New yoga forms gain momentum

Hyderabad: While traditional yoga is the best for youngsters ,there are new forms which have gained popularity like aerobic yoga, power yoga, zumba yoga and laughter yoga as International Yoga Day is being observed on June 21.

These forms are popular among youngsters. Rajesh Chilkuri, a dancer and a yoga instructor who teaches in many city schools explained, “Most youngsters are interested in intense and fast exercises. Hence a mix and match approach is worked upon in which muscles are toned, stamina is built and relaxation is possible. This has worked for many youngsters. They do it regularly as they enjoy it.”

Power yoga is a 45-minute session of quick fast, gym workout. Sharmila Aggarwal, a student who has been doing power yoga since three years said, “It’s a fast session where you do all forms of exercise which you do in a gym. The only difference is that the pace is very fast. There is minimal chanting and also no discourses. Hence you can get on with your daily work.”

Similarly, there is laughter yoga which is being practiced since a decade in the city. Ms Shirin Panjwani explained, “In our sessions at the Public Gardens we have incorporated laughter yoga and it is of great help. We have good participation from the middle-aged and senior citizens.”

Zumba yoga seems to be the new entrant in the list. It is usually practiced by youngsters but the sessions are first of dance and then relaxation sessions. Pavitra, a certified instructor said, “The two of them can't be combined. But they can be done separately after the main session of Zumba is over.”