Yoga has become a mainstay in the lives and households all across the globe. We’ve even become accustomed to seeing classes in breweries with beer, farms with goats, and rescue centers with dogs and cats. But we’ve got a list here of yoga classes you may never have seen before!
The top 5 unique classes are horsetop yoga, nude yoga, tantrum yoga, rave yoga, and cannabis yoga. Yes, my friends, the names tell you (almost) everything you need to know!
If you are looking for the most unique yoga experience you can imagine, take a look at the list below and find something new while getting in a great yoga practice.
Horsetop Yoga
Horsetop yoga is exactly like it sounds: yoga on top of a horse, but can also be called equestrian yoga or simply horse yoga. This sounds exciting and exotic (and maybe terrifying) but don’t expect to pop into a drop-in class and hop on top of a horse. Horse yoga is more of a way to build a relationship with a horse-and a relationship with yourself in your horse’s presence.
A horse yoga practice begins with a “presence practice” including things like meditation and breathwork, that is simply done when the practitioner and the horse are together. As the practice evolves, the rider will try some yoga poses on the horse, beginning with slow and simple seated poses and eventually developing into a more complex practice.
If you already have a horse, or a relationship with a horse, you can begin to learn some horse yoga through online videos. There are also quite a few horse yoga teacher trainings popping up if you’d like to learn more and be certified to share horse top yoga with other horse lovers.
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Nude Yoga
I have a feeling that there was plenty of nude yoga happening back in the 1960s when yoga was gaining popularity (and so was nudity!)
Nowadays, if (when) you search up nude yoga in Google, you’ll have to look hard to find the pages that aren’t porn. (Focus, people!) By the time you make it to page three or four you will have found a small handful of thoughtful articles and websites about nude yoga.
Nude yoga is also exactly like it sounds, but don’t worry. You don’t show up to a drop-in class naked, waiting for the teacher on your mat with other naked strangers.
You begin the class with all of your clothes on. As the class progresses, the teacher prompts you throughout the class to remove a piece of clothing, only if you choose to. A nude yoga teacher cultivates a space of acceptance and ease with her words, setting, and easy slow practice.
Participants report feeling more relaxed and freer than they ever would have imagined in a room of naked strangers.
Right now naked yoga is mostly only offered in bigger cities, but be on the lookout for this offering if you would like to take your practice to a new depth of understanding yourself.
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Tantrum Yoga
Tantrum yoga is a method of yoga that was developed by Hemalayaa Behl about ten years ago. This methodology isn’t mentioned on her website now where she only goes by her first name. Still, this modality of yoga shows up online and is distributed by Gaia, a yoga products company.
The concept is simple. You feel better once you throw a temper tantrum, right?
If the person witnessing your tantrum isn’t triggered, and can hold a safe space for you to emote, then healing can occur! This type of catharsis has helped to clear trauma for eons, more recently as Primal Scream therapy and countless other lung emptying rituals before it. Isha Judd’s system used a similar protocol in the beginning and, like Himalayaa’s evolved into something more refined.
Rave Yoga
Yoga Rave is a yoga style and business presented to the latin world over ten years ago. A “class” is an event that involves all the regular movements and breath, but in a club setting with live music on the stage.
Since then, other similar types of yoga events have emerged, complete with club lights and party music. They are quite popular in vacation areas, and can take place during traditional club hours, or on Sunday mornings, bringing a more vibrant type of worship to this timeslot. But if you don’t live in a destination town, don’t worry. Many yoga studios regularly offer music centered classes like Sunday Soul or Ecstatic Dance.
Druminyasana is another musician who regularly partners with yoga teachers. He provides live drumming to an asana class that is taught by a teacher. Check out your local yoga scene to find a music-unfused class with a party or spiritual vibe.
Cannabis Yoga
Cannabis yoga may sound like something the nude yoga hippies of the 60’s were doing and that may very well be the case. But nowadays, with the cultivation of a variety of different types of cannabis strains comes lots of different ways to experience a high.
Depending on local laws, students in a cannabis yoga class may be able to partake on the premises before class, or even during class as part of the ceremony of the class. However even before marijuana was gaining legality throughout the country, there were studios who were holding classes where an altered state was accepted and even encouraged.
Teachers and participants in cannabis yoga practice in a way where the effects of the cannabinoids enhance the practice. The movements are slower and more mindful to help the “yoking” process of the body mind (“yoga” is a sanskrit word that translates to yoke.) Sometimes yoga is used to stretch muscles, sweat and simply turn off thoughts for a while, but for a practitioner interested in the mind body connection, a 420 friendly class may be worth a try.
More Unique Classes Near You
Our top 5 most unique yoga classes are so unique that unless you live in a large city, you may need to travel some distance to experience them. Therefore, we’ve put together a list of unique yoga classes that are more widely accepted and practiced. Hopefully you can experience these nearby soon!
- Aerial yoga Aerial yoga uses yoga silks or swings, hung from the ceiling or a sturdy frame. The students do modified yoga poses where the body is supported in mid air. In some ways more intense, and other ways more relaxing, this unique yoga class will fire up new parts of the body and easily lengthen others. It’s possible you’ll become taller!
- SUP yoga SUP stands for stand up paddle board. The paddle board is large and floats on a calm surface for the SUP yoga student. Still, keeping the board sturdy is the big challenge, so a SUP class can quickly up your balance game..
- Broga “Broga” combines the words bro and yoga to create a class that’s just for men. Men can enjoy a deeper dimension of their yoga practice when the room is full of other bros. Deeper relaxation and connection is facilitated by the teacher in a more “bro-full” vibe.
- Slackline yoga If you’re up for a challenge, try to keep on top of a slackline. If you’re up for an extreme challenge, try to do a yoga pose on a slackline! A slackline is a strap of pliable webbing that runs parallel to the ground between two trees or other solid bases. The average slackline is a little more than an inch wide, so you might want to take a few SUP yoga classes first!
- Yoga with animals In recent years, animal lovers and organizations have found a myriad of ways to bring their beloved fur-friends together with local yoga lovers. Goat farms hold classes where baby goats lift up the vibe, and rescue centers offer classes with the strays to bring awareness and increase adoption. Check your local community calendar to see what’s being offered with our furry friends!
- Laughter yoga It’s true that laughter is the best medicine; As healing as a yoga practice can be, it’s true that classes can sometimes be pretty serious. Enter laughter yoga where the main objective is simply to laugh! Your teacher will guide the way and before you know it you’ll be laughing along with the whole class.
- Beer yoga “Bend and Brew”, “Pints and Poses”, are just some of the names of the beer yoga classes that have been popping up along with the artisanal pubs in recent years. Sometimes the class fee simply includes a couple beers afterwards. Other times the teacher additionally incorporates drinking poses into the class such as “hold my drink” pose and “side-swiggle pose”.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yoga teachers are highly skilled and experienced and more so in a specialty class. They also love beginners and the chance to expose someone to yoga for the first time. Read the class description, and unless a more advanced level is indicated as a requirement, you can attend! Just be sure to let the teacher know before class starts if that would help you to feel safer. And remember, you never have to do what the teacher says. A good yoga teacher won’t pressure you if you decide to hang out in child’s pose.
This is definitely a valid concern. Any reputable yoga studio that is offering such a sensitive class definitely has this in mind. They may offer single sex naked yoga and will definitely be available to answer questions you have. They have also surely put a few pre screening methods in place. Things to look out for are absolutely any references to “feeling sexy” or a demand that you be naked. A healthy naked setting keeps clothing optional.
If you would like to see one of these classes offered, reach out to your local yoga studio, parks and rec, brewery, group or horse stable to make a suggestion. If you have friends that would also be interested, tell them this. Maybe if you can guarantee several students they will be more likely to try it.
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Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a legal expert to address your specific needs.
Meet Shawn Chun: Entrepreneur and Yoga Fan
I’m a happy individual who happens to be an entrepreneur. I have owned several types of businesses in my life from a coffee shop to an import and export business to an online review business plus a few more and now I create online yoga business resources for those interested in starting new ventures. It’s demanding work but I love it. I do it for those passionate about their business and their goals. That’s why when I meet a yoga business owner in public at a studio or anywhere else I see myself. I know how hard the struggle is to retain clients, find good employees and keep the business growing all while trying to stay competitive.
That’s why I created Yoga Business Boss: I want to help future yoga business owners like you build a thriving business that brings you endless joy and supports your ideal lifestyle.