Rigorous and probably infallible scientific studies show that over 50% of all New Year’s resolutions lapse within the first week. That number increases to something like 90% at the end of January; we believe it -- the internet told us so.

However! Don’t give up! If one of your resolutions was to get fit in 2011, why not try some yoga? Holistic wellness permeating your entire being and oneness with the universe and all that. SmartShanghai tried out five very unique yoga options around town that, we hope, by their very uniqueness they will hold your interest through that powerful urge to just quit and order Munchies.

From a different point of view...

If you're looking to upend your perspective on the 1000-year-old art form, you can be no more upended than when you're literally suspended upside-down. Inverted poses are nothing new to practitioners of yoga but the "Yoga on Ropes" class at Yoga 109 offers a true sensation of weightlessness by literally hanging you upside down with ropes. That's authenticity. The use of props is common in the practice of "Iyengar Yoga", where you ideally hang for 15-30 minutes before class, or until your toes goes numb. This lengthens your spine and optimizes further practice. Hanging in an inverted lotus pose does not only release tension in neck and lower back, but is also the perfect relaxation posture, comparable with savasana, the dead man pose that usually ends a session.

Teddy, teacher at Yoga 109, started using ropes in his regular classes a while ago, but it became so popular that the studio decided to dedicate one class a week only to rope practice. This kind of yoga is especially good for people with back problems, but Teddy encourages anyone interested in deepening their practice to give it a go.

Details: Try out the latest yoga craze at the cozy French concession studio Yoga 109, every Wednesday at 7.30 pm. Drop in price is 150 per class, but newcomers can try two classes for 200rmb. More info on the studio at their webpage.

Turning back the hands of time...

Of course, there is no elixir or simple remedy that can truly make you young forever, but that doesn't mean you can't fully combat the aging process with healthy living, and the "Anti-Aging Yoga" program at Body and Soul Yoga is a great option to maintain spiritual and physical vitality. According to the yogic system, the body is divided into energy zones -- chakras. Four of them; Sahastrara chakra -- located on top of the head, Anhatha chakra -- located at the heart, Visuddhi chakra -- at the throat and Manipura chakra- - in the solar plexus region, are, when stimulated, believed to reverse the aging process.

Body and Soul Yoga has put together a program that does just that, with postures that excite just these areas. So if you're looking to get that young body back, stir up your chakras in a series of chest opening postures, spinal twists, back ward-bends and head stands at this unique anti-aging class.

Details: There are two anti-aging sessions per week at their two studio locations: usually, it's Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2pm at the Jing'an studio and Thursdays at 3pm and Fridays at 12pm at the Luijiazui studio. Do check their website for an updated weekly schedule. Drop in price is 188rmb/class.

It's never too late to start...

Okay, so you're a little overweight, maybe you're a little older and not flexible as you used to be and haven't done lots of sports recently. This doesn't mean yoga is not for you. It's never too late. Check out The Orange Room. The classes being taught at The Orange Room are safe for beginners; no one judges and everyone practices on their own terms. The owners and expat yogis, Kathleen, Anita and Pat, shy away from an explicit name for their brand of yoga, but it's basically a mix of Hatha, Anasara and Iyengar. The focus lies in getting the postures right and feel secure in class, not to double over in acrobatic poses. As classes are scheduled before noon, Hongqiao's housewives have enough time to get their kids to school, squeeze in a yoga class and still meet up with working spouses for lunch. Great option if you don't already have the physique of a rubber band, but are interested in the healthy benefits of yoga and pilates.

Details: One yoga and one pilates class are free for first-timers. After that, drop in price is 150/class, but there are plenty of membership deals to choose from. Check their website for more information.

A private party...

Having a devoted teacher like Rob from Red Door Yoga all to yourself is any yogi's dream. As you do the Ashtanga primary series, he uses his body against yours to deepen and correct the postures. Standing upside down in "the wheel", Rob somehow crawls in below, lifts me up by the feet and let me hang down his back to release the pose. It's like pair-gymnastics completely dedicated to make the most out of your 90 minutes of practise. Yoga with Rob is an addiction -- all of you lazy yogis who lack motivation or simply need a re-start, head over to Red Door Yoga. You will get inspired.

Details: Private classes with Rob are 600rmb/session. But you can also sign up for one of the morning classes and cross your fingers no one else turns up. At the moment Red Door Yoga lets newcomers try out a week of classes for a mere 200rmb. See their website for detailed schedule.

Trance yoga...

If you like to lose it on the dance floor, but are too shy to go completely bananas, freestyle yoga dance might be just the thing. Weila Wu, owner of Yoga Space, has been teaching this out-of-the-ordinary class every Saturday afternoon for about three years. The connection with yoga is vague, we would rather call it freaking out to loud trance music, but the class definitely lives up to its promise of "freeing your mind”. It's a good aerobic workout for your body as well as your soul, and freestyle dancing releases muscle tension. The multi-talented Weila also recently opened up her own bar, Shiva Lounge, so if one class of freestyle-dancing a week's not enough to completely release that mind, you can shake your ass there anytime you'd like.

Details: Weila Wu's Yoga Space is the only studio in China that offers freestyle yoga dance. There is one class every Saturday at 3 pm. Drop in price is 188rmb/class. More info at their webpage.

All Nightlife Articles » All Articles »

All Dining Articles » All Articles »

All Art & Stage Articles » All Articles »

All Activities Articles » All Articles »