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The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Commerce and Industry has declared the practice of yoga as a sports activity, according to a social media post by Nouf Marwaai, the kingdom’s first woman yoga instructor. This is a welcome development as recently a Muslim Yoga teacher in Jharkhand was attacked because she teaches yoga.
It is a great move considering that Saudi Arabia is the centre of orthodox Islam.
https://www.facebook.com/nouf.mohammad/posts/10155328581227880
People in Saudi Arabia now can practice Yoga freely there without any hassle.
This means any yoga enthusiast now can get a yoga centre/studio licence. If he/she wishes to teach yoga as a sports service, he/she can do it under the head of business activity
READ: Saudi Arabia Opens Doors To Women-Only Gyms
However, this grant came as a bit of a shock for the Indian Muslim clergy who are opposing the development in Saudi Arabia. Going forward as a more open country, Saudi beat India — tagged as “the land of the yoga” — in liberalization as a large section of people still, in a stereotypical way, believes that Yoga is linked to Hinduism only.
Late on Tuesday, yoga guru Baba Ramdev praised the decision taken by the Saudi government.
https://twitter.com/yogrishiramdev/status/930443541959950336
By declaring Yoga as a 'Sports Activity' Saudi Arabia has taken a historic & scientific decision beyond religions. https://t.co/apzZBAQzvo
— स्वामी रामदेव (@yogrishiramdev) November 14, 2017
Recently, Saudi Arabia has decided to allow women into sports stadiums from 2018. The authorities have opened doors to families along with women.
Also Read: Uprising of Yoga Around the World
Interestingly, the country, which is known to deny women rights, appears to be working hard to create a gender-balanced space within. The country has also launched its first ever Girls’ Council. Last but not the least, the authorities have finally allowed women to drive cars.
Also Read: Saudi Arabia Celebrates Its First Women’s Day
India, it’s never too late to be inspired!
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Feature Image Credit: REUTERS/Amit Dave
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