Yoga has been going through a reinvention phase in recent years. The result is fewer traditional yoga studios, and more alternative yoga classes that incorporate everything from paddleboards to virtual reality. Below are a few of the most popular alternative yoga trends to try if you’re looking for an offbeat way to exercise your core and improve your flexibility.
SUP yoga
Let’s start with stand-up paddleboard (SUP) yoga. If you’ve tried paddleboarding before, you may already know just how much of a core workout it can be. SUP yoga takes this watersport up a notch by challenging you to strike yoga poses while balancing on a paddleboard. It’s an opportunity to exercise outdoors in the unique tranquil setting of a lake or river. The risk of falling off can add a thrill – or serve as a satisfying way to cool off if it’s a hot day.
Chair yoga
Chair yoga swaps out a yoga mat for a chair. It’s a great form of yoga for seniors, office workers and couch potatoes alike. Instead of traditional floor poses, chair yoga incorporates modified seating positions for gentle stretches and posture correction. It’s ideal for people with limited mobility or those that have to stay seated as part of their job, but want a way of staying active and destressing. You’ll find lots of chair yoga exercise tips online.
Aerial yoga
On the opposite side of the spectrum to chair yoga, there is aerial yoga. This form of exercise requires you to be suspended from a hammock and incorporates all kinds of mid-air inverted poses and stretches. Benefits over traditional floor yoga can include enhanced circulation and greater back pain relief. It can be blended with aerial pilates for more active classes that can make you feel like a Cirque du Soleil performer. Take your time to look around for specialist gyms that offer these unique classes.
Hot yoga
Hot yoga involves doing yoga under infrared lighting. This infrared lighting heats up the body from the inside to make you sweat more, relax muscles and improve circulation. Infrared workouts can also help to burn more calories, which can be useful if you’re trying to lose weight. To try this form of yoga, look for specialist infrared studios that carry out yoga classes. It’s also possible to do yoga in a sauna or on a hot day to achieve some of the same benefits. Make sure that you drink lots of water while doing hot yoga in order to not get dehydrated.
VR yoga
What is VR yoga? This high-tech form of yoga involves wearing a virtual reality headset, enabling you to carry out poses while exploring serene virtual environments like beaches and mountains and forests. It’s a form of virtual escapism for those wanting to make their home yoga workouts more interesting. You can use apps like Tripp and Yoga VR to transport yourself to these virtual worlds while being guided by a recorded voice. Such apps can also incorporate mini-games to add an extra element of fun.
