Rage Yoga Might Seem Contradictory But Fights Tension in a Unique Way
Meghan Young — March 4, 2016 — Lifestyle
It's easy to repress negative emotions in order to fit into a social ideal, but sometimes you need a safe space to let out all that pent up energy and for some that space is found in Rage Yoga. Yes, you read it right: Rage Yoga. Although this concept might seem contradictory, it essentially plays off of Laughter Yoga and even ends up being the latter quite quickly.
Developed by Lindsay Istace, who is based in Calgary, Alberta, Rage Yoga came out of a painful breakup. In place of soothing music, she plays heavy metal and practitioners are encouraged to scream, swear and use obscene gestures as they work through traditional yoga poses. Istace says, "When you create a space for yourself to be angry and to shout and swear and scream, suddenly it's hard to take yourself so seriously. So it goes from anger to laughter pretty quickly. And we have a lot of that going on here."
Developed by Lindsay Istace, who is based in Calgary, Alberta, Rage Yoga came out of a painful breakup. In place of soothing music, she plays heavy metal and practitioners are encouraged to scream, swear and use obscene gestures as they work through traditional yoga poses. Istace says, "When you create a space for yourself to be angry and to shout and swear and scream, suddenly it's hard to take yourself so seriously. So it goes from anger to laughter pretty quickly. And we have a lot of that going on here."
Trend Themes
1. Emotional Release Workouts - The trend towards emotional release workouts provides an opportunity for gyms and fitness studios to offer unique classes that cater to the mental health of their customers.
2. Non-traditional Yoga - The rise of non-traditional yoga practices such as Rage Yoga presents an opportunity for yoga studios to diversify their offerings and attract a wider range of clients.
3. Laughter Therapy - Laughter Yoga and Rage Yoga demonstrate the potential of laughter therapy in promoting mental wellbeing, which could be incorporated into medical treatments or mental health programs.
Industry Implications
1. Fitness - The emotional release workout trend creates opportunities for fitness companies to differentiate their offerings and provide more holistic wellness programs.
2. Yoga - Rage Yoga represents a disruptive innovation within the yoga industry, offering a potentially untapped market for non-traditional yoga practices.
3. Mental Health - Laughter therapy presents an innovative approach to supporting mental health, providing opportunities for healthcare providers and mental health professionals to integrate laughter therapy into their treatment plans.
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