20 June,2016 07:45 AM IST | | Fiona Fernandez
The city in a rush can benefit from dedicated, round-the-year yoga programmes in its schools, colleges and workspaces
We're pretty sure that by tomorrow; today, even, his grin would have grown wider. Look around. There's hot yoga, power yoga, floating yoga, pilates-yoga, fusion yoga; it's tough to keep track of fads and new-age tweaks that have been added to this humble routine before you are able to wrap up one cycle of Surya Namaskar.
Add to that the spike in innovative yoga-centric deals and offers that will make you want to attempt a headstand (Please do not, unless you're not an expert). If you are a yoga virgin, it's a confusing time. Yoga breakfasts, mom-and-kid sessions, mom-to-be sessions, kiddie sessions, weekend sessions, stories with yoga and family sessions. And while you're at it, pick up a copy of any of the gazillion âHow To' yoga books penned by uber cool, frequent flyer gurus. Phew. Breathe.
We'd cite the attention overkill towards yoga as a good thing, having been a practitioner (and fan) for years now. To inculcate a healthier addition to the average Mumbaikar's time-strapped lifestyle is a much, much-needed positive step. But as is with any other event where the hype around it often dilutes the actual cause, Yoga Day - now with the official United Nations tag - seems to be going the same way. After all, it's the new cool for now.
In a week's time, at the most, the yoga mats will be rolled away, left to hibernate in their spiffy carry-along cases, and life will be back to the usual grind. What the city desperately needs is a sustained programme where it becomes a way of life across our schools, colleges and workspaces, and not just an annual phenomenon. Nothing can be more rejuvenating (and result-aiding) than a 20-minute session in the middle of a back-breaking, deadline-packed day. It's cheap, effective and simple to practise, and flexible to follow depending on your time and energy levels.
While this might sound like a Utopian idea, it is entirely executable in today's day and age where most of us find time to hit the gym, attend ballet class or run a marathon. Sleep over the thought, or else, there's always Shavasana to get you there.
mid-day's Features Editor Fiona Fernandez relishes the city's sights, sounds, smells and stones...wherever the ink and the inclination takes her. She tweets @bombayana. Send your feedback to mailbag@mid-day.com