The yoga movement is developing strongly in Da Nang, contributing to improving health, body shape and physical strength. To "keep the fire" of the movement, the city regularly hosts large-scale tournaments and international yoga events, gradually spreading this kind of sports widely in the community.

To spread the yoga movement widely, the city regularly hosts national and international yoga events. IN PHOTO: A performance of yoga at the 6th National Yoga Championship in 2024. Photo: PHI NONG

Originating from India, Yoga has been introduced and developed in Da Nang for many years. With slow, gentle movements, but deeply affecting the body, this sport requires practitioners to be persistent and patient.

After working hours, Dinh Thi Hoai comes to the VPT Fitness Gym - Yoga Club in Thanh Khe District at 5:00pm every day for yoga practice.

Hoai shared she used to practice and compete in badminton. However, after a back injury during a competition, she could not continue to pursue her favourite sport. She was then introduced to yoga by her friend and has been practicing for more than 3 years.

After a period of practice, she realised that this sport has a deep impact on the body, helping practitioners to coordinate harmoniously between mind and body, keeping emotions peaceful and intelligence clear. “Currently, my back injury has completely recovered, and my health can ensure that I can play the sports I like" Hoa happily said.

Similarly, Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Thoa, the owner of Sally Center Club based in Hoa Vang District, has practiced yoga for more than 10 years. During the practice, Ms. Thoa feels positive changes in her health, especially controlling spinal pain, and her body becomes more flexible. After that, she has become a yoga instructor for more than 4 years, helping many people have more determination to improve their health.

"The Sally Center Club currently has nearly 100 members, maintaining 3 practice sessions per day. Coming to the club, people are guided through movements at basic to advanced levels. In addition, they practice meditation and breathing exercises, helping to calm the mind and relax with gentle, melodious music" Ms. Thoa informed.

In response to the increasing demand of practitioners, aside from yoga clubs, yoga teacher training centres have been established. Of which, the Kim Yoga based in Hai Chau District is training over 500 trainers.

According to Mr. Nguyen Minh Vuong, Head Trainer of Kim Yoga, yoga is a discipline developed for the betterment of the body, mind, and spirit. Trainees to the center are thoroughly trained before becoming trainers who share experiences and spread yoga passion to practitioners.

In order to contribute to the professional development of the yoga movement in the city, the Da Nang Yoga Federation was established in 2007. Over the years, the federation has played a good role in gathering members, and supporting each other in all yoga-related activities. Moreover, the city regularly hosts national yoga championships and international yoga events, attracting the participation of a large number of practitioners.

Recently, at the Son Tra District Culture and Sports Centre, the municipal Department of Culture and Sports has coordinated with the Viet Nam Yoga Federation to organise the 6^th National Yoga Championship in 2024, attracting the participation of more than 130 outstanding male and female athletes selected from 11 units, provinces, and cities across the country. The athletes competed in 2 categories of Yoga Asana with 22 events and Artistic Yoga with 17 events.

In the end, the organisers presented 39 sets of individual and team medals to outstanding athletes in each event.

Previously, the city hosted the first international Yoga festival in 2024 at the Tien Son Sports Arena with the participation of more than 400 athletes from 19 domestic and international delegations. In addition, the city organises an outdoor mass yoga performance every year with over 1,500 people participating.

According to Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Culture and Sports Nguyen Trong Thao, yoga is for everyone, regardless of age or gender. The city encourages people to practice yoga to improve their health and diversify sports.

In the coming time, the city will continue to coordinate with units to organise large-scale yoga competitions, helping practitioners and instructors to exchange and improve their professional qualifications and experience as well in organising activities, making yoga one of the sports with the largest number of practitioners in the city, he added.

Reporting by PHI NONG - Translating by M.DUNG