Yogaraj CP, an Indian working in Hong Kong as a yoga teacher, now officially holds the record for the “Longest Yoga Marathon (Male)”, thanks to his feat the stretched over three days, beginning on February 13.
The instructor performed his asanas at his Tsim Sha Tsui studio, Prana Yogam. Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted after the event, “Yoga record. Yogaraj sets record with 40 hours of non stop Yoga Sadhana in Hong Kong, demonstrating 1500 plus asanas”, accompanied by a photo of Yogaraj holding his Guinness plaque along with the Indian Consulate General at Hong Kong.
The Indian Consulate at Hong Kong also issued a statement on its Facebook page, “Heartiest congratulations Yogaraj. The Consulate team is proud of your achievement.”
Yogaraj, who completed over 1500 yogasanas or yoga postures during his record-breaking feat, began to learn yoga at the age of five, and began teaching at 12. He also holds the record for holding a headstand for two hours and 40 minutes, and for performing 23 postures while balancing on the seat of a moving motorbike.
While yoga is usually considered a spiritual discipline in India, it has also taken on the aspect of a fitness trend in recent times. Yogaraj’s feat was supported by the Indian Consulate, and was dedicated to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who recommended the celebration of International Yoga Day on June 21, a resolution that the UN has adopted. “It was great recognition for yoga, so to thank our prime minister I want to achieve this Guinness World Record and help propagate yoga on a global level,” he said before beginning his attempt.
