Saudi Arabia approves yoga as a sports activity: Nouf Marwaai

News Network
November 14, 2017

The Saudi Arabian government has approved the practice of yoga as a sports activity, claimed a social media post of Nouf Marwaai, founder of the Arab Yoga Foundation in the oil-rich kingdom. 

She wrote on her Facebook wall: "Yoga literally means 'union'. A union of individual with ones wellbeing, a body to mind, emotions and soul, nation to globe has officially arrived at the sea shore of Saudi Arabia. It has crossed the boundaries of fundamentalism...ideological extremism." (The account is not verified by the social media site.)

She also wrote that since its inception in Saudi, "Yoga has observed a topsy-turvy path, with me as a medium. God gave me strength to fight all difficulties, real difficulties. God was with me as an observer and infused courage in me whenever required. Here is a day, that finally practicing yoga is no more a deviant behaviour in Saudi." 

She also thanked the Indian Government and the Consulate General for "unlimited" support. 

Yoga has been promoted in a big way by Indian Yoga gurus and with concerted efforts by the Indian government, the United Nations has also declared June 21 as 'International Yoga Day'.

In fact Islam encourages physical exercises. Hence, Muslims do not completely oppose Yoga. However, some of the practices of Yoga including “worshipping” sun (surya namaskar) are considered un-Islamic. Islam allows to worship only the Creator of the universe.

Who is Nouf Marwaai?

Nouf Marwaai is a Saudi businesswoman and entrepreneur as well as a leading practitioner and the official promoter of yoga and Ayurveda in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf.

An advocate of yoga with 18 years of practice since 1998, she has achieved the status of Yogacharinie Nouf Marwaai, a title awarded in Kerala, India.

She is also a practitioner of Ayurvedic Indian medicine and is clinical psychologist, lifestyle counsellor, and Ayurveda and Yoga therapist. 

In Saudi Arabia, she has started her own medical centre for yoga therapy, Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine 2009.

Nouf is also the founder of the Saudi Arabia Yoga School 2008, Regional Director of Yoga Alliance International in the Gulf Region 2009, and together with Swami Vidyananda, the founder of Yoga Alliance International, India they founded the Yoga Alliance Gulf 2009. 

She is Honorary Secretary of the International Yoga Federation for Saudi Arabia and Arab Countries 2010, President of the Arab Yoga Foundation 2010, and Vice President of the Yoglimpic Committee in India 2012. 

In addition, Nouf has conducted numerous seminars and educational speeches and has taught more than 3000 students of yoga since 2005 and certified more than 70 yoga teachers between 2009 and 2014.

Among her many qualifications in Yoga, Ayurvedic medicine, Natural Medicine and Holistic Health, Nouf holds a Master’s degree in Psychotherapy and Lifestyle, Shobhit University India, New Delhi and a Diploma in Medical Yoga, Delhi, India.

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News Network
July 25,2020

Gokak, Jul 25: A JMFC magistrate here issued summons to the Chief minister B S Yediyurappa in relation to a complaint for the alleged violation of election code of conduct, during by-elections to the Gokak Assembly seat held last year.

According to official sources, a complaint had been registered against Chief minister B S Yediyurappa during the election campaign, under the People Representative Act, for