Mumbaikars reveal how they make time for yoga routines in their busy schedule

With 150 million practitioners as per a 2023 data shared by Yoga Vidya School India leads the list of countries where yoga is the preferred medium of exercise But with hectic and demanding schedules making the time for a wellness yogic routine can be especially challenging for the average Mumbaikar So to celebrate International Yoga Day we invite two enthusiasts to tell us how they make yoga work for themShivali Chatterjee teaches a class Pic CourtesyInstagramFor the Mumbaikar in a hurryContrary to public perception you donrsquot need to exclusively dedicate an hour every day to make yoga work for you Any amount is good as long as you are consistent says yoga educator Shivali Chatterjeegtgt If you only have 10 minutes mdash Do six surya namaskars and two minutes of pranayamagtgt If you only have 20 minutes mdash Do 12 surya namaskars and five minutes of pranayamagtgt If you only have 30 minutes mdash Do 12 surya namaskars balancing twists and seated postures for 10 minutes end your workout with 10 minutes of pranayama and meditationShe practises handstandRemember yoga is not only about physical poses The entirety of yoga includes a wide range of contemplative and selfdisciplinary practices such as meditation chanting mantra prayer breath work rituals and even selfless action All these aspects of yoga not only help to improve your physical flexibility but also help to develop mental clarity and relieve chronic stress symptoms and inflammation Some types of yoga classes can also aid in strengthbuilding improving muscle tone and building lean muscle massIt gives me joySanam Jaisingh 51 entrepreneurSanam Jaisingh performs a RaktapotasanaI began practising yoga just for fun around 15 years ago I was also experiencing spinerelated issues and was looking for an exercise routine that would be gentle on my back But as time and my practice progressed I noticed that my body was undergoing a lot of promising changes My flexibility improved tremendously and my practice made my back stronger Thatrsquos when I knew yoga was the right form of exercise for me I have tried various types of workouts including pilates on the advice of my doctor but I always gravitate back to yoga because of the joy it brings me For me I relish the sheer happiness of doing the asanas and the breath work and balance have become a part of my daily lifestyle I practise at least three or four times a week for an hour As they say lsquoYoga se hi hogarsquoI can breathe easyRishika Pursnani 44 teacherI have been struggling with asthma since my childhood That led me to yoga as I wanted to learn pranayama to help me cope with my condition I have been practising since the last two years This includes hourlong yoga classes twice a week and pranayama every day for 10 minutes Irsquove never experimented with other forms of exercise but I would like to consider adding a corestrengthening component to my existing routineFor your yoga fix in and around Mumbaigtgt The Yoga Institute at Santacruz East was founded in 1918 by Shri Yogendraji and is considered as one of the oldest centres of yoga in the worldLog on to theyogainstituteorgCall 26110506gtgt Iyengar Yogashraya in Lower Parel was established in 2002 by Yogacharya BKS Iyengar It is said to be one of the best places to experience Iyengar yogaLog on to iyengaryogashrayainCall 24948416gtgt The Yoga House in Bandra West offers coaching from experienced yoga trainersLog on to yogahouseinCall 8655045001gtgt Tatva Yoga in Andheri East offers a variety of programmes including ashtanga vinyasa hatha and power yogaLog on to tatvayogamumbai on FacebookCall 9892227888gtgt Beyond Mumbai Kaivalyadhama in Lonavala is one of the oldest pioneering institutes in India Its onlocation health centre is a popular optionLog on to kdhamcomCall 7262026878