World goes bonkers over yoga!

21st June is World Yoga Day. In a way, thanks to the Westerners adapting to yoga and propagating its benefits, yoga has today become a household name worldwide. As India gears up for the day, it is amusing to see how many weird and different forms of yoga have started around the world. And looking at this adulteration of yoga, if the sage Patanjali, who actually gave us this wonderful practice of yoga were alive today, would have preferred to be dead!

It would not be an exaggeration to say that many have made a complete mockery of this entire practice of yoga. Some of these are completely insane – Horseback yoga: yes, you practice asanas on a horse and the founder says – “Horseback Yoga teaches you how to unite with your equine partner in a meaningful way, through calming your mind, conscious breathing, heightening awareness, and gently opening tight spaces in the body.”

SUP Yoga is about doing yoga on a surfboard while in water. Food yoga - “As soon as the lights went up, dinner was served on the floor: an (almost) seamless transition designed to allow the yogis to taste, smell and digest in a heightened state of awareness.”

The weirdest of all – Doga or Dog Yoga. This is about combining yoga poses, breathing and stretching for you and your pup, doga means that you can rest and recline with your canine while getting your dose of yoga.

The latest trend is Tantrum yoga - letting lose to scream, dance and shake your way to a healthier, happier life. It includes traditional yoga breathing techniques and meditation (as well as a lot of screaming) to release the pressure while perfecting your positions.

Then there is Harmonica yoga, which is not about blowing out a good tune, the benefits of using a harmonica when practising your breathing technique has obvious advantages.

There is PaddleBoat yoga, Laughter Yoga, Professional Wrestler Yoga, Wine Yoga (yoga in a vineyard and drinking wine after yoga), Hot Yoga and Cold Yoga and there is even Snowga – yoga in snow.

Well, the one sane thing in all this insanity – at least all are doing yoga!