When it comes to the benefits of yoga, most people think of flexibility and stress deduction—but what about creativity? The International Research Journal of Business and Management found that yoga training can result in enhanced creativity and the unique yoga trends popping up worldwide back up their research!
Some yoga teachers renounce these up-and-coming forms of yoga as a disgrace to ‘true yoga’ while others appreciate the spirit of creativity present in the yoga community. Read on to learn more about these 8 weird yoga trends we love and you be the judge!
1. Goat Yoga
Goat Yoga came about by accident. Farm owner, Lainey Morse, had an evening farm walk that visitors started calling “Goat Happy Hour ®”, but it didn’t start the fad of “Goat Yoga TM” until a local yoga teacher hosted a yoga class on her farm in August 2012. Goat Yoga was born and now continues as a form of yoga that combines the benefits of yoga and animal therapy.
2. Rage Yoga
Lindsay Istace founded Rage Yoga for those of us that don’t necessarily find peace by gentle stretching and spa tunes. On the Rage Yoga website, Lindsay states, “I knew there were other like-minded weirdos who wanted a kick ass practice and to unleash their inner badass… so I created Rage Yoga!”
3. Nude Yoga
Nude Yoga goes back to the seventh century with it’s first mention in the Bhagavata Purana. It’s a combination of feeling extremely vulnerable, liberated and empowered all at the same time. Few people spend time alone naked, so imagine the level of discomfort doing awkward yoga poses naked, in public! Generally, you are completely nude with the option for women to keep their bottoms on.
4. Laughter Yoga
Laughter Yoga, or Hasya Yoga, was founded by Indian physician Madan Kataria in 1995 and has since grown to more than 500 laughter clubs worldwide. Laughter Yoga combines specially-designed exercises with laughter meditation and breathing exercises. What results is a yoga class filled with both voluntary and spontaneous laughter.
5. Beer Yoga
“Bottoms up” has a whole new meaning in Beer Yoga. Beer Yoga is pretty straightforward—you simply do yoga in a brewery or taproom while enjoying a brew. The great thing about it is that it introduces yoga to people that would usually have no interest. “Want to go to yoga class?” turns into “Want to grab a beer?”
6. Dog Yoga
Dog Yoga or “Doga” is a great excuse to bond with your pup. The dogs don’t actually do yoga, but their presence helps remind yoga practitioners to be more playful and let go of perfection. Plus, it’s a great way for both you and your dog to meet new friends.
7. Tantrum Yoga
It’s finally okay—even encouraged—to throw a temper tantrum. Tantrum Yoga helps students find inner peace by letting out all their inner pain and anger by screaming, stomping their feet, and crying like a child.
8. Glowga
Glow-in-the-Dark Yoga, shortened to “Glowga”, is yoga practiced under black and neon lights. Sometimes those in class even paint themselves with glow-in-the-dark paint for an even more scenic class!