There have been several episodes of people quitting their primary jobs or what they call their day jobs to chase their passion or dream. For some, it’s about the excitement of being their own bosses while for others it’s about doing what they love. So, what happens when two friends decide they need to chase their dream of doing Yoga and spreading the joy and thrill they claim it gives them?
Yoga Chakra was born. A studio that not just teaches yoga, but mixes it several other things like dance, a swimming pool and Arial silk. “We love dancing and yoga, so when we decided to do something of our own, it was clear it will be either of the two. But when we started, we thought why not mix them up. Initially it seemed like a weird idea, but when we started doing it the response was amazing as everybody loved it,” said Kavita Das one of the founders of Yoga Chakra.
“It started with mixing dancing and yoga but went on as we started Aqua Yoga and Arial Yoga. Which are basically normal Yoga Asanas done in a pool in case of Aqua Yoga or on two silk cloths suspended from a ceiling in case of Arial Yoga,” said Manisha Kohli the other founder.
Kavita who had a corporate life for six years says it was the pressure and unhealthy routine that made her realise it’s not what she wanted to do. “Initially it seemed like a bad idea due the salary factor but then when we started I realised it not always about the money for the love and affection we get from our students, but is way more satisfying than the heft pay cheques.”
Manisha on the contrary continues to work alongside. “I love my job so no ways I will ever quit it. Yes, I will not deny. It does get really tiring juggling the two together but it’s worth it. My younger brother says that I’m burning the candle from both ends.”
The origins of yoga have been speculated to date back to pre-Vedic Indian traditions, but most likely developed around the sixth and fifth centuries. Over the years, several other forms or modifications have come up. So the idea of mixing yoga and dance and Arial silk doesn’t seem that strange.
“It started with mixing dancing and yoga but went on as we started Aqua Yoga and Arial Yoga. Which are basically normal Yoga Asanas done in a pool in case of Aqua Yoga or on two silk cloths suspended from a ceiling in case of Arial Yoga.”
According to David Gordon White from the 5th century onward, the core principles of yoga were more or less in place, and variations of these principles developed in various forms over time
Remember Bikram Yoga, which takes a 5,000-year-old practice and puts it into a 105-degree room. Bikram yoga moves through a fixed series of traditional poses in a 90-minute session, in a room with an air temperature of 105 degrees and 40 percent humidity.
Classic yoga should be practiced without profuse sweating or an elevated heart rate. And the practice is about listening to your body without distractions. It seems to be popular maybe due to the fact that the practitioners get addicted to the endorphins that are released in the body when it’s pushed too hard.