As any Russian school child will know, Tynda is a great train hub, the capital of the Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM) – the other trans-Siberian railway.
It is also a key setting off point on the partially-constructed Amur-Yakutsk Mainline into the heart of Russia’s diamond region of Yakutia, also called the Sasha Republic.
But for these two women Tynda, in Amur region, is about something else – outdoor yoga in the middle of winter.
‘Yoga is not that developed or popular here in Tynda’, said Yulia.
‘We don’t have that many stunning architecture locations here, but there is nice nature and cold weather which we decided to use.’ Pictures: @lapik94, Yulia Usenko
‘We thought about trying to change the attitude to it and wondered if strong pictures and videos might attract more people.
‘We don’t have that many stunning architecture locations here, but there is nice nature and cold weather which we decided to use.’
The railway bridges were used for their asanas in the freezer.
‘We have to think about the type of asanas to practice ahead of the shoot; cold weather doesn’t allow photo equipment second chance to take pictures,’ said Yulia.
Yulia (top) and Ekateriana (bottom) pictured in typical Tynda environment. Pictures: Yulia Usenko, @lapik94
‘We keep a car nearby to warm up.
‘So far several shoots were made at -30C and -41C. We didn’t catch cold.
‘I won’t say that we didn’t feel cold, but we enjoy the idea of showing the benefits of yoga so much that we find this weather bearable.’
By The Siberian Times reporter