URBAN YOGA

The Mood of Yoga is Changing

Urban Yoga is a captivating series of portraits that captures the essence of yoga in the bustling metropolises of London and Shanghai. Within these urban landscapes, individuals from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds come together to practice yoga amidst the chaos of everyday life.

The shapes of ancient asanas mingle with the diversity of the cities, creating a beautiful fusion of cultures and traditions. Every level of practitioner, with bodies of all shapes and sizes, come together to form shapes that stand out amongst the concrete jungles of these cities. Supermarkets, trains, underground stations, and street corners serve as the backdrop to this unique form of expression.

The mood of yoga is changing. It has found a new home amongst urban dwellers seeking calm amidst the frenetic pace of modern living. On the mat, practitioners find refuge in the space of the breath and the quiet of the heart. Age, race, and sex become irrelevant in this space, as individuals come together in a shared pursuit of inner peace and well-being.

As the practitioners bring this energy off the mat and into the streets, they become an embodiment of the transformative power of yoga. Amidst the chaos of these vibrant cities, the calmness and serenity they exude serve as a reminder that even in the busiest of places, there is always a space for stillness and introspection.

“The physical asana are just the beginning to equip the Sadhaka for higher experience. This Hatha yoga is: cleaning, trimming, preparing the equipment-that is, the gross body-so that finally a gateway to the subtle body may be opened with the tools that have been prepared.”

— Swami Veda Bharati

“Yoga is not an ancient myth buried in oblivion. It is the most valuable inheritance of the present- it is the essential need of today and the culture of tomorrow”

Swami Satyananda saraswati