Yoga fever in Brazil: Dozens gather in Rio slum to train; free program targets low-income communities
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The session featured a visit from
, a renowned American singer born Jeffrey Kagel, who is known for his performances of Hindu devotional music. Attendees chanted, sang and danced during the event, which was attended by around 150 people.
'It felt like I was in another world,' said Luciene Costa Gonzaga de Andrade, who attended the class. 'The mantras lift the spirit and turn sadness into joy. It was magical.'
Costa Gonzaga de Andrade, 54, is a hairdresser from Rocinha, Brazil's largest favela.
She is one of 20 local residents enrolled in the free training program offered by Yoganaya International School and the company Mude.
She began practicing yoga to relieve severe lower back pain. Standing all day in the salon is challenging and she was happy to learn she could become a yoga teacher.
'It's a course that would be very expensive for people who, like me, have a low income,' she said. 'Who knows, maybe in the future I'll quit the salon and just teach classes.'
The 14-month project aims to train around 180 new teachers from favelas in Rio and Sao Paulo, who will then carry out paid internships in their communities. Participants receive uniforms, yoga mats, speakers and microphones, as well as stipends and support when entering the job market.
Renata Mozzini, founder of Yoganaya International School, said the project was designed to break the 'bubble of elitism' around yoga.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
'People here often feel like yoga isn't for them. They think it's only for people with money or an easy life. But the truth is it's for everyone,' she said.
Organizers learned Krishna Das was on a South American tour and invited him to lead the first class in Rocinha, which was open to the public.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Astronomer cheater HR Kristin Cabot is linked to the elite Boston Brahmin family, her relation with them is...
Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and HR head Kristin Cabot found themselves embroiled in controversy when they were caught in a cozy moment during the Coldplay concert. As the camera zoomed in on them, the two hid their faces, and the moment went viral on the internet. For the unversed, Andy and Kristin are separately married. Now, another twist in the matter has emerged as Kristin is related to a Boston Brahmin family. The revelation has shocked the internet. Who exactly are the Boston Brahmin family, and how are they related to 'Coldplay cheater' HR Kristin Cabot? For the unversed, Kristin Cabot was married into one of the wealthiest and most influential families in New England. Andrew Cabot is a sixth-generation heir to the Privateer Rum fortune and a direct descendant of the original Andrew Cabot, tying her to the prestigious lineage of the historic 'Boston Brahmin' families, whose legacy and influence span over two centuries. As per property records, the couple bought a $2.2 million home on the New Hampshire coast earlier this year. Kristin's now-deleted LinkedIn profile also listed her as an advisory board member at Privateer Rum since September 2020. Andrew Cabot's lineage connects him to an exclusive circle of old-money Anglo-American elites who have long held sway over New England's social and economic landscape. According to a New York Times profile, the Cabot family was one of the wealthiest families, with a fortune of 200 million US dollars in 1972, which can now be estimated to be approximately 15.4 billion US dollars. The Cabot family is among the original 'Boston Brahmin' clans, a lineage that has wielded influence over New England for centuries.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Concert in Italy by Russian conductor Gergiev cancelled after protests
Rome, Jul 21 (AP) A concert by Russian conductor Valery Gergiev has been cancelled, organisers in Italy announced Monday, following protests against giving the stage to the conductor who has been largely barred from European venues for failing to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Gergiev had been invited to conduct during a summer festival at the Royal Palace of Caserta near Naples next Sunday. The regional governor, Vincenzo de Luca, had defended the invitation, saying that 'the logic of preclusion … does not help peace." The invitation had been widely criticised by human rights activists, Russian opposition figures and European parliamentarians. Gergiev, who is head of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Russian state theatres, is considered close to President Vladimir Putin. Milan's La Scala was the first theatre in the West to cut off relations with Gergiev, who was engaged at the theatre when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, after he failed to respond to Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala's appeal to speak out against the war. (AP) GRS GRS Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
What the Super Bowl halftime show and success of F1: The Movie prove about the amalgamation of sport, fashion, music and entertainment
