It’s well known that the subway is a place to see all kinds of people, but a new workout trend has subway yoga topping the list of strange sights. Yogis have been spotted doing moves on their mats as well as using the seats and poles to twist into their favorite poses. The craze is coming with mixed reviews from authorities and other passengers.
The New York police recently began cracking down on subway performers because they made other passengers, uncomfortable, nervous or irritated. Subway yoga seems to be inciting similar feelings. Some riders feel that yogis are being rude and are taking up too much space on the subway that leaves others without a place to sit or being uncomfortably close to someone in a strange pose.
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Granted, yoga has a multitude of health benefits that include flexibility, improved heart health, improved circulation, weight control, building muscles, increased strength and a balanced metabolism, according to the American Osteopathic Association. However, the subway might not be the best place to fit in a session.
Besides the germs and bacteria on the subway, most passengers say they would rather go home and do yoga rather than trying to practice around so many other riders. For those riders who are making the choice to give subway yoga a try, authorities are telling them not to be surprised when they don’t get the best reaction from the other riders.
Yoga, despite it’s benefits, might be better reserved for the studio where it’s clean and yogis can perform poses safely without having to manuever around poles, seats and other people.