In a city that rarely seems to slow down, Chennai is finding new ways to pause. For a growing community of yoga practitioners, the mat is no longer just a place to stretch, strengthen or perfect a pose, but a space to breathe, disconnect and reconnect with themselves. From early-morning beach sessions to workplace yoga and plans for rooftop practices under the open sky, yoga communities are taking the practice beyond studio walls, turning it into a shared experience of wellness, mindfulness and belonging.
Because it gives them a space to unwind, breathe, relax and reconnect with themselves despite their often erratic work schedules, she adds, “Yoga has undoubtedly become one of the preferred forms of wellness among youngsters, especially.
Shreya Krithivasan, founder of Antara Yoga, says, “When I started practising yoga, I found a space where I could truly be myself, and that feeling was incredibly empowering. That experience inspired me to start the Antara Yoga community, with the aim of creating a more personalised approach to the practice. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all session, we want people to find their own sense of comfort and empowerment through yoga. I feel this personalisation is something that is still missing in the wellness space. Workplace yoga has also become increasingly popular, as these sessions help employees feel physically relaxed and mentally calmer during long working hours. We also conduct weekend beach yoga sessions, allowing participants to experience the practice surrounded by nature. We are now planning a rooftop yoga session, where people can experience stillness in movement beneath the vastness of the open sky.”
There are several fitness options today, but yoga uniquely works across different dimensions of wellness — strength, endurance, flexibility and, most importantly, stress management.
” ‘Shared energy and connections have made the community an important part of my routine’ “Practising yoga alone at home is convenient, but being part of a community gives the experience a completely different energy. I initially came for the practice, but the shared energy and connections have made the community an important part of my routine,” says Rajesh Krishnamoorthy, financial advisor. ‘Now, I have learnt to consciously switch off and give myself some space’Sridevi Arun, a homemaker infroms, “Yoga has slowly changed several parts of my routine without me consciously forcing those changes. I sleep better, pay more attention to what I eat and handle stressful situations with greater calm. Now, I have learnt to consciously switch off and give myself some space. You meet people at different stages of their journey and encourage each other through small milestones. There is also a sense of accountability — on days when you might feel like skipping a session, knowing that others are showing up motivates you to be there.
Earlier, work pressure would stay with me even after I left the office.