Retired Taiwanese badminton star Lee Yang (李洋) announced Monday that he will team up with renowned yogi Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar this June to set a new yoga world record. The event, tentatively scheduled for June 21 in Taiwan, aims to gather 5,000 participants to perform 12 yoga poses together.
The date coincides with the International Day of Yoga, an annual observance established by the United Nations in 2014 to promote the global significance of yoga.
Lee, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in men’s doubles badminton, shared his journey with yoga during a press conference. He first turned to the practice in 2020 as a way to enhance his training. He quickly realized his flexibility, particularly in his hip joints, was lacking.
“My limited flexibility forced me to dive for shuttlecocks frequently,” Lee said. “After practicing yoga, I became more flexible, and I didn’t have to dive as much. That was the biggest improvement.”
Beyond flexibility, Lee found yoga beneficial for muscle conditioning and body coordination. Encouraging other athletes to explore the practice, he emphasized that yoga is more physically demanding than many assume.
At the same press conference, Grand Master Akshar expressed his enthusiasm for being in Taiwan, praising the island’s natural beauty. He highlighted yoga’s benefits for circulation and overall well-being, comparing its importance in daily life to the way bubble tea is embedded in Taiwanese culture.
While the event’s location has yet to be confirmed, organizers are preparing to host what could become a historic yoga gathering.
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