dude, find a yoga dude.

He’ll be more receptive to a teacher that he can see as a friend. In other words, you have to set the scene for yoga bro-mance.

The teacher you love—the incense-burning, mantra-chanting woman—may alienate him. That said, the instructor doesn’t have to be a man. In fact, there might be a woman who’s best suited for your situation.

2. Don’t nuke his ego.

Pick a basic class so your man will be able to do at least some of the poses.

The stretches and shapes likely will be challenging and foreign enough to him. No need to make him feel intimidated or silly—and scare him away forever. Yet it doesn’t have to be Broga.

3. Set the teacher up for success.

Before the day of the class, chat with your chosen instructor and give him a head’s up about your reluctant newbie. Let him be informed and aware so he can do his best to help.

Either way, your goal is to make the initial yoga experience inviting, approachable and accessible. Om and Downward Dog must be as comfortable as his favorite jeans so he’ll go back again and again.

Christine Chen is a two-time Emmy winning, 10-time nominated broadcast journalist, turned small business owner, turned Yoga Teacher in New York at community-focused NY Loves Yoga and at nationally-recognized fitness provider, David Barton Gym.

12 years ago, she came to yoga to manage a variety of health problems, including spinal degeneration and stress. She’s an RYT200 from Seattle’s Yogalife and RYT500 via Om Yoga Center in New York, studying under Cyndi Lee. Special training includes Yoga for Stress Management with Gary Krafstow at Kripalu and Back Care with New York’s Yoga Union under the direction of Alison West and Deborah Wolk.

Christine is also the Director of Communications for Yoga for NY, a non-profit organization that provides an organized voice on issues facing the yoga industry. With the group’s leadership team, she works with government to help champion sustainable business practices for studios and teachers – so yoga can survive in small and large studios throughout New York State.

Christine has written about wellness for The Well Daily and Crave Company. Soon, she will release a yoga guidebook for busy people, based on the personal yoga practice she developed during her own healing and transformation (represented by Zachary, Schuster & Harmsworth).

Off the mat, Christine is a wife, golden retriever mom, and Microsoft’s corporate web caster on tech topics.

Follow her via her website, on Twitter, and on Facebook.

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Editor: Lara C.

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