Metropolis serves as hub for yoga enthusiasts, who strive to find means to relieve pressure from their fast-paced urban ways, He Qi reports.

As night falls beneath the bronze archway of the Peace Hotel on Nanjing Road pedestrian street, and in the glow of the early morning light, the melodious strains of a jazz saxophone drift over the 34,518 mother-of-pearl bricks of Century Square. In this vivid setting along Shanghai's Huangpu River, the timeless elegance of the Bund intertwines harmoniously with a modern-day yoga gala.

The two-day event, launched on Sept 6, drew hundreds of yoga enthusiasts from over 10 countries, serving as the grand finale of the 5th Shanghai Yoga Lifestyle Festival, which kicked off in June.

Among the attendees was Oksana Petrenko, a Ukrainian yoga instructor living in Shanghai for a decade, who regularly attends local yoga events.

"Living in such a big city like Shanghai is crazy. It's mind-blowing. The fast-paced lifestyle puts a lot of pressure on our bodies," Petrenko says. She first discovered yoga as a student in Shanghai through event organizer BYMB, and later became a teacher.

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"Yoga can bring us to a point where we can slow down and concentrate a bit more on our breathing and the feelings and sensations in our bodies. We can tune into it and then return to ourselves."

Beyond being a gathering for yoga practitioners, the gala showcased a key trend — the fusion of yoga with Eastern and Western cultures and music.

A three-act Sound and Yoga Integration performance, co-created by global artists and top yoga masters, wove in jazz, Mongolian throat singing and natural sounds. This unique format guided participants on a spiritual journey that resonated with Shanghai's multicultural DNA, reflecting how yoga has evolved from a simple fitness activity to a holistic cultural experience.

"Yoga in Shanghai integrates Western fitness science, Chinese health preservation wisdom, and Indian philosophical spirit, forming a Shanghai-style culture that embodies an open, inclusive, innovative, and sophisticated lifestyle," says Ye Weiwei, founder of BYMB, highlighting this evolution. "We hope such events will encourage more urbanites who previously paid little attention to fitness and wellness to participate."

Dominique Renucci, acclaimed French yoga master and educator, offers insights into the increasing popularity of outdoor yoga.

"Yoga is a dynamic and active practice," she says.

Her own journey of recovering from a severe accident through yoga has deepened her belief in its healing power.

"Outdoor yoga is part of the practice's tradition. Hundreds of years ago in India, people often practiced in forests," she says. "The main challenge is the heat, but otherwise, it remains a valuable practice."

Zhang Jingxue, an eight-year yoga practitioner, echoes this sentiment: "Outdoor yoga offers fresh air and beautiful surroundings, which made me gradually fall in love with practicing yoga regularly."

Shanghai's fast-paced lifestyle and diversity have created a unique environment for yoga's growth. Wang Jingzhu, China's first certified Shrivatsa Yoga instructor with 19 years of teaching experience, reflected on her years of teaching in nearly 20 countries to comment: "Shanghai has an excellent yoga culture atmosphere. People are energetic, highly inclusive, and the culture is very diverse.

"If we compare it to ages, Shanghai's yoga culture is like a teenager; still in a stage of active development," she says.

French yoga master Renucci adds that local practitioners stand out for their enthusiasm and regularity. "Even with work commitments, most practice at least twice a week. Many attend teacher training courses not necessarily to become instructors, but to gain a deeper understanding of yoga, which includes its philosophy, as well as the structure of muscles and joints."

The five editions of the yoga festival have witnessed Shanghai's yoga evolution. BYMB's Ye points out that in the early days, yoga practitioners focused more on gaining social media fame.

"Now, it emphasizes in-depth healing, combining sound therapy, singing bowl therapy and professional courses," Ye says. "Additionally, the participant base has expanded significantly, from initially targeting active young people from 20 to 40, to gradually expanding to middle-aged groups from 40 to 60. This proves that yoga is suitable for people of all ages."

Shanghai's urban strengths have also played a crucial role. "The city has numerous yoga studios, dance studios and brand collaboration resources, such as hotels and art galleries, offering diverse venues for yoga events," Ye explains. "As an international metropolis, it also attracts foreign instructors and a diverse range of participants."

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Over the past eight years, her company has organized more than 2,600 yoga events, held at top hotels, art galleries, cultural centers, city landmarks, and catering spaces. It has also hosted nearly 200 yoga retreats in China and abroad.

Ye further notes that the "balance of strength and gentleness" in Shanghai residents aligns with yoga's philosophy. "They need the gentleness of yoga to relieve pressure from highly intense jobs, and also recognize the value of yoga's physical and mental cultivation due to their pursuit of efficient and high-quality lifestyles."

"As a leader in high-quality lifestyles in China, Shanghai can integrate yoga with culture, art and tourism to form a unique 'yoga plus' ecosystem that radiates influence across the country," she says.

Contact the writer at heqi@chinadaily.com.cn