Does yoga attract women with bad attitudes, or does it actually help make them that way?

[Try2B_Comprehensive]

I am a guy who used to do yoga, not so much lately. The classes I was in generally had more women, up to a 4 or 5 to one ratio, but I don’t know if I was ever the only guy.

I never met any ‘yoga bitches’. But I tried to keep my distance- I didn’t want to be pick up the hot chicks yoga guy, so mostly I tried not to have opinions about the other participants at all. Still, I was often impressed with how nice and open people could be, and with that odd ‘yoga centeredness’ that some of the instructors and advanced students had- pretty much the opposite of bitchy. The yoga women I have gotten to know have all turned out to be unusually nice, even glowy (like, illuminated or something. I’ve known non-yoga people like this too).

I’ve noticed yoga-weird though. My yoga instructor ex gf, highly successful, seemingly in a contest to be the world’s nicest person, could remember her past lives and would casually tell me about them. My yoga neighbor, young, maximally attractive, Masters’ degree, made tons of money, great at yoga… couldn’t wait to be dead. Life was boring My yoga-instructor-in-training acquaintance is more of a normal person success and looks-wise, but she’s wildly (and seemingly genuinely) positive and happy. “Be love!”, and she is. She used to be a biologist, but one day her kundalini energy spontaneously arose and she became psychic such that she has clairaudience, the ability to hear things that are happening 3000 miles away.

The strange thing is that these people tell me these things without me approaching them. Never met a yoga bitch, not once, but again I assume the women in yoga class don’t want to talk to me and I mostly try to keep my distance.

As for ‘yoga as enlightenment’, the enlightenment literature I’ve read suggests the whole premise is off. Yoga=yoking, in union, but union of what, with what? “There is only the Self, it never was and cannot be separated from anything else. There is nothing else.” YMMV.

[Aeschines]

@Simplicio

That said, I can’t say I know any woman who are super into yoga, so maybe that’s the difference. I have noticed a certain type of person who are in their mid to late thirties, aren’t particularly happy with how their lives are turning out, and so end up throwing themselves full-bore into some rather mundane hobby to help themselves feel better. These people tend to take some of their frustrations out on others, and thus can be rather snooty and unpleasant.

Basically, the female equivalent of “Tae Kwon Do Guy”.

This makes a lot of sense, thanks!

Other comments are great too. Thanks for your feedback!

[monstro]

@Try2B_Comprehensive

As for ‘yoga as enlightenment’, the enlightenment literature I’ve read suggests the whole premise is off. Yoga=yoking, in union, but union of what, with what? “There is only the Self, it never was and cannot be separated from anything else. There is nothing else.” YMMV.

It’s open to an individual’s interpretation what it means. For me, it means union of the body and the mind. For someone else it could be something else.

[Try2B_Comprehensive]

@monstro

It’s open to an individual’s interpretation what it means. For me, it means union of the body and the mind. For someone else it could be something else.

I definitely don’t want to ruin yoga for you, and anyway I can’t claim to be enlightened myself. I got a long-lasting mental effect from yoga such that I can stay really really calm under stress. It’s worth it!

[gracer]

@Try2B_Comprehensive

She used to be a biologist, but one day her kundalini energy spontaneously arose and she became psychic such that she has clairaudience, the ability to hear things that are happening 3000 miles away.

Ha! At least she’s using a sensical word. The word I hear is “clairvoyant hearing”. :rolleyes: I have thought about interrupting with an explanation of the “voy”-part, but have so far contained myself!

And yes, the yoga-weird. Now that’s a thing I know.

[msmith537]

@Simplicio

I know a fair number of woman who do Yoga, and can’t say I’ve noticed them being more any more or less unfriendly then average.

That said, I can’t say I know any woman who are super into yoga, so maybe that’s the difference. I have noticed a certain type of person who are in their mid to late thirties, aren’t particularly happy with how their lives are turning out, and so end up throwing themselves full-bore into some rather mundane hobby to help themselves feel better. These people tend to take some of their frustrations out on others, and thus can be rather snooty and unpleasant.

Basically, the female equivalent of “Tae Kwon Do Guy”.

I think what you describe is basically consistent with a particular type of single urban professional woman in her late 20s through 40s. They want to be married but only in a sort of fantasy Sex And The City Carrie & Big rich guy’s wife sort of way. They throw themselves into fitness activities like yoga, Pilates and spinning classes so they can compete with 20-somethings. Their “flirting” will often feel like you are talking to a sales rep.

[LibrarySpy]

I’ve taken a lot of yoga classes, from small studios to big studios to regular gyms with 40-50 students, and I’ve never noticed yoga bitches either. But I’m not really looking, I’m usually too busy suffocating and in pain to care if the girl behind me is the living embodiment of a cactus.

I like the woowoo stuff and the ohms, what can I say.

[Penfeather]

@Rysler

I like the woowoo stuff and the ohms, what can I say.

Are ohms like resistance training?

[LibrarySpy]

@Penfeather

Are ohms like resistance training?

You sir, win the internet.

Ohmmmmmmm.

[Aeschines]

@msmith537

I think what you describe is basically consistent with a particular type of single urban professional woman in her late 20s through 40s. They want to be married but only in a sort of fantasy Sex And The City Carrie & Big rich guy’s wife sort of way. They throw themselves into fitness activities like yoga, Pilates and spinning classes so they can compete with 20-somethings. Their “flirting” will often feel like you are talking to a sales rep.

I think this makes a lot of sense. I went through this with a New Agey type of chick in the Chicago area who just couldn’t be satisfied with anything (though she didn’t do yoga). I was ostensibly a good potential catch for her, but the judgment was just crazy.

It may be selection bias on my part that has led to the concept of “yoga bitch.” I am a New Ager, so I may just be encountering the New Age subset of the type of person you describe.

Not sure what the guy version would be, although in the world of dating men are certainly as problematic as women.

[wolfman]

@Penfeather

Are ohms like resistance training?

If It’s conducted in the right way.

[DSeid]

@Penfeather

Are ohms like resistance training?

Well it explains lululemons symbol.

[wolfman]

Dammit, slow mind tonight from drinking. My stupid joke was supposed to be

If It’s conducted poorly.

[Nisslbody]

@Simplicio

I know a fair number of woman who do Yoga, and can’t say I’ve noticed them being more any more or less unfriendly then average.

That said, I can’t say I know any woman who are super into yoga, so maybe that’s the difference. I have noticed a certain type of person who are in their mid to late thirties, aren’t particularly happy with how their lives are turning out, and so end up throwing themselves full-bore into some rather mundane hobby to help themselves feel better. These people tend to take some of their frustrations out on others, and thus can be rather snooty and unpleasant.

Basically, the female equivalent of “Tae Kwon Do Guy”.

I think it’s this. Control freaks.

[Try2B_Comprehensive]

@gracer

Ha! At least she’s using a sensical word. The word I hear is “clairvoyant hearing”. :rolleyes: I have thought about interrupting with an explanation of the “voy”-part, but have so far contained myself!

And yes, the yoga-weird. Now that’s a thing I know.

Full disclosure: I put the word ‘clairaudience’ in her mouth. She never used it but that is what she is describing. She used the word ‘psychic’, in connection with kundalini.

I’ve never heard of ‘clairvoyant hearing’, but whatever. The ‘om’ thing, AFAIK, is from sanskrit, in which every noun in the language refers to the ‘essential vibration’ of the thing. ‘Om’ is for the whole universe, which I guess (?) a person can get in tune with, or if taken in a spiritual sense, one can ‘be’ and thereby achieve salvation itself. If I ever do it myself I’ll start a thread.

It is easy to dismiss as a bunch of woo, but OTOH I can’t deny noticing how peaceful and centered a lot of the yoga people are. Maybe ‘om’ is their secret, maybe not, I couldn’t tell you. What the OP describes reminds me of the ‘evangelical stink-eye’, something you wouldn’t expect given what that religion is supposed to stand for. Maybe the kind of bitches one sees is a regional thing? Does the OP mind telling us generally where he is?

[Aeschines]

@Try2B_Comprehensive

Maybe the kind of bitches one sees is a regional thing? Does the OP mind telling us generally where he is?

I’m in Indianapolis. But I’ve encountered this with Chicago chicks, as I said. Sure, you can say both cities are Midwest, but I think the vibe is quite different.

[randompattern]

@Penfeather

Are ohms like resistance training?

I suppose they keep you from getting too amped-up.

[Green_Bean]

@Aeschines

I think this makes a lot of sense. I went through this with a New Agey type of chick in the Chicago area who just couldn’t be satisfied with anything (though she didn’t do yoga). I was ostensibly a good potential catch for her, but the judgment was just crazy.
…
Not sure what the guy version would be, although in the world of dating men are certainly as problematic as women.

Maybe certain guys who are heavily into non-team sports, like triathlon, running, cycling, rock-climbing, bodybuilding, martial arts, etc. Simplico mentioned Tae Kwon Do Guy," so there ya go.

Obviously not all guys who are heavily into these things are Yoga Bitches, but I’ve certainly run into many who are.

[Happyasaclam]

Does the TYPE of yoga have any bearing on how bitchy the yoga bitch is that some have encountered?

I only ask because at the end of our 90 minute 26 posture session.
I am too damn worn out to notice!!!
I just want to hit the shower and start my glorious day. (Minus lululemon)

[mandala]

Yogasanas *per se *do not make people bitchier. However they do make one feel better and more energized, and if arrogance/anger come naturally to that person, I would understand if she were bitchier than usual after a set of asanas.

More so if someone actually mastered a few asanas, such a person may feel her mastery makes her superior to others with a lower attainment, and hence make her vent more. No different, imo, than arrogant achievers found in every walk of life.