Transforming yoga

As soon as they appeared, the ladies below immediately cheered and whistled. Is this the opening ceremony of the latest boy band? Is this a model shooting scene in an underwear mail-order catalog? Neither. In fact, last month's event was far more significant than band debuting and model performance filming. It was Europe's first yoga championship.

Championship? Isn't this the opposite of all the connotations of yoga? Yes, maybe there was a conflict. The ancient practice of yoga used to be the preserve of hippies and middle-aged village women. It could only be seen in villages or rural halls where hippies lived in groups. Nowadays, yoga has changed a lot. It became a fashion statement, a new trend in bodybuilding, and a competitive sport, as evidenced by the beautiful men at Pustd City Hall.

The goal of tournament organizers is to include yoga in the Olympic competition, but current evidence suggests that it will be many years away from achieving this goal. A group of men and women twist their bodies to form various static shapes, which may not make people from all over the world feel thrilling. Last month's competition was also a very interesting event. It seems to be a combination of bodybuilding and gymnastics. Watching each player complete 7 poses in 3 minutes was still very lively, but it betrayed the tradition of yoga introspection and retreat, so it was a little funny. (Internship Editor: Shi Yixiong)