On the morning of Aug 31, 40 yoga practitioners gathered at Punggol Coast to partake in a unique event marking Singapore’s 60th birthday. Led by Ms Neetu Somani, a yoga instructor with over 13 years of experience in Singapore, the group entered the Singapore Book of Records for the “Longest Duration of Sun Salutations.”
Together, they completed 75 rounds of the sun salutations (Surya Namaskar) sequence over the duration of an hour. To Ms Neetu, this was a showcase of the power of collective determination and deep connection yoga fosters.
The idea for the record attempt came from one of Ms Neetu’s students. “One of my students wanted to commemorate SG60 with yoga and checked with Singapore Book of Records to see if anyone had already set a record for the longest duration of sun salutations,” Ms Neetu shared. “When we found out no one had, it became a great opportunity for the group to do something meaningful.”
Ms Neetu chose sun salutations owing to their full-body benefits and focus on breath control. “Sun salutations engage 92 per cent of your muscles, and they work the digestive, nervous, and respiratory systems,” she said. “It’s a practice that requires mental discipline and physical endurance, which makes it a perfect fit for this kind of challenge.”
Singapore’s emphasis on mental and physical well-being made the timing even more fitting. “The country is focused on promoting wellness, and this event was a way to contribute to that larger goal,” Ms Neetu added.
The participants knew the event would be both physically demanding and mentally challenging. “The aim was to push our limits,” she said. “We wanted to feel the energy of the group and see if everyone could push through. Some were confident, while others weren’t sure they’d last the full hour.” The group was made up of participants of different ages, from 16 to 55, and experience levels.
Ms Neetu emphasised that the practice should flow like yoga, not like an intense cardio session. “It was important to do it in a yogic way, where every movement is connected to breath and movement into stillness,” she said. “We wanted to make it a mindful practice – the focus wasn’t just on finishing the rounds but on maintaining calm and balance through each one.”
At the end of the 60 minutes, the group completed their 75 rounds, setting the record. But for Ms Neetu, the achievement was more about the sense of unity that had been created. “It was a shared experience that brought us closer together and reminded us that yoga is about connection, with yourself, with others, and with the world around you.”
