Yoga used to be all about the downward dog and focusing on your breathing. But that’s a thing of the past. From using real puppies to laughing your way through a workout, more and more people are finding unique ways to do yoga, as Lucy Beetson discovered…
Manchester has never been a city to shy away from reinvention, and its yoga scene is no exception. Beyond the traditional poses a wave of niche yoga practices is taking over studios across the city. From the belly-shaking joy of laughter yoga to the meditative vibrations of sound bath yoga and not forgetting the latest hot yoga craze these unique sessions promise more than just a workout – they’re an experience.
Breathe in… two, three. Breathe out… two, three… as we step into Manchester’s ever-evolving yoga scene and explore the unique practices bringing new energy to the city.
Is laughter the best medicine? In Manchester, laughter yoga is bringing a much-needed dose of sunshine. This playful practice blends deep yogic breathing with guided laughter exercises, creating a session that feels more like a comedy improv class than a traditional yoga flow. It is based around laughter’s ability, whether real or forced, to trigger feel-good endorphins, reducing stress and boosting mood.
Laughter yoga teacher and ambassador Sara Kay said: “It’s like having a brain holiday, it’s very hard to think about anything else when you’re laughing.”
Funny ha ha or funny peculiar, I still wasn’t sure but naturally intrigued by the practice, Sara guided me through a couple exercises so I could see what it was like.
Sara Kay runs sessions online and in person across the north west with a regular spot of hers in Bowdon, Altrincham.
She said: “I wanted to make a positive impact on the community around me.”
And even she admits she wasn’t completely convinced herself when she started out.
She recalled: “The key starting moment for me was sitting round in circles and the instructor saying close your eyes and see if any laughter comes out…
“I was like ‘why would any laughter come out? I can’t even see anybody! We aren’t even doing an exercise!’
“But laughter is just so contagious and soon the room filled with laughter and giggles.”
But having a laugh is not all this exercise is about. There are many benefits to laughter yoga according to Sara. It boosts moods, reduces stress, exercises the stomach, heart and brain, cleanses the lungs and can help you become more focussed.
Sara said: “You don’t really think about it when you’re laughing but it’s incredibly healthy.
“People thrive after doing the sessions and go onto great things so it’s like magical medicine but with a lot of knowledge behind it and a lot of scientific studies.”
But what about the yoga? Where’s the stretching and straightening?
“There’s no poses, there’s no lying down on the floor – the yoga part is the deep breathing,” she said.
“In between laughter yoga exercises we may get out of breath because we’re exhaling more air than we’re breathing in.
“To be able to keep that up that’s where the yoga deep breathing comes in – it’s a transitional exercise.
“If you didn’t do that in between the exercises you wouldn’t be able to sustain it.”
While laughter yoga celebrates its 30-year anniversary this month, some are just starting out – including a newly opened studio in West Didsbury.
The Studio on Burton is doing its best to offer as much yoga as possible (alongside their Pilates and barre classes too!).
From the sweat-inducing Hot Vinyasa to the fast-paced energy of Rocket Yoga, their range of specialist yogas highlights how the sport has evolved beyond the traditional poses into an experience that can be tailored entirely to your needs and ability.
Having only opened in January, owner Kate Silvers said: “It’s really nice to have a diverse range of classes to suit different people, styles and what they want to achieve from doing the practice.”
She emphasised the importance of inclusivity and ensuring that everyone, regardless of experience, feels welcome in the space.
Kate said: “One of the instructors says you’re never a beginner for long, it’s always about taking that first step.
“Nobody is here to judge you; nobody is here to laugh at you or look at what you’re doing.
“The good thing about yoga is people are in their own heads and their own space; it’s their own precious time – they’re not bothered about what someone else is doing.”
With that in mind, I headed to the studio myself eager to try some yoga!
My class? Vinyasa yoga. What is meant to be a seamless flow between dynamic poses and a more traditional yoga, it was very much a challenge put before me… As I can’t even touch my toes without bending at the knees, this class was definitely something that pushed me beyond my usual limits. But as the class flowed quickly on, each movement linking seamlessly to the next, it left me little time to overthink my lack of flexibility.
Despite struggling to keep up at times, the instructor’s guidance kept me on track while the energy in the room remained soothing and calm. By the end, I was glowing (although possibly from the sweat) and my muscles aching – but there was a real sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. Vinyasa yoga may not be easy for the not so flexible, but it’s a rewarding challenge for anyone willing to embrace the flow.
Meanwhile another entirely different experience is popping up all over town – sound bath yoga.
The humming sounds and vibrations of gongs and singing baths as you move between poses relaxes you into a meditative state where you can let go of your stress and worries and move into a more peaceful mindset.
Gong bath guru Martyn Cawthorne describes how the gongs guide you through your yoga session.
He says: “The gongs are very helpful at freeing up space in your mind such that your experience with the yoga is then much more direct.
“You’re able to move into the position and feel it and be present with it without the distraction of everyday mind.”
He adds: “One of the great things about the gongs is it’s not a prescribed thing that does the same thing for everybody.
“It completely meets you in the middle between your body and mind and what the sounds and vibrations are doing, and you get this experience of complete ‘being at homeness’. And then suddenly you come back, and everybody always asks: ‘Gosh, where did the time go?'”
But what if the meditative sounds of sound bath yoga were replaced with the small barks of dogs?
Enter puppy yoga!
Yoga couldn’t get much cuter than posing in front of a furry little friend as you flow through the movements. While you stretch breath and relax puppies bundle freely round the room looking for cuddles and a play…. Serotonin definitely induced!!!
Manchester’s yoga scene has never been so diverse embracing everything from laughter to gongs to puppies. But it’s not just Manchester, across the world new yoga trends are appearing. Between Germany’s beer yoga, Canada’s rage yoga and Americas goat yoga it’s not clear what will be next to hit our city….
Feature Image: Dane Wetton via Unsplash
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