International Yoga Day 2025: Finding stillness in the chaos of Indian cities

In the pulsating heart of Indias metros where deadlines blur into demanding schedules and the citys rhythm often feels relentlessly fast a quiet revolution is taking placeUrban professionals and busy individuals are turning to yoga not just for physical prowess but as an indispensable tool for navigating the hustle and anxieties of modern lifeThis International Day of Yoga we delve into the lives of urban yogis who are finding stillness amidst the citys chaosYoga gave me the ability to respond instead of reactFor Maitri Boda a fitness enthusiast and cofounder of Squat Up in Mumbai the impact of yoga extends far beyond the physical The biggest shift has honestly been internal Yoga gave me the ability to respond instead of react she shares In a city like Mumbai and a profession that demands constant movement and decisionmaking Boda emphasises the invaluable role of this internal calm That pause that internal calm is everything It has helped me become more emotionally resilient This resilience she notes translates directly into her professional life Even on chaotic days I dont carry stress into my interactions That balance has translated into clearer thinking better leadership and a more grounded approach to problemsolving which I feel is just as important as physical strengthFitting yoga into a demanding schedule Bodas advice is pragmatic The trick is to stop treating yoga like a luxury or an extra and to start treating it like a necessity She advocates for consistency over intensity emphasising that itrsquos not always about doing a perfect 60minute flow Some days itrsquos 15 minutes of stretching in the studio before clients come in Other days itrsquos breathwork or just a quiet moment in a childs pose before I sleep Her key takeaway What helped was dropping the allornothing mindset and embracing consistency over intensity I remind myself that even a little yoga is better than none and that mindset keeps me connected to the practice no matter how packed the day isWhat began as a physical discipline has become a way of livingPrakriti Poddar global head of mental health and wellbeing at Roundglass Living offers a profound perspective stating Yoga is the practice of becoming whole With over four decades of personal practice Poddar describes yoga as her anchor She explains It is the practice I return to again and again to centre myself What began as a physical discipline has become a way of living a quiet reminder in each breath and movement of what truly mattersPoddar emphasises that yoga transcends performance At its heart yoga is not about performance It is about learning to face yourself as you are The more I practice the more I see how much I have to learn Yoga humbles me But it also gives me the tools to keep working with discipline and selfcompassion This practice has seamlessly integrated into every aspect of her life Over time yoga has become part of everything how I sit speak make decisions and relate to others She highlights the foundational ethical principles of yogardquo Yama discipline and niyama observance have shaped the way I understand truth restraint kindness and gratitudeThe yoga practitioner also sheds light on yogas holistic view of the body Yoga has also expanded my understanding of the body not as something to control or sculpt but as a mirror of the mind Each posture teaches me something about where I hold tension how I respond to discomfort and whether I am forcing or allowingAs a mental health professional Poddar observes a convergence between ancient wisdom and modern science As someone who works in mental health and wellbeing I often find that science is now catching up with what the yogis knew intuitively Studies show that yoga and mindfulness support emotion regulation reduce stress and strengthen the parts of the brain linked to introspection and selfawareness What was once observed through deep practice is now visible in scans and dataYet the most significant lessons she notes are immeasurable They come quietly when you hold a pose longer than you thought you could or realise that the strength you seek has been within you all along These skills are cultivated through showing up for ourselves day after day especially when it is hardPoddar elaborates on the eight limbs of yoga as outlined by Patanjali and revived by BKS Iyengar The eight limbs of yoga remind us that yoga is not only about movement It is an ethical and spiritual path Each limb builds upon the next moving from outward behaviour to inward awareness The physical postures asana are only one part This comprehensive approach has empowered her to navigate uncertainty with steadinessFor this International Day of Yoga she extends an invitation I invite you to let yoga become your school your mirror your practice Let it guide you not toward perfection but toward wholenessYoga isnrsquot the pause after the chaos ndash itrsquos what steadies me through itMallika Timblo founder of Terrapy echoes this sentiment admitting To be honest I used to think of yoga as a luxury something Irsquod get to after the work was done the lists were ticked off and the day was somehow quiet But if life in Mumbai teaches you anything itrsquos this time never frees itself you have to claim it For Timblo yoga is no longer a postchaos activity but rather an active steadying force So now yoga isnrsquot the pause after the chaos ndash itrsquos what steadies me through itThe most profound change for Timblo has been mental clarity Beyond flexibility or fitness itrsquos been mental clarity Irsquom less reactive More aware she states While it hasnt silenced the internal noise Itrsquos helped me choose which noise matters Itrsquos taught me that stillness isnrsquot laziness itrsquos resistance Especially for women who are expected to always keep goingHer approach to making time for yoga is equally flexible I donrsquot chase perfection Or wait for the perfect 60minute slot she explains Some days itrsquos seven minutes of CatCow Downward Dog and Warrior asanas Other days five minutes of pranayama before a meeting or between calls Or attempts at Yoga Nidra at 10 PM with the day still buzzing in my head I fit it in the cracks imperfectly but consistently For Timblo ldquoThis is the real practice And on most days itrsquos more than enough