Breathing is found frightening

LONDON: A trendy London yoga institute known as a haven of peace and relaxation has come under attack from local residents -- for being too noisy.

The Triyoga centre, which opened in the posh north London neighbourhood of Primrose Hill in 2000, quickly found favour with local yoga fans as a tranquil refuge.

But a recent bid by the management to extend opening hours has unleashed a storm of protest from local residents who find it disruptive, area newspapers said this week.

The sounds of chanting, relaxing music and air-conditioning units have upset some people who live nearby, centre director and yoga instructor Simon Low told Reuters

"What really bothers them is the group breathing," which some people find frightening, one employee said.

In the dynamic Ashtanga form of yoga -- one of the most popular styles taught at Triyoga -- students are instructed to breathe from the back of the throat, making a sound some have likened to the heavy breathing of Star Wars villain Darth Vader. But Low later denied this was on the list of complaints. --Reuters