Wine Yoga, Doga & More: The 6 quirkiest yoga styles to try in Singapore?

Sarah Khan 26 Oct 2017

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Quirkiest Yoga Practices in Singapore
Browse through the gallery for the most unconventional yoga styles you absolutely need to try at least once in Singapore!
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Beer Yoga
What it is: Now, if you're a yoga purist, you might slightly resent the idea of beer and yoga - but hear us out. Since starting in Germany a few years ago, beer yoga has been growing in popularity all over the world. If you think that all it entails is drunken beer-chugging and sloppy yoga poses, you thought wrong. Beer yoga classes takes you through the traditional, basic yoga poses, except most of the poses involve clutching a beer bottle in your hands while balancing and stretching with it. You're invited to take sips of the beer at specific intervals by your instructor, and are reminded to keep the bottle half-full for the end of the class. The idea behind beer yoga is to truly let people release the tensions in their body, while also working out, which many participants can attest to. Rather than being too intoxicated, the beer actually helps heightens your alertness and awareness of your body.

Where to try it: Private beer yoga sessions upon request and special outdoor beer yoga sessions by Trium Fitness, Singapore
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Laughing Yoga
What it is: Laughter yoga, also known as "hasyayoga", is a practice that involves prolonged, voluntary laughter. It hinges on the belief that laughing voluntarily gives you the same physiological and psychological benefits as spontaneous laughing. Typically done in groups, with plenty of (albeit nervous) eye contact, jest and jokes among participants, the initially awkward first few seconds of forced laughter actually turns into genuine, contagious laughter! Laughter yoga began gaining traction since its development in 2002 by Indian physician Madan Kataria in his book, Laugh for No Reason.

Where to try it in Singapore: Singapore Laughter Yoga
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Cat Yoga
What it is: Yes, cat yoga is officially a thing. Much like dog yoga, cat yoga involves bringing your cat to yoga, with some classes involving your feline companion as part of some of the poses as well (mostly holding them mid-pose). Some classes, like the one at the cat cafe Neko No Niwa, lets you take part in the class with a studio full of their cats. It actually can make for a slightly comical experience, watching a few of the more curious cats wandering through the participants' legs at they're balancing or sniffing around them as they're positioning themselves in a cow pose. Those who have tried cat yoga can vouch for the oddly relaxing element the cats bring to the studio.

Where to try it in Singapore: Cat Cafe Neko No Niwa

Photo: Cat Cafe Neko No Niwa (Facebook)
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Doga (Dog Yoga)
What it is: Doga, or "dog yoga", certainly gives new meaning to the "downward dog" yoga pose. Realising that the benefits of yoga can also be extended to their dogs, increasing numbers of people (Singaporeans included) are bringing their pooches to yoga. This has led to the popularity of 'doga' classes, which are yoga classes specifically for dog-owning yogis. According to Mahny Djahanguiri, founder and director of London-based animal yoga label, Dogamahny, practising yoga with your pets can enhance your relationship with them. So the next time you're looking for alternative ways to spend quality time with your pup, forget the morning cuddles and consider taking them along with you to yoga!
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Sushi Yoga
What it is: If you needed another excuse to enjoy your sushi, then sushi yoga is just for you. This might be something arguably unique to Singapore, and involves the fusion of a specific Japanese form of yoga known as Shinshin-tōitsu-dō and a classic Hatha practice. The best part about the class is that once the actual 60-minutes practice concludes, you'll get to experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony and enjoy a scrumptious sushi spread and free flow of Japanese green tea.

Where to try it in Singapore: Japanese Yoga & Sushi at Botanic Gardens by Funzing

Photo: Japanese Yoga & Sushi at Botanic Gardens by Funzing
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Wine Yoga
What it is: As it turns out, combining vino and yoga is the new zen fitness trend. Wine and yoga parties are cropping up across New York City and California vineyards, and looks like it's the trend is finally gaining traction in Singapore. If you're a self-proclaimed oenophile (wine lover) and yoga enthusiast, this might actually be a yoga style you'll enjoy. Incorporating wine into the practice isn't just fun, but actually adds to the overall benefits of yoga. It's unsurprising that wine gives you that uninhibited feeling and relaxed sensation, which helps you further release tension and "let go". Some research even suggest that a glass or two of red wine helps to burn fat, which adds to the fat-burning properties of yoga itself.

Where to try it in Singapore: Wine Yoga & Citylights at One Fullerton Heritage (Funzing)

Photo: Wine Yoga & Citylights at One Fullerton Heritage (Funzing)

One thing’s for sure: these are not your average yoga classes.

Simply put, yoga is everywhere. You’d almost be hard-pressed to find someone who has yet to dabble in a downward dog position at least once in their life. Depending on your preference, there are various yoga styles available in Singapore: from ashtanga and hatha to bikram and iyengar, there is something for everyone.

However, the unprecedented popularity of yoga among urban females has also led to the rise of, ahem, slightly alternative yoga styles. Have you heard of “doga” (also known as dog yoga), for instance? What about laughter yoga? Granted, as unconventional as these initially might sound, you might be surprised that they do actually offer legitimate physical and emotional benefits.

If you’re a yoga enthusiast or are simply one to love dabbling in anything on the quirkier side of life, browse the gallery above! Even if you’re skeptical on its benefits, at the very least they’ll make for a good story to tell.

Sarah Khan

Photos: GettyImages

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