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Yoga trends for 2009

Even as fitness becomes more of a universal mantra, yoga stays put in the top slot as one of the hottest fitness regimens in the world. It has been reigning for a long time now and things look set to continue that way.



Intriguingly, while earlier it was an adventurous and bemused West that embraced the science of mind-body fitness, yoga is now set to enter realms that were closed to it up until now. The entire Arab stretch is experiencing and will continue to experience great yearnings for yoga: Indian yoga teachers are hosting flight-loads of young trainers from these countries seeking to learn it the traditional way. Already, the demand for yoga teachers in these countries has opened up immense opportunities for yoga teachers, thus making it a field at sunrise for fitness trainers.

Presented in the following pages are some hot yoga trends that are likely to be witnessed in the coming year.

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Twosome yoga



This is yoga partnering, when parents wish to learn yoga with their children, or spouses with each other. Special workshops that accommodate this desperate need to spend quality time with loved ones mean that yoga teachers will also be packaging group sessions that accommodate these needs.

Up until now, partnering has been mostly between two people who were equal yoga freaks, with almost equal skill on the yoga mat. But now, the trend will fit different levels of performance between partners -- one, most likely a yoga maniac and the other who wishes to participate in it, or is dragged into it! Thus, workshops that accommodate partners with varying capability in yoga will be 'in'.

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Yoga with props



Fusion yoga is going to be hot. This means props that combine different fitness work-outs are going to be the 'in' thing.

Yoga blocks -- foam and wooden -- have been around. But now pilates props will be entering yoga studios subtly as yoga and pilates will marry to promote the already existing yoga-lates into a power work-out. The pilates ring challenges the arms and thighs, balls challenge balance and core muscles and the balance boards will look inviting to a yoga practitioner simply because they build on the key strengths required on the mat. So, real yoga-lovers will experiment wildly with available gadgets and props to carry forward their sadhana.

Till now yoga props were mostly used by certain schools like Iyengar or other gentler, therapeutic insitutitions. Dismissed earlier as the paraphernalia of those who could not attempt difficult poses, now props will find takers from the hard-core practitioners who wish to elevate their practice.

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Dance yoga



Performing yoga to music is going to be hot, simply because it gives an outlet to the high-energy rajasic (Ayurvedic personality type that is energetic) types who love yoga. Also, yoga flows, already in fashion, will infuse music to carry the challenge forward.

Doing yoga flows to a particular beat, maintaining the rhythm in a choreographed fashion, is hugely stimulating and mentally exciting. The different beats -- from pop and rock to classical -- have all been used as a backdrop to yoga flows, and will continue to lend a sense of exclusivity and adventure that will attract practitioners seeking a thrilling difference.

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Warrior yoga



Yoga for healing will firmly give place to yoga for developing strength.

This will happen because international superstars in the field of sports are increasingly resorting to yoga for focus and core strength that power them while performing. International rugby and football teams now proudly announce their yoga programmes. Earlier, yoga was looked upon as a cheesy concept for the metrosexual male or an androgenous female. But with sports trainers and coaches realising the benefits of yoga training, it will redefine itself in those special aspects that originally made it part of a warrior's life in ancient India. Warrior sequences, core strength developing poses, ashtanga yoga (of the Mysore School) will become more popular

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Chakra workouts



Even while the body beautiful aspect of yoga gets sharply defined, its psychic aspect will begin to find a larger audience. Celebs are openly flaunting their spiritualism and the ways through which they seek to reach their spiritual goals faster. Whether it is Madonna discussing Kabbalah or Naomi Campbell wearing pearls to control her anger, it is big news and big business.

In yoga, chakra awareness is gaining ground as people change diets to accommodate the flow of nadis (energy channels): the 'rainbow diet' is of help in this context. Colour therapy, chromotherapy and gemstone healing are all part of the same path that leads to the smooth flow of chakras. So, yoga asana packages and workshops designed to open up your chakras, meditation packages, reiki and pranic healing (both also related to chakra awareness) will make practitioners feel more empowered and in charge of their spiritual destiny.

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Lazy yoga



Till now, yoga has been practiced either by those seeking health or strength. Now, the lazy ones who have kept off it will savour it in its less challenging forms: chair yoga, aqua yoga (where the water's buoyancy makes certain poses easier), face yoga, Thai yoga (where a masseuse kneads your body into yogic poses) will become more popular, so that even those who cannot exert on the mat will find some way to relate to this science.

[smartkey]

I

I L

I LO

I LOV

I LOVE

I LOVE Y

I LOVE YO

I LOVE YOG

I LOVE YOGA

JAY BABA RAMDEV!!!

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