The Rise of Yoga
As Hong Kong takes yoga to new heights, Katie Kenny and Caroline Leung bend over backwards to find out what makes the practice so incredibly popular.
At first thought, the fast-paced, high-rise lifestyle of Hong Kong doesn’t exactly sync with the tranquil movements of yoga. But if you consider the principles of yin and yang, that everything is built on opposing but complimentary forces, it makes harmonious sense that yoga would bring life in this busy city into balance.
“The great thing about yoga is that you can spend all day in a cramped little cubicle in the office, then escape to a studio in Central for lunch—there are plenty,” says Colin Grant, CEO of Pure Yoga. And nobody should know better. He’s responsible for opening the largest chain of yoga studios in Hong Kong just over six years ago—and they’ve added four more since, with additional branches in Singapore and Taipei.
The lavish facilities at Pure and other studios have led our city to be christened the Louis Vuitton of yoga. “It’s a huge difference from the rooms of the past, when it was just a little area without any mats, lockers or showers and five to six students at most,” says Grant. Pure Yoga studios measure in at over 20,000 square feet, beating out those in yoga-centric cities like New York. They also house exclusive boutiques stocking yoga clothing from lines such as Stella McCartney for Adidas and lululemon.
From stretch pants to studio memberships, Hong Kongers have certainly bought into the yoga boom. At Pure alone, there are now over 800 students attending classes each day. After last year’s successful debut, more than double the amount of practitioners have signed up for the upcoming Asia Yoga Conference. The number of exhibitors has also increased from 20 to 30, due to the demand for information on the more obscure branches of yoga. “We definitely have Hong Kong’s accessibility to thank for [the success],” says Annabelle Yeoh, one of the lead organizers of the conference.
Another reason for yoga’s growing popularity may be the fact that it’s open to all ages. Hema Aswani of The Yoga Room teaches Child Yoga, among other varieties. “I started getting into kids yoga after my daughter was born,” she says. “We offer an incredible program teaching children not only about performing poses but also a comprehensive approach that addresses the brain, mind and spirit in a fun manner.“
The practice of yoga is based around a mind, body and soul experience that may appeal to many Hong Kongers looking for a break from the busy life of the city as well as a work-out. “Many people take up yoga to reduce stress, treat physical injuries and improve flexibility. Yoga provides all the physical benefits of any other exercise yet offers much more,” says Aswani.
Could recent health scares also have contributed to yoga’s success? Connie Hong of Amico Studio believes it was part of the influence for the rising trend. “Yoga is becoming popular in Hong Kong because people today are more concerned about their health, especially after the SARS incident in 2003. Yoga can make people healthier as well as teach them how to keep focused and improve concentration.”