In early May, Spanish football giants Barcelona unveiled a striking collaboration with Travis Scott, releasing limited-edition jerseys featuring the American rapper's Cactus Jack logo for the El Clásico clash. Only 1,899 units priced at €399.99 and 22 signed jerseys at €2,999.99 were released. The kits were sold out within half an hour, earning Barcelona over €1.5 million. Resale prices surged, with home jerseys traded at $2,000–3,000, while away versions ranged between $1,600 and 2,000. This was in comparison to a standard FC Barcelona Dri-FIT match jersey, which retails at around €195 or even less on Indian platforms. The collaboration allowed Barcelona to tap into Scott's global fanbase and build a narrative that went beyond football. It also introduced the artist to a new segment of fans and generated substantial media coverage for both parties. Such partnerships are not only about merchandise, they are about integrating entertainment and fashion into sports ecosystems. In recent years, the Super Bowl halftime show has increasingly become the centre of attention, often overshadowing the game itself. This year, on February 9, Super Bowl LIX featured Kendrick Lamar as its halftime headliner, drawing 133.5 million viewers — surpassing the game's average viewership of 127.7 million, itself a record for a Super Bowl. The halftime viewership peaked at 137.7 million and surpassed Michael Jackson's 1993 record of 129.3 million. Lamar's performance led to an immediate 175 percent spike in Spotify streams, with the 'Not Like Us' song alone resulting in an increase of 430 percent. Within 24 hours, Lamar became the most-streamed global artist, while singer-songwriter SZA reached No. 2 in the US charts. The amalgamation of sports, fashion and music is no longer a trend, but a calculated use of power in today's cultural landscape. What was once a clear distinction between athletes, musicians, and designers has now transformed into a permeable space where collaborations are not just common, but expected. From stadiums to streaming platforms, from limited-edition sneakers to halftime performances, the convergence of these industries is reshaping how audiences engage with sport, not merely as spectators, but as consumers of a broader cultural experience. This shift is especially evident at major global events and high-profile collaborations, where music, artists and fashion labels now play a central role in the branding and marketing of sports. While the Super Bowl highlights this connection in American football, a similar relationship has long existed between basketball and fashion, particularly through the sneaker culture. The Air Jordan brand, introduced by Nike in 1985, revolutionised the way basketball merchandise was perceived. No longer just sportswear, Air Jordans became desirable fashion items. Since its creation, the brand has sold over 130 million pairs of shoes and has generated over $3.1 billion in revenue. Beyond initial sales, the resale market for Jordans has created a parallel economy, valued in billions of dollars. Certain models, such as the Jordan 1, 4, and 11, continue to be popular across generations. This evolution has expanded the sport's appeal to audiences who may not be traditional basketball fans, with sneakers acting as a way to get interested in the sport itself. Scott's entry into sneaker culture is another example of this cultural synergy. His 2017 Air Jordan 4 'Cactus Jack', released before his Astroworld breakout, and subsequent Air Jordan 1 and 6 models, became market sensations. Scott's AJ1 Retro High is now StockX's eighth best-selling AJ1, trading at an average $1,093, representing a 524 percent premium over retail, and totalling over 21,000 trades. The AJ1 Low averaged $776 resale (499 percent premium), while the AJ6 Retro averaged $1,279 with a 412 percent premium. These figures far exceed typical sneaker collaborations, confirming Scott's pull in merging music, fashion and the sport culture. Another representation of this convergence is the Apple-produced film F1: The Movie, which released on June 27. With a production and distribution budget exceeding $250 million, it has grossed $397.6 million globally, making it Apple's first major theatrical success. Its marketing featured brand tie-ins with companies like IWC Schaffhausen, Tommy Hilfiger, GEICO, and EA Sports, together contributing at least $40 million in sponsorship value. Apple's renewed interest prompted it to bid over $150 million annually for US Formula 1 streaming rights starting 2026, outbidding ESPN. F1's US television audience has more than doubled since 2018, now averaging 1.3 million viewers per race, a growth accelerated by the documentary 'Drive to Survive' and the new film. These examples point to a broader shift in how sport is consumed and marketed. Increasingly, sporting events serve as launchpads for artists, designers and brands. The appeal of sport is no longer limited to the game itself; it extends to what surrounds it such as music performances, clothing releases, and digital engagement. Artists gain exposure to large audiences, brands benefit from association with cultural icons, and sports organisations attract viewers who may not have previously followed the game. This model benefits all stakeholders and reflects the growing convergence of entertainment sectors. The idea of a sports fan is also evolving. Today's fans are more likely to engage with sport through fashion, music, and digital platforms than through traditional forms of viewership. Owning a jersey or a pair of limited-edition sneakers is now a way of signalling interest and allegiance, even among those who may not watch matches regularly. This shift is particularly evident among younger audiences, who often consume sports content through short clips, social media posts, and merchandise drops, rather than live broadcasts. As the landscape continues to evolve, such cross-industry partnerships will likely become more common, reinforcing the idea that sport today is not just about competition; it is also about culture, community, and commerce. (The writer is an intern with The Indian Express)
