lithe young celebrities bend their bodies into pretzels in an effort to keep up with Madonna

--By Lindsay Alderton and Josie Wu Translated by Sho Huang

It is an irony that yoga, which originated in India over 3,000 years ago, circumnavigated the globe and became popular in the West before taking East Asia by storm. Despite this wayward journey, the current craze, which has swept through Hong Kong and Japan, has now very much arrived in Taiwan. Yoga gyms and health clubs are springing up all over the island and, with possibly as many as over a million Taiwanese practitioners, yoga is becoming one of the most popular ways to exercise and still the mind.

Yoga's influence is everywhere now in mainstream pop culture. While the practice was still very much personified by the cheese-cloth and patchouli brigade a decade ago, it is now more likely to be epitomised by the legions of lithe young celebrities, who regularly bend their bodies into pretzels in an effort to keep up with Madonna. Advertisers are cashing in on the boom and even McDonald's has offered a give-away yoga DVD as part of its healthy make-over campaign. One has to wonder if the true message behind this ancient tradition is in danger of being lost.

Yoga is the Sanskrit word for "union", and the ultimate aim is to strike a balance between the physical and mental. Through a disciplined system of exercises, the practitioner hopes to unify control of the body and mind. Psychologically speaking, it is not surprising that with the increased stresses of modern living--in both Asia and beyond--many have turned to yoga as a safe sanctuary from which to both reflect and revive. For others, in these tumultuous times of religious warfare, yoga has provided a peaceful philosophy with which to fill the spiritual void. For the vast majority, however, the attraction stems from something far more simple--the desire to increase levels of physical health and well-being--and, in the words of one young yoga enthusiast, "ultimately, to have a beautiful body."

The physical benefits of yoga are well documented. With regular practice, yoga can help you grow stronger, more toned, and more flexible. It improves respiration, energy, and vitality, and helps to maintain a balanced metabolism, which regulates weight. Alongside promoting cardiovascular health, it also helps you look and feel younger.
Space Yoga, established in March last year, provides a brightly-lit practice environment and professional bilingual instruction. Without a doubt, they are among the trend leaders in Taiwan. Zen Chung, the Public Relations manager of Space Yoga, said that as the number of Yoga practitioners is increasing, Space Yoga opened up its second school last month on AnHe Road. Power Yoga is also introduced here.

Pure Yoga and True Yoga are also fruits of the Yoga frenzy. True Yoga just set up an 800-ping second school at Asialife shopping mall. The school emphasizes authentic Indian Yoga lessons and boasts the largest lounge-style practice space. Pure Yoga, located in the East District, is a modern nine floor building with huge glass windows and see-through curtains. Each floor is designed into ten Yoga studios except the first and the second floors. The fifth and eighth floors are the dressing areas for female practitioners.

Pop singer Faith Yang described her first Yoga lesson at Space Yoga as painful. She kept asking herself why she put up with this. At the end of the lesson, she was soaking wet yet felt unusually relaxed. To feel that relaxation again and again, she dragged herself back to the classroom despite her sore muscles. After a year, she's pleased to see the results; tight and firm thighs, belly and arms. "It's like winning an award."
Another singer, Valen Hsu, began her Yoga lessons six years ago. Years of practice brings nice colour to her face and curving figure. "However, the most important thing is that Yoga allows my soul to communicate with my body and enables me to experience true happiness."

South African Dean Leppan, 26 years old, has been attending the Yoga lessons at The Swami Salami School of Yoga for more than a year. "I had taken Yoga lessons in India. It's not a 'girly' exercise or something for effeminate men. Rob, the qualified Yoga therapy instructor there, shows me how Yoga can help me totally relax." Another student, Xia Dong-Dong, said that instead of mirrors in the classroom to distract you, Rob acts as your mirror to correct your posture. "Every muscle in your body feels the soothing effects. The practice also involves a lot of stretching and deep breathing which keeps you relaxed throughout. It takes a lot of focus to hold some of the positions but, as a result, I feel far more clear-headed and less restless, and physically stronger and more balanced. All in all, I feel great, both inside and out." "Yoga has no limits, either for age or body type," says Rob. "And it is a wrong assumption that you have to be super-flexible to begin with. This is not the case at all. It's much more about the process than the final product, about helping you to find your limitations and not forcing the body into painful positions."

Alongside the burgeoning supply of yoga gyms and fitness centres, there are also community classes taking place in Taiwan's city parks, and several businesses now go so far as to offer weekly yoga as an option for their employees. Even some schools are now advocating yoga as an extra-curricular activity for children, who naturally have the tools for flexibility, but need a calming discipline to help them better focus their concentration levels.

The future of yoga in Asia seems certain to keep on expanding, so there has never been a better time to let go of your stereotypes, open your mind, and give it a try!

Yoga Schools in Taipei:

Alexander Group:
(02) 555-88888
www.alexander.com.tw

California Fitness:
(02) 5582-1208
www.californiafitness.com

Chiu Su Jen Center Yoga
www.csjyoga.com.tw

GYMLUX
www.gymlux.com.tw

Manna Yoga
(02) 8771-4362
26, Lane 187, DunHua S Rd, Sec 1
www.mannayoga.com.tw

Pure Yoga
(02) 8161-7888
151, ZhongXiao East Rd, Sec 4
www.pure-yoga.com

Space Yoga
(02) 2773-8108
AnHe Branch: 27, AnHe Rd, Sec 1, 16F
AnHe 2nd Branch: 29, AnHe Rd, Sec 1, 16 F
(02) 2877-2108
TianMu Branch: 5, Lane 43 TianMu E Rd
www.withinspace.com

The Swami Salami School of Yoga
0918-494-082
8, Alley 3, Lane 251, ZhongXiao E Rd, Sec 3
www.theswamisalamischoolofyoga.com

True Yoga
563, ZhongXiao E Rd, Sec 4; (02) 2764-8888
337, NanJing E Rd, Sec 3, 9/10F; (02) 2716-1234
www.trueyoga.com.tw

YoYo Yoga
www.yoyoyoga.com.tw