Hunter S. Thompson. Tom Wolfe. George Plimpton. These are just a few of the names most people associate with Gonzo journalism, a unique style where the journalist immerses themselves fully in the story, often writing from a first-person perspective. 

Well, now you can add Lleyton Hughes to that list because on Monday, 24 February, I took the long journey from The Bugle offices on Terralong Street all the way to the Kiama Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) clubhouse on Manning Street to take part in a yoga session hosted by Chris Whyte, the man behind 7 Mile Yoga.

I walked into the near empty room overlooking Surf Beach, there was a mat in the middle of the room and a candle and Chris was there of course. As we waited to start, I chatted with him about how he first got into yoga.

Candles and other items creating the calming atmosphere of a yoga class. Photos supplied.

“I dabbled a bit with it in my 20s, but then life happened, and I didn’t have much time for it,” he said. “Then, after a work injury in my late 30s, early 40s, I decided to get back into it - and I’ve been doing it ever since.”

I asked him, “What kind of results did you see? Any benefits?”

Chris leaned back, thinking for a moment. “For me, I found my recovery time was much quicker, and I wasn’t injuring myself as much because I was more flexible. Plus, there’s the mental side - it's great to spend an hour focusing just on yourself and your breathing.”

With that, we got started. Chris assured me he'd make it easy since it was my first time. We began with some simple breathing exercises, and as soon as we did, I could feel myself relaxing.

With that, we got into it. Chris assured me that he would make it easy, since it was my first time. We began with some simple breathing exercises, and as soon as we started, I could feel myself relaxing.

It was as if Chris had disappeared, and I was alone in the top-floor room of the Kiama SLSC clubhouse. The waves crashed in the distance, and calm music floated through the air from Chris’ speaker.

7 Mile Yoga focuses specifically on men's yoga, with Chris aiming to attract more men - especially tradies - into the practice.

"When you're a tradie, you work physically hard all day, but most guys don’t stretch," he said. "It’s odd because people stretch before sports or strenuous exercise. But tradies just wake up and dive straight into lifting heavy loads or digging or whatever, without taking time to stretch."

A photo of one of 7 Mile Yoga's mens yoga classes. Photos supplied.

Chris paused before adding, “Even just a little bit - say, once a week - can make a huge difference. It helps keep your body more flexible and reduces the chance of injury. Especially as you get older. And for those who aren’t as physical and spend a lot of time sitting, yoga is great to get the blood flowing, make you sweat, and get in some light resistance training."

Chris’ words rang true for me. I’ve played sports my whole life and hardly ever stretched, so I could immediately tell that even just that one hour of yoga was going to do wonders for my body. And I wasn’t the only one who felt this way.

“I had guys come back after the Christmas break telling me they really missed the sessions,” Chris recalled. “Last week, my class in Moss Vale was only the third one, and they all clapped at the end, saying it was unreal. So I think they’re really enjoying it and feeling the benefits.”

Despite its calm and relaxing atmosphere, yoga is by no means easy - especially if, like me, you haven’t stretched in years. I worked up a sweat as I tried to stretch muscles that had been dormant for far too long.

If you’re a guy and you’re thinking about giving yoga a go, I highly recommend Chris’ classes. They’re laid-back but effective, and Chris ensures the pace is comfortable for beginners. Classes are held on Mondays at 6pm at Kiama SLSC, Wednesdays at 6pm at the CWA Hall in Moss Vale, and Thursdays at 6 pm at Shoalhaven Heads Surf Club.

You can simply turn up or follow 7 Mile Yoga on Instagram for more details and to get in touch with Chris directly.