International yoga day is round the corner and yoga enthusiasts across the world are gearing up to hit the mat. Apart from improving metabolism and posture, yoga is known to benefit blood circulation, heart function and even sharpen memory. Although yoga is popular worldwide, many think it is boring. Not anymore. New age yoga is here to engage your senses while twisting your body to help you stay fit. From mid-air suspension to balancing on water, these new, quirky forms of yoga offer some fun for everyone. While staunch believers of traditional style yoga may brush these aside as a fad, their growing popularity is an indication that they are here to stay.
Beer yoga
Bengaluru-based Samuel Roshan came across a funny GIF image on his phone one morning. It was a cartoon figure doing yoga with a bottle of beer on the head. As the figure changed poses he would tilt the bottle for a gulp, still balanced on one leg with arms in the air. “Little did I know that form of yoga actually existed,” says Roshan. It was only while crawling the net that he came across BeerYoga, a Berlin-based yoga studio. For Emily and Jhula, certified yoga teachers and passionate beer drinkers, both yoga and beer were important so they combined the two to introduce a new fun form of yoga. “BeerYoga is fun but it’s no joke—we take the philosophies of yoga and pair it with the pleasure of beer-drinking to reach highest level of consciousness,” writes Jhula on her web site. “The joy of drinking beer and the mindfulness of yoga complement each other, and make for an energising experience.” Drinking beer while posing in an asana may sound foreign but here in India many youngsters like Roshan have started practising it with friends, thanks to new age tools like WhatsApp and YouTube videos demonstrating the asanas. “It’s not easy but it’s fun,” says Roshan. How beneficial is this yoga? The answer varies with the views one favours. Some point out the benefits of drinking beer (soma of the vedic period) while others swear by the perils of alcohol addiction. Irrespective of the views, beer yoga continues to attract attention and is the talk of the town.
Mom and baby yoga
Your baby can be your yoga buddy! Practising yoga poses while your baby is perched on your stomach may help you not only get back in shape but also strengthen your bond with the baby. Says Jasmeet Kaur, owner of Yogazoo, which organises these classes in Mumbai, “Babies are born yogis. They are naturally tuned to take up different poses not only to ease and relax but also to get rid of baby problems like colic.” Mom and baby yoga is indeed gaining popularity around the globe. New mom Smita Jha says, “I was already doing prenatal yoga for a healthy pregnancy and easy delivery. When I heard about mom and baby yoga I was thrilled. I could practise yoga and spend time with my baby. What can be better than that?” Kaur explains that new moms often face fatigue and the anxiety of motherhood. Besides, they do not know how to deal with the new responsibilities, putting a strain on spousal relationships, often making them feel isolated and disoriented. “An hour of yoga provides the much needed relief to the new mom, while she spends quality time with the baby,” says Kaur. In fact, the sessions offer far more than exercise. Mom and baby yoga promotes bonding in a relaxed environment through gentle poses, music and activities. It enables the mother to understand her child’s developmental patterns through the exploration of yoga and also develop a healthy body, a confident self-awareness and a happy spirit. Eye contact, intentional movement, gentle touch, and the cadence of voice and breath add to the overall experience. Through the loving care and handling that yoga facilitates, trust is firmly established.
Aerial yoga
When young Shruti Menon of Bengaluru signed up for yoga at a posh studio with her friend, little did she know what was in store. “The studio had a hanging rope-like apparatus and I remember wondering why they were there,” says Menon, who realised she had joined an aerial yoga class when her friend Isha explained the use of the hammock-like props. After her first session though, Menon was glad she took the class. “Just like hatha yoga, aerial yoga is great for stress relief. And it is great fun to be suspended in mid-air taking a pose,” she says. “The hammock is made of high-quality silk so it is really strong and supports your body while you perform various asanas,” says Amrudesh Santhanam, who teaches aerial yoga in Bengaluru. The hammock acts as a prop to help align and support the body. “Since the silk hammock is suspended from one point it can swing in all directions. This helps the participant build stamina and flexibility,” he explains. Aerial yoga is for anyone who is fit enough to do hatha yoga. “Age is not a barrier nor is the weight of the participant because the silk hammock is very strong. And contrary to how it may appear, aerial yoga is fairly safe for everyone. Initially, we teach the participants basic safety precautions and once they are familiar with the silk prop, they can perform asanas with ease,” says Santhanam. In fact, it is easier to do certain asanas on the hammock than on the floor. “Inversions like head stand and shoulder stand are normally difficult to master. But in aerial yoga the weight of the body rests on the hips and makes it easy even for beginners to do inversions in the first session,” says Santhanam. Poses that can be performed easily in aerial yoga include warrior pose and full split. Some of the most basic poses involve simple stretches while seated on the hammock, while other poses progress to hanging upside down and grabbing your thighs, ankles or feet for support and balance.
Underwater yoga
An underwater yoga class can provide the bliss of a relaxed physical and mental state. What makes aqua yoga or underwater yoga so appealing is the unique feeling of being weightless. “The feeling of being weightless along with controlled breathing helps you become more flexible and fit in general,” says yogi Amanda, who teaches aqua yoga at an indoor pool in Goa. “Meditating under water allows you to calm your nerves and attain inner peace. It helps to clear your mind in a much better way while bringing you in tune with your body,” she says. However, underwater yoga is not easy. One needs to learn to breathe in water to be able to practise yoga underwater. “Water offers resistance to gravity, pushing the body upward so you feel weightless and even difficult yoga poses can be done with ease,” says Amanda. The tree pose, downward dog, back bends and lotus asana feel slightly different underwater but you are sure to enjoy them. “It is therapeutic for people with joint problems and spinal issues,” says Amanda, “but anyone can enjoy underwater yoga.”
Dog yoga
While jogging with your dog may be fun, stretching out with your pet pooch on a yoga mat may be even more exciting. As you improve your circulation and posture, your pup will benefit from all the stretching and exercise, not to mention the quality time spent together. Dog yoga or Doga is all the rage with pet parents around the world. Pet parents either perform yoga with their dogs or allow their pets to socialise while they finish their session. “What makes Doga unique is the presence of dogs while pet lovers practise yoga,” says Acharya Neeraj, who conducts Doga classes in Mumbai, Delhi and Lucknow. It is a great way to strengthen the bond between humans and their four-legged friends. “Doga creates a harmony and synchronisation of energy flow between the dog and its human,” says Neeraj. While Doga helps a dog socialise and mellows hyperactive dogs, it helps the pet parent to relax and bond with their pet. Says long-time doga enthusiast Raman Singh, who partners with his 10-year-old husky Leela for doga sessions, “What makes Doga unique is that the practice allows you to emotionally connect with your dog and you feel more integrated and unified.”
Quirky yoga practices
Here are a few other forms of yoga that are practised across the world:
Harry Potter yoga
Yoga teachers in the US have designed a magical Harry Potter-themed workout for the fans of the Harry Potter series. With a wand in their hands, enthusiasts work on their yoga poses like the Downward Fluffy, Whomping Willow (or Tree Pose) and Slytherin Cobra.
Hip hop yoga
As the name suggests this form of yoga combines the health benefits of yoga with the energetic rhythms of hip hop. Atlanta-based Jaimee Ratliff teaches this form of yoga where students spin during downward facing dog and pop-n-lock into different poses.
Paddleboard yoga
Paddleboard yoga teaches one to balance, while practising yoga on a paddleboard on a lake. People try it for the adrenalin rush it provides and for a new fitness experience.
Goat yoga
This form of yoga involves getting nuzzled by goats while practising a pose and is the latest trend sweeping across the western world. Spending time with goats is therapeutic for people with depression and anxiety.
