Yoga takes up a huge chunk of Japan¡¯s fitness market. Some IT companies in the Tokyo area have even incorporated yoga and meditation into their daily schedules, just to show how much they care about their employees¡¯ health and mental state. But some employees need no prompts. According to healthcare site , the yoga population in Japan has reached 3.5 million.
It¡¯s no surprise then that yoga movies are also gaining popularity, with ¡°Breath of the Gods¡± (Japan title: ¡°Seinaru Kokyu: Yoga no Rutsu ni Deau Tabi¡°) opening this weekend at the Ebisu Garden Cinema. Directed by German documentarian Jan Schmidt-Garre, this is a de-glammed ¡°Eat, Love Pray¡± for the first-world traveler longing for true relaxation from a fast-paced life. Of course, the idea isn¡¯t new. George Harrison and his fellow Beatles went to India partly for the yoga, while Madonna is a renowned yogini. But it¡¯s becoming universal ¡ª even my aunt loves it. And now, Schmidt-Garre takes his camera crew to the southern regions of India, where the practice is said to have originated.
In ¡°Breath of the Gods,¡± Schmidt-Garre steps up to the yoga mat in one of the world¡¯s poorest countries to and talks with yoga masters and pupils of all ages as he tries to unlock the mysteries behind this ancient religious ritual. An eye-opener, it may have you running out to buy a yoga mat, or at least trying to breathe deeply through your nose for two minutes. Most of the narration is in English, and the rest has Japanese subtitles.
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