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Time of India

Blending tradition with reinvention: In age of AI, yoga straddles spiritual & corporate worlds

As the world rolls out its mats for International Day of Yoga on Saturday, the ancient practice continues to evolve, blending tradition with reinvention. In Hyderabad, this shift is clear, with people increasingly embracing yoga for mental clarity, physical strength, or, more often, a combination of both. Rooted in breathwork, meditation, and self-awareness, yoga today has also become a go-to workout for strength, fl exibility, and stress relief. 'In the beginning, I turned to yoga just to manage my back pain,' said G Surekha, 47, a practitioner from Ameerpet. 'My friends suggested power yoga. I focused on the stretches, and it worked wonders for my posture.' Over time, she was drawn to deeper practices like pranayama and meditation. 'I realised it's not just about sitting still. Breathwork helped calm my mind and changed the way I handle emotions.' Such transitions are common, say experts. 'Modern yoga often starts with asanas, but the real goal is mental clarity,' said Dr A Malathi Syamala, superintendent at the state-run Nature Cure Hospital and director of the Vemana Yoga Research Institute. 'Dynamic routines like vinyasa or power yoga attract beginners, but ideally, they should progress toward traditional practices that foster inner awareness.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Budget-Friendly Bedroom Makeover Guide SearchMore Learn More Undo The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated this shift, especially among the youth. 'They began recognising the importance of breath and mental health,' said Janardhan Durga Prasad, director of Bodhi School of Yoga. 'Younger people chase results through postures like headstands and splits, while older individuals prefer meditation and slow breathing. But Covid united both groups. Now, we often see over 100 participants per batch. ' While traditional hatha yoga includes just 32 postures, social media has exploded the range. 'Instagram is driving creativity in form,' said Prasad. 'People now see yoga not just spiritually, but scientifi cally—it's about improving physical standards.' There's no one-size-fi ts-all approach, instructors note. 'Some come for pain relief, others for peace or self-growth,' said Nishanth Babu Vasireddy, a teacher with 17 years of experience. 'What matters is whether it enriches your life. At its core, yoga is a science of the mind.' Even hybrid forms like beer or water yoga have their takers. 'If they spark awareness and consistency, they still serve a purpose,' he added. Experts also stress early exposure. 'We shouldn't wait till children are 17 or 18,' said Dr Malathi. 'Simple postures and mudras boost focus and memory. Diet education must also be included.' In today's distracted world, they say, modern yoga spreads awareness, but traditional yoga remains the path to true transformation.