Planet yoga
Stories from around the weird and wonderful world of yoga
USA: Battery recharge
One of the problems facing electric vehicle owners needing to recharge their cars — a process that can take longer than filling a traditional gas tank — is time. Sometimes it can take over half an hour to ‘refuel’ your vehicle. Perhaps future charging stations will include spaces for yoga, meditation or just taking a nap (now that’s an idea we can all get behind!). It’s an idea examined in Forbes magazine, which cites Matt Potter, an expert from Designworks, a BMW Group company, who says that future spaces might be focused more on self-care and health “where you could think of doing yoga or doing some mindful things or restful things for your body while charging your vehicle.”
UK: Altered states
Mindfulness may lead participants to experience disembodiment, or so-called altered states of consciousness, according to a University of Cambridge study. “I’ve benefited a lot personally from meditation and mindfulness and I’ve also had many of these experiences. They were intense,” said Dr Julieta Galante, who led the project. The most common experiences tend to be those that do not have intrinsically unpleasant characteristics, such as bliss, but some, such as disembodiment or altered sense of self, could be perceived as unpleasant, or startling, she added. “It’s important people who are offered mindfulness are told about the possibility that they may come across these experiences.”
UK: Mountain yoga
We’ve all tried mountain pose, but who knew there was a connection between climbing and yoga? It’s all in the movement it seems. Recently, we’ve noticed a few fitness centres that combine climbing and bouldering with the ancient practice of yoga. Spotted in Romford, Essex recently is Romford Rock & Boulder (romfordrockandboulder. co.uk), a small indie gym, which also offers regular yoga, plus sound baths and other events. Separately, in the USA, indoor climbing specialist, Movement Gyms (movementgyms.com), opened its latest location in Denver, which also offers yoga and other fitness options. Together, we will reach the top!
UAE: Hello Alo
Yoga fashion retailer Alo Yoga has unveiled a new flagship store in Dubai, in partnership with Alshaya Group, one of the world’s leading retail franchise operators. The US company’s showcase store is located in The Dubai Mall and offers all of the group’s latest collections of high-performance activewear. There’s also an organic beverage bar and yoga terrace to help nurture the community vibe among Dubai shoppers. “Dubai's thriving fitness community is a perfect match for Alo's dedication to community and experience,” said Rebecca Jobo of Alshaya Group. Alo Yoga is already active in Kuwait and is looking to expand to Qatar this year.
Japan: Asian Games
Yoga’s inclusion at the Olympics has been a controversy that has raged for years, with most people screaming: yoga is not a competitive sport! Now, in a landmark move, the ancient practice has been embraced by the future Asian Games programme, after being championed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The decision highlights yoga's growing global popularity, but perhaps also its evolution from a spiritual pursuit to a competitive ‘sport’. Potentially, it lays the ground for yoga to debut as a demonstration sport at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, followed by its full-fledged competitive debut at the Doha Games in 2030.
Om Magazine
First published in November 2009, OM Yoga magazine has become the most popular yoga title in the UK. Available from all major supermarkets, independents and newsstands across the UK. Also available on all digital platforms.
