Yoga is commonly associated with controlled movements and poses performed on a stable surface, but Ramalakshmi Raja took the practice into the water for an unusual endurance challenge. Born on May 26, 1965, and from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, she maintained the Vrikshasana yoga pose while floating on her back in a swimming pool.

The record attempt took place at SDAT Dolphin Swimming Pool in Mogappair, Chennai, on May 25, 2026. Raja began at 6:20 a.m. and continued until 1:20 p.m., completing a total duration of 7 hours.

Vrikshasana, commonly known as the tree pose, is a yoga posture associated with body control and stability. For this record attempt, Raja performed the pose in a lying-down position while remaining afloat on her back in the swimming pool. The combination created a distinctive challenge that required her to maintain the prescribed posture while adapting to the conditions of the water.

Holding a yoga position for an extended period already demands sustained concentration and physical control. Performing it while floating introduces another element, as the body must remain supported by the water while the participant maintains the required position.

Raja's performance continued uninterrupted from 6:20 a.m. to 1:20 p.m., giving the record a documented duration of exactly 7 hours. The attempt was carried out at the SDAT Dolphin Swimming Pool in Mogappair, Chennai.

The India Book of Records (IBR) officially confirmed the achievement on May 30, 2026, recognizing Raja's accomplishment for the longest duration floating on the back in a swimming pool while performing the Vrikshasana yoga pose.

Her achievement stands out for combining two different forms of physical control: maintaining a specific yoga posture and sustaining a floating position in water. With a recorded duration of 7 hours, Ramalakshmi Raja created a distinctive milestone that brought an unconventional variation of yoga into the record books.