Traditional yoga and meditation are about quieting one’s mind to transcend the flood of subconscious thoughts we humans experience on a second-to-second basis. However, some people want an altogether different form of catharsis. Some are looking to expel their negative energy like a catastrophic, deep-sea submarine implosion (there’s a reason rage rooms are now a thing). For those anger-management-class candidates, there is Rage Yoga.
While ordinary yoga classes consist of lilting pan flute music, woo-woo, Deepak Chopra-flavored chanting, and deep contemplation, Rage Yoga encourages an “anti-Zen” atmosphere complete with beer and cursing. Lindsay Istace, the founder of Rage Yoga, says the practice involves “stretching, positional exercises, and bad humor, with the goal of attaining good health and to become zen as f*ck. More than just a practice, Rage Yoga is an attitude.”
Sure, it requires the same Lululemon stretch pants and is based on traditional Vinyasa yoga. However, the main difference is in finding catharsis over transcendence. Certified Rage Yoga instructor (we swear that’s a thing) Ashley Duzich told CBS DFS in an interview, “Some people need to release and let go. We are all angry about something, and we all have been holding onto an ‘F’-bomb for a little bit too long.” In her twice-monthly Rage Yoga classes at Houston’s Brash Brewing Company, Duzich even promises “beer breaks during the class. It’s definitely not for everybody, and that’s totally OK … I also don’t recommend bringing your children.” Yelling, cursing, and a general venting of student’s anger is strongly encouraged.
Because things are always bigger and a little bit, er, different in Texas, it’s no surprise that Houston is the home of what could become an anti-yoga trend. Brash Brewing Company, in particular, seems a fitting ground zero for the countermovement. The company’s Facebook page (under the handle “alesatanhouston”) eschews any semblance of political correctness in favor of two digital middle fingers up. The tasting notes for their forthcoming Nice Things Double IPA, for example, describe it as “delightful as a motherfucker;” their staff is partial to wearing “POLITE AS FUCK” T-shirts; they espouse a healthy love of smoking ungodly amounts of weed.
Rage Yoga is officially available in just three North American locations including the aforementioned Brash Brewery in Houston, plus Calgary and Edmonton, Canada. Not the group yoga type? Nothing’s stopping you from holing up in the privacy of your garage with a 40 of Schlitz and Rammstein on full blast while violently screaming your way through Downward Dog. Namaste, bitch.
