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Saudi Arabia Declares Yoga As A Sports Activity

Saudi Arabia Yoga

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

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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Also Read: Creating ‘inclusive’ fitness fashion: Arshiya Kherani of Sukoon

Feature Image Credit: REUTERS/Amit Dave

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