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It’s a Stretch, but Putin Will Add Yoga to His Repertoire It’s a Stretch, but Putin Will Add Yoga to His Repertoire
(about 2 hours later)
MOSCOW — Maybe somebody told President Vladimir V. Putin that yoga was all about the warrior poses. Or maybe it was just part of his Asian charm offensive. MOSCOW — Maybe somebody told President Vladimir V. Putin that yoga was all about the warrior poses. Or maybe it was just part of his Asian charm offensive.
But whatever the inspiration, Mr. Putin avowed on Wednesday that he was ready to add yoga, the ancient discipline of mindfulness and gentle stretching, to his repertoire of strictly macho sports.But whatever the inspiration, Mr. Putin avowed on Wednesday that he was ready to add yoga, the ancient discipline of mindfulness and gentle stretching, to his repertoire of strictly macho sports.
“I have tried many things, but never yoga, but it cannot fail to attract,” Mr. Putin told Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India during a meeting in the southern Russian city of Ufa, according to a transcript on the presidential website.“I have tried many things, but never yoga, but it cannot fail to attract,” Mr. Putin told Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India during a meeting in the southern Russian city of Ufa, according to a transcript on the presidential website.
Mr. Putin expressed admiration for yoga after Mr. Modi thanked him for the enthusiasm with which International Yoga Day — which Mr. Modi helped inaugurate on June 21 — was greeted in Russia.Mr. Putin expressed admiration for yoga after Mr. Modi thanked him for the enthusiasm with which International Yoga Day — which Mr. Modi helped inaugurate on June 21 — was greeted in Russia.
Mr. Putin, 62, has not been shy about sharing his athletic prowess with the world.Mr. Putin, 62, has not been shy about sharing his athletic prowess with the world.
He holds a black belt in judo, has been photographed driving a Formula One racecar and has worked assiduously to improve his hockey game since becoming president.He holds a black belt in judo, has been photographed driving a Formula One racecar and has worked assiduously to improve his hockey game since becoming president.
He even scored eight goals in an exhibition hockey match two months ago with N.H.L. players in Sochi, the site of the 2014 Winter Olympics — which Russian press reports insisted had nothing to do with the fact that he was president.He even scored eight goals in an exhibition hockey match two months ago with N.H.L. players in Sochi, the site of the 2014 Winter Olympics — which Russian press reports insisted had nothing to do with the fact that he was president.
He also swims, once reportedly downed a charging tiger with a tranquilizer dart and has been photographed hunting and horseback riding while bare-chested.He also swims, once reportedly downed a charging tiger with a tranquilizer dart and has been photographed hunting and horseback riding while bare-chested.
Whatever is behind his embrace of yoga, Mr. Putin apparently missed the memo from the central Russian city of Nizhnevartovsk last month announcing that it was booting two yoga studios out of municipal space. The city explained that it was doing so for reasons of public order, “to prevent the spread of new religious cults and movements.”Whatever is behind his embrace of yoga, Mr. Putin apparently missed the memo from the central Russian city of Nizhnevartovsk last month announcing that it was booting two yoga studios out of municipal space. The city explained that it was doing so for reasons of public order, “to prevent the spread of new religious cults and movements.”
Mr. Putin has been going to great lengths to prove that Western efforts to isolate Russia over the Ukraine crisis have failed. So if he can pivot to Asia, why not throw in a headstand as well?Mr. Putin has been going to great lengths to prove that Western efforts to isolate Russia over the Ukraine crisis have failed. So if he can pivot to Asia, why not throw in a headstand as well?
His meeting with Mr. Modi actually came as part of two summit meetings Russia is hosting simultaneously in Ufa that are meant to show, among other things, that Russia has friends. For the two-day meetings, Mr. Putin welcomed leaders from the Asian countries in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as well as those from Brazil, India, China and South Africa, which, together with Russia, form the BRICS group of countries with emerging economies. His meeting with Mr. Modi actually came as part of two summit meetings Russia is hosting simultaneously in Ufa that are meant to show, among other things, that Russia has friends.
For the two-day meetings, Mr. Putin welcomed leaders from the Asian countries in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as well as those from Brazil, India, China and South Africa, which, together with Russia, form the BRICS group of countries with emerging economies.
Mr. Putin, in a rare moment of public self-doubt, acknowledged that the asanas might not come easily.Mr. Putin, in a rare moment of public self-doubt, acknowledged that the asanas might not come easily.
“I will see what my level of fitness allows,” he told Mr. Modi. “But when you see real yogis, it seems that it would be impossible to reach that kind of skill, and that’s what stops me.”“I will see what my level of fitness allows,” he told Mr. Modi. “But when you see real yogis, it seems that it would be impossible to reach that kind of skill, and that’s what stops me.”