June is pride month, and wanted to take a moment to acknowledge and take pride in our gay Members in the Man Flow Yoga Community, as well as our welcoming and non-judgmental allies.
I’m truly inspired by the courage it takes for these men – who, despite the real fear of abandonment by family and friends and the inevitable judgment they’ll face from society, have made the decision to come out to the world; to be their true selves. Over the past few years, as a result of creating a more in-depth community, as well as launching the Better Man Podcast to discuss health and wellness outside of workouts, I’ve gotten to know more of our Members – many of whom are gay – and learning their stories.
I’ve seen firsthand, thanks to the men in our community and the gay friends I’ve had throughout my life, how hard it must be to be a gay man in our society – the homophobia that exists both consciously and subconsciously in our culture – and it’s almost laughable to think that anybody would choose to be gay. Sarcastically, I think, sure, because that’s just so much easier than deciding to be straight. And it’s sad that sexuality is such a significant identity marker in our world.
I have great respect for these men. The amount of courage involved to be able to do that is something that many of us won’t ever know. There are also men who have come out later in life, after decades of being married to a woman and having children together, despite the fear of rejection and abandonment that they faced while doing so; and it’s been a privilege to be able to be part of a community that has provided support to these men in a difficult time.
I’ve had many people cancel their memberships in response to certain podcast episodes I’ve released. It makes me sad to think that there are people who look at sexuality as a decision. Or something political. I don’t respond to these emails when I get them – because I’m not going to change their mind – but I do wonder what their reasoning is. Do they not believe that being gay is a thing? Do they think it’s people just trying to “shake things up”? Or maybe, more likely, they are threatened by it – whether they realize it or not – and they fear the association of themselves with being gay?
I think it’s important to realize that the homophobia in our society is not just affecting gay men – It’s also affecting guys who aren’t gay; who are scared to connect with other men, to dance, to be happy and smile, to show joy – all because they associate it with a sexuality they’re scared to be identified with.
Anyways. Happy Pride Month, fellas. Your courage inspires me. And I’m glad that we have a community where many of you feel safe.
Dean
About Dean Pohlman, Founder & CEO of Man Flow Yoga, Author of Yoga Fitness for Men, Expert on Yoga Fitness for Men.
Dean Pohlman is making yoga more accessible to fitness-minded men. A former collegiate lacrosse player, Dean discovered yoga while recovering from injuries and quickly realized its potential to boost strength, mobility, and overall performance.
Since launching Man Flow Yoga in 2013, Dean Pohlman has built a global community that speaks for itself:
- 195,000+ customers
- 42+ million YouTube views
- 200,000+ followers across Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok
Dean’s book Yoga Fitness for Men has sold over 50,000 copies, while his Body by Yoga DVD series has surpassed 120,000 units sold, earning him consistent #1 rankings on Amazon and thousands of five-star reviews. He’s also been featured in Men’s Health, Muscle & Fitness, GQ Magazine, Fox Tampa Bay, The Chicago Sun, and on influential podcasts like The Ready State and Ben Greenfield Fitness.
With a focus on real results, community, and technique-focused instruction, Dean Pohlman continues to change the conversation around yoga. He’s not just teaching poses—he’s helping people build stronger, more capable bodies for life.
