Exploring "Pole Yoga" in London

Cross-posed from Ancient Futures

How Yogic is “Pole Yoga”?

Once upon a time, most yogis sat still. Meanwhile, wrestlers contorted their bodies – along with those of their opponents – into various shapes. To prepare, they developed techniques that honed strength and flexibility. One of them involved a long pole.

A practitioner stands on a pole © Indigo Eye Productions

At various points in the last few centuries, these two disciplines traded ideas. One striking example is sun salutations, which focus on inhaling and exhaling through a sequence of postures. No yoga text teaches these movements before the modern era – they may have begun as a training drill used by wrestlers and other martial artists.

Since then, the practice of mallakhamb (a modern Indian name for the wrestler’s pole) has continued evolving. One variant, becoming more widespread, uses ropes instead of the traditional teak-wood cane. Groups also offer displays that resemble a mixture of synchronised swimming, postural yoga and gymnastics.

A new film by Philippa Frisby – The Wrestler’s Cane – explores both mallakhamb and its growing popularity thanks to Uday Desphande, a life-long teacher who organised the first world championship in 2019. Uday stars in the film, but would probably say that its real stars are his students, whose lives have been transformed by their practice.

Philippa found mallakhamb in India while filming The Circle, a feature documentary on how street children recover from addiction by practising Iyengar yoga, which she also teaches. I’m going to be speaking to her and Uday at two London events next month.

The first is at The Nehru Centre (on Tuesday, 9 April), featuring a sitar recital by Baluji Shrivatsav and clips from the film. The second is at The Study Society (on Wednesday, 10 April), which includes a full screening. Both start at 6:30 pm.

A trailer and synopsis are posted below. There’s also a summary of mallakhamb history here. For a scholarly take, see this article from last year’s special issue of the Journal of Yoga Studies, looking at links between yoga and other traditions of physical practice.

Finally, if you’d like to try “pole yoga” yourself, Uday is offering workshops while he’s in London. A cane is arriving specially from India – scroll down for more details.

To quote the film synopsis:

“This extraordinary artform originated in wrestling but over centuries, it’s evolved into a mystical display of skill, strength and fearlessness that requires singular focus and sustained discipline.

“An extension of the science and philosophy underpinning yoga, those practising Mallakhamb find that the clarity and dedication it requires soon affect all aspects of their lives…

“Indigo Eye’s inspirational film follows Uday Deshpande, a towering figure within this sport who’s just been honoured with the Padma Shri Award for his outstanding contribution to Mallakhamb.  His impassioned belief – that this sport is for everyone – instils confidence and courage in his students of all ages and abilities and, to demonstrate that, The Wrestler’s Cane focuses on some of his unsighted students as they attempt this extraordinary challenge.

“What unfolds is a powerful study of possibilities as we see the transformational power of Mallakhamb and its devoted teacher in gifting his students with life-changing self-belief.”

LONDON WORKSHOPS

Join Uday Deshpande for a personal taste of how mallakhamb works. No experience is needed, and children over the age of five are also welcome.

Uday will be teaching in Peckham from Sunday 7 April to Friday 12 April – there are workshops each day, and the price is £10 per two-hour session. You can find out more and sign up here (it’s all organised by Indigo Eye).

For an accessible guide to yoga history, join me for a course at truthofyoga.com.