The Introverted Practice Spaces of NPSOY Anchorpoint
The practice of yoga asana uses physical movement to lead us to mental stillness. Our practice can be a rigorous and physically intense one, as it can also be a practice of rest and silence. It can challenge us in a multitude of potential physical directions, many of which draw parallels to the practices of the modern fitness industry. Since our first Chaturanga Dandasana, we've knowingly or unknowingly set ourselves on the path of becoming subsumed into a bigger commercial context.
Naturally, when we began designing spaces from which to practice, we quickly established the norm in our idea of an ideal yoga space as one resembling a modern gym - with plenty of glass and transparency, not just for natural views, fresh clean air, and ample daylighting, but also to exhibit and to showcase. We've adopted and embraced this convention via the fitness industry and its celebration of healthy human bodies. Within such a charged environment, the baggage of watching and being watched, the drama of gatekeeping, judgment, and peer criticism, and the cultivation of individual deep-seated insecurities that feed one another, and the onwards flow of distraction, entertainment, and mental noise, are all too present. Cue the loud workout music.
When we were approached by Anchorpoint in June inviting us to expand our offerings to yogis in Alexandra Road, the site proposed did not meet any of the criteria above. Being situated in the basement of a shopping mall meant there would be no large glass natural views, no natural ventilation or natural lighting.
It wasn't an immediately apparent candidate for a yoga space conventionally, nor did it speak to the established norms of the industry that anyone would even consider taking yoga underground.
Yet this was what our forebearers did in their practices. From the beauty of the earthen brick vaults of the Dhyana Linga Temple in Coimbatore to the sunken underground practice spaces of Kalaripayattu in Kerala, to the secret meditation caves in Rishikesh and Tiruvannamalai, to the forest tradition of the monks in northern Thailand, the places that support yoga's inner journey potential share an introverted and insulated quality, away from the noise and distractions outside to invite us to discover our true selves inside.
In the Shanmukhi Mudra, a yogi presses shut his eyes, nose, ears, and mouth and stops the breath for as long as he is able to. He practices this diligently and daily to cultivate an inwards attentiveness called Pratyahara, which forms one of the Eight foundational limbs of Yoga taught by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras.
In the months that followed, Pam and I thought deeply about this rare opportunity to design a yoga space from the ground up.
I'm pleased to say that we've accepted the challenge of transforming this underground space to fulfill its potential as a space for self-enquiry, and are now ready to unveil it to the community.
Our space is a small and intimate one, crafted with low VOC compounds that ensure the best possible indoor air quality, which is always at a comfortable 23 degrees throughout the day. Our lighting mimics daylight and is centrally controlled to smoothly lead you to periods of restorative darkness and stimulating light to suit the objectives of our class types. We've embraced the insulated nature of our underground unit to provide a full sound design to the space. And we've adopted a material honesty in the selection of our floors and walls to express a wabi-sabi style of rawness to the overall expression of mindfulness and calm.
Classes start from September 9th. Let's take Yoga Underground to a supportive and calming space for focus and distraction free practice. I look forward to seeing you on the mats.
About the Author
Priyan is the founder of Nithya Priyan School of Yoga and the author of Joy in the Body, Singapore’s First Book of Yoga Asanas.
