The Male Yogini: Journey of Unexpected Flexibility

captured by Royel, 2025, untitled topanga canyon yoga studio project

Listen closely, because I don’t share these secrets with just anyone.

A few days ago, I stumbled into something that would change everything – yoga. Not just another fitness trend, but a profound journey of self-discovery that’s already reshaping how I move through this concrete jungle we call life.

First Encounter

Picture this: Me, walking into a studio that feels more like a sanctuary than a workout space. The air thick with possibility, the kind of energy that whispers, “You’re about to learn something about yourself.”

Our instructor – a zen master disguised in athletic wear – began with words that cut through my typical masculine bravado. “Yoga isn’t about perfection,” she said. “It’s about connection.” Connection to what? To ourselves, to our bodies, to something larger than the daily grind.

Lessons from the Mat

What I discovered wasn’t just about touching my toes or striking impossible poses. It was about breaking down walls – the ones we build around ourselves, the ones that say “men don’t do yoga” or “flexibility is for someone else.”

On my way to class, Janelle Monáe’s track was my soundtrack. (Pro tip for the squad: Her song “Yoga” is basically our new anthem. Drop it in the group chat and watch the reactions roll in.) Her music became my pre-practice ritual, a reminder that this journey is about breaking free, about movement that’s both powerful and graceful.

Unexpected Vulnerability

Here’s the real tea: Yoga stripped me down. Not physically (though let’s be honest, the stretching is no joke), but emotionally. Each breath, each pose became a conversation with myself. Who knew stillness could be so intense?

Our instructor shared a light lesson that’s been echoing in my mind: “Yoga is a practice of radical self-acceptance.” In a world that constantly tells us to push, to compete, to be something other than we are – this was revolutionary.

Journey Just Beginning

We’re entering a phase where authenticity (or at least its careful simulation) is gaining currency. And for me, that currency is measured in deep breaths, in moments of balance, in the courage to show up on the mat exactly as I am.

To my fellow warriors just starting this path: This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being present. It’s about stretching – not just our bodies, but our understanding of what we’re capable of.

You know you love me,

Mitchell Royel