An alternative type of yoga exists where participants can swear their stress away and have beer breaks to re-energise.
Six days ago, I began a challenge called ‘30 Days Of Yoga To A New You’. I’ve never done yoga before, so I thought starting out with a free series in the comfort of my own home would be a good way to go.
It turns out, it’s all still way over my head. On day one, the instructor said ‘okay, now from a standing position, just keep your legs straight and put your head on your shins’.
I invite you to try this ‘forward fold’, and if you can do it, I salute you. I can’t, and honestly the thought of having a beer in between attempts seems like a great way to take the edge off my frustration.
With all this in mind, I think Rage Yoga might be the exercise for me. The programme was founded by Lindsay Istace, and as well as online courses there are currently three physical locations where you can practise relaxing through rage; Calgary and Edmonton in Canada, and Houston, Texas in the US.
The official Rage Yoga website explains:
A practice involving stretching, positional exercises and bad humor, with the goal of attaining good health and to become zen as f*ck.
More than just a practice, Rage Yoga is an attitude.
Breathe in the good shit. Breathe out the bullshit and let that shit go. Whatever that shit is, you can get through it…
Posted by Rage Yoga on Wednesday, 5 September 2018
Ashley Duzich, Rage Yoga instructor at Brash Brewery in Houston, spoke further about what exactly Rage Yoga entails to CBS DFW, saying:
Some people need to release and let go. We are all angry about something and we all have been holding onto an ‘F’-bomb for a little bit too long.
So that’s what this does – is – it allows you to have a safe space to let go of your and frustration and rage in a healthy way… and then also wash it all away with some ice cold beer.
It’s definitely not for everybody and that’s totally OK… I also don’t recommend bringing your children.
The instructor admitted she hears a few amusing outbursts from frustrated yogis, saying:
This is a great thing to just scream it out. One of the funniest things I think I ever heard was, ‘I told you to do the dishes!’
It seems like Rage Yoga could prevent a lot of arguments.
Hopefully more locations will pop up before too long so we can all take part in a revitalising session of beer drinking, stretching and swearing.
Namaste!
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Emily Brown first began delivering important news stories aged just 13, when she launched her career with a paper round. She graduated with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University, and went on to become a freelance writer and blogger. Emily contributed to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems before becoming a journalist at UNILAD, where she works on breaking news as well as longer form features.