Yoga gaining popularity in Saudi Arabia

Story by  ATV | Posted by  Aasha Khosa | Date 02-02-2022
People practicing Yoga in the Saudi Yoga Festival
People practicing Yoga in the Saudi Yoga Festival

 

New Delhi

As its practitioners organized the first-ever yoga festival in Saudi Arabia, the trend seems to be catching up with the people of the country. In this particular event, over 1,000 people from across the country gathered at Juman Park in the King Abdullah Economic City of Jeddah to do Yoga.
 
According to Arab media, people between the ages of 10 and 60 practiced yoga at the festival held by the Saudi Yoga Committee.
 
The program started with yoga classes on the beautiful lawns of Juman Park. Yoga instructor Murali Krishnan led the elders while Sara Al-Amoudi led the children in the yoga practice.
 
Apart from practicing yoga, the participants also got to see a variety of performances. Here Saudi and international yoga gurus and instructors practiced in different classes for more than eight hours.
 
A video clip of the event posted by Arab News on Twitter shows the enthusiasm of the paticipants of this event:
 
Many of the participants rest in the shade of the trees in the park, where carpets, mats, and pillows were provided.
 
Speaking on the occasion, Nawaf bint Muhammad Al-Marwai, Chairman of the Saudi Yoga Committee, said that she was very pleased with the number of enthusiastic attendees and their positive response.
 
Nouf al-Marwis, who has received Padma Shri for her contribution to promotion of Yoga from the Indian government, said yoga is a therapy that is gaining popularity among people. Yoga therapy is very important for maintaining good health and overcoming health problem
 
The President of the Yoga Committee said that with the approval of the public as well as the full cooperation of the government, there has been a significant increase in all fields and standards of living. Organizing this festival is a big success.
 
“I am glad that people not only welcomed it but also appreciated our ideas about yoga. That was the sole purpose of this event,” he said, 'We want to promote yoga in our country.”
 
“We want Saudis to start their day with yoga, which doesn't take more than 20 minutes. These are easy exercises,” Sarah Al-Madani, 38, who participated in the festival, said, “We have a wonderful learning opportunity here with well-organized teachers.
 

Participants at the Yoga festival in Jeddah

A pediatrician said he recently started practicing yoga for fitness during the Covid-19 lockdown. He was happy to participate in this festival. “It is good that yoga festival is being organized in the country,” he said.
 
 Yoga instructor Sama Diab also expressed happiness and said that she is happy to participate in the festival. This is the first time such an event is being organized in our country.
 
The demand for yoga is increasing these days and as an instructor, I have seen many people practicing yoga. I am very happy with the awakening that is coming in Saudi Arabia now.
 

Yoga is gaining popularity after it was recognized by the Saudi Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Sports as a sport for health benefits.