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Challenging Stereotypes: 'Yoga Boy' Han Ji-hoon Empowers Men Through Popular YouTube Channel
๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท South Korea /Culture & Society

Challenging Stereotypes: 'Yoga Boy' Han Ji-hoon Empowers Men Through Popular YouTube Channel

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Han Ji-hoon, known as 'Yoga Boy,' has become a popular yoga instructor with over 500,000 YouTube subscribers.
  • He aims to break the stereotype that yoga is exclusively for women, emphasizing its accessibility to men.
  • Han recently published a book detailing his journey and the benefits of yoga for mind and body.

Han Ji-hoon, widely known as 'Yoga Boy,' has transformed from a newcomer to yoga into a prominent instructor with a substantial following of over 500,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel. Initially drawn to yoga in the summer of 2015 seeking respite from his demanding daily life, Han was encouraged by his wife to try the practice, which at the time was heavily perceived as a 'women's exercise.' Now, 11 years later, he is challenging that perception. Han firmly believes yoga is for everyone, regardless of gender or prior athletic experience. 'Yoga is nobody's,' he stated in a recent interview. 'People who are stiff, people who hate exercise, men, anyone can start.' He launched his YouTube channel in 2017, two years after beginning his own yoga practice, leveraging his background as a content creator. His journey culminated in the recent release of his first essay, 'Words of Practice,' which explores his personal experiences and the holistic benefits he has found through yoga. The book offers insights into how yoga can nurture both the body and the mind, further promoting his message of inclusivity in the practice.

There are almost no men. You might be alone.

โ€” Han Ji-hoonRecalling the perception of yoga when he first started.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.