'Phone yoga' becomes the hottest fad in the Big Apple

New York, June 25 : Many New Yorkers have found a novel tool for getting their daily dose of yoga. All they need to do is roll out their mats, pick up the phone and put their favourite instructors on speaker - and do the 'phone yoga.'

Clients who are out of town but in need of a holistic workout are being offered one-on-one phone yoga sessions by a New York specialty fitness company.

"My client said she was looking into the mountains and it was a beautiful view, and there I was on the phone with the subway running past my window. I felt a different connection to the client. It was a really cool experience - albeit bizarre," The New York Daily News quoted instructor Christine Miller, as saying.

This 30-year-old yoga trainer give instructions sitting on her couch in her Williamsburg, Brooklyn, apartment, while her clients do their jig miles away from her.

A group of students at Namaste New York, which offers yoga, Pilates, massage therapy and nutrition counselling has now also adopted Phone yoga for benefiting those pupils who are at the intermediate or advanced level and normally have in-person solo lessons. But owing to work or family demands, need an alternative occasionally.

"A lot of our clients travel quite a bit, and are often in remote places or where they're not able to access yoga. They also have very deep and fulfilling relationships with their yoga instructors," said Julie Wald, who owns Namaste New York.

Wald said that she has conducted about 20 phone yoga sessions, which she says is like putting on a yoga DVD or CD.

"It's the same concept but totally personalized. It's such a beautiful way to have a spiritual connection with someone," she said.

ANI