Planet yoga
Stories from around the weird and wonderful world of yoga
Canada: Royal appointment
Yoga therapist Caelin Nadin has gained plaudits for her work during an appearance in the Prince Harry-produced Netflix series Heart of Invictus. A trauma-informed therapist specialising in somatic practice, Nadin said the opportunity came up after a client, Darrell Ling, was chosen by Team Canada to compete in the 2022 Invictus Games, and subsequently asked to be in the show. Ling served in the Canadian Armed Forces and was diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder. “I really don’t have words yet,” Nadin told Canada’s Global News. “For him, I think it’s very special to be able to share his story. He’s very much wanting to help other people with his story.”
USA: Hot stuff
Your yoga journey can take you literally anywhere. In the case of Grace Good, it resulted in an extraordinary Guinness World Record for the most fire hoops spun simultaneously. At age 18, Good found herself in a group that was into flow arts, an activity similar to yoga. She then started with hula hoops, adding more and more hoops, and was eventually introduced to performing with fire and aerial acrobatics. Now age 30, she holds two records, for the most hula hoops spun simultaneously while balancing on a giant rolling globe (a whopping 28 hoops!) and the most fire hoops spun simultaneously with eight blazing hula hoops. It brings a whole new meaning to hot yoga!
Belgium: Bath & Barley
There’s nothing more relaxing than a spa stay — but how about a beer spa stay instead? Belgium, a country renowned for its ancient brewing traditions, has now got its very first beer spa, Bath & Barley, located in the capital, Brussels. It offers a soothing wellness experience, with the usual relaxation and intimacy, but with a link to what distinguishes it from more traditional spa centres: Belgium's beer!Wellness guests can indulge in a bathing ritual, use the sauna, or rest in a straw-upholstered lounge that allows them to connect with nature. It’s enough to make you very hoppy indeed!
UK: CSI Lincolnshire
Five police cars descended on a quiet yoga class at the North Sea Observatory in Chapel St Leonards, Lincolnshire recently, interrupting a seemingly innocent savasana. It turns out passers by had reported seeing people lying on the floor and mistakenly assumed something bad had happened. Lincolnshire Police later confirmed that everyone was safe and well, and the call was made with good intentions. “It's a bit surreal and funny,” yoga teacher Millie Laws was quoted as saying by the BBC. “I feel really bad for whoever the person was who [phoned police] that would, of course, have been terrifying. So I do feel for them. But at the same time you've got to see the lighter side of it.”
Singapore: Yoga Movement
Singapore’s homegrown Yoga Movement is a yoga brand on the move. It recently opened its 10th studio, Yoga Movement Alexandra, situated on the second floor of a heritage building, originally a part of Singapore’s first commercial brewery. And there’s more to come, according to co-founder, Pete Thew. Yoga Movement is also partnering with Strong Pilates to offer more new studios for cardio[1]based pilates fitness. But quality comes first. “We’re not big on just counting numbers,” he said. “We’ll grow until we can’t maintain good brand and service. We’re gonna keep going until we can’t.”
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.
