What would you expect your yoga class to be like – calm, noiseless, serene, Zen-like and peaceful so that you can drop your many random thoughts, and embark on a soul-searching journey? Not if you enrolled yourself in Dickens Pub in Calgary, Canada.
These classes involve heavy metal music, swearing, yelling and alcohol.
Even if the idea started out as a joke, Istace, the badass, unconventional Yogi thought of going ahead with it.
Not meant for everyone, it aims at letting emotions out in an honest way. TBH, anyone who tries Yoga out for the first time, will need to swear a little anyway.
Her website reads, “Want to better your strength, flexibility and become zen as fuck? Enjoy the occasional f-bomb or innuendo? You’ve come to the right place.”
The 24-year-old Istace, who created Rage Yoga after going through a painful breakup, said that she found it appealed to first-timers who were intimated by the ‘usual yoga culture’ but also to experienced yoga students who wanted ‘something a little less serious’.
She charges $12 for a class and the price includes a free beer ticket (who wouldn’t sign up for these classes!) – students are invited to take ‘hydration’ breaks at the bar.
Istace, a contortionist, fire-eater and juggler and told CBC, “When I started going to yoga classes, I felt like I didn’t really fit in at a lot of those different studios. [They have a] very deadpan, serious, overly serene approach to things. And that’s just not how I roll.”
So, maybe turn on some loud music, grab a mat, pour yourself a glass of Chenin Blanc, yell a little at your ex/maid/boss/neighbour/anyone/anything and give Rage Yoga a shot.
While this cultural appropriation may enrage some of the non-rage Yogis, it sure is making a lot of other people, who are not very comfortable in a silent, serene class warm up to Yoga.
Wrong or right, we do not know, at times, conversations are only a means to lead us somewhere, or not. But why not try something new and different anyway!