Tuesday, 17 January 2017

'Beer yoga' is a thing, now, and it's going international because, well, 'Beer Yoga'

Posted by sizzledfeed on 23:39

'Beer yoga' is a thing, now, and it's going international because, well, 'Beer Yoga'

Nothing like putting down an icy cold beer. Except, of course, achieving a higher state of being and eventual transcendence of the Self through the practice of yoga.

But what if you could do both, at the same time?

Yes: Beer yoga is here. After being enjoyed by Berlin hipsters, it's now found its way to Australian shores—a land where beer's most definitely a religious practice, at least as much as yoga. And not in the best way.

Germany's BierYoga A.K.A BeerYoga bills itself as the "marriage of two great loves—beer and yoga. Both are centuries-old therapies for mind, body and soul," according to its website.

And if you think they're just being cute, think again.

"BeerYoga is fun but it's no joke," founder and yogi Jhula writes. "We take the philosophies of yoga and pair it with the pleasure of beer-drinking to reach your highest level of consciousness."

But even Jhula wasn't the first person to promote enlightenment through yoga under the influence of alcohol. The instructor told Ex Berliner they first saw it done at (American culture festival/desert apocalypse party shitshow) Burning Man.

But wherever it came from, it's definitely now a thing, and a thing being marketed unironically Down Under.

Two special sessions of beer meets asana will take place in Sydney this weekend, where students can learn yoga poses involving "beer salutations" and balancing beer bottles on one's head—just watch out for bottle smashes.

The event page assures would-be attendees that no yoga experience is necessary. Just an "open mind and a love of beer."

And if you think that all this does nothing to curb binge-drinking and/or cheapens a legitimate and sadly oft-perverted spiritual practice, then you can just Namaste away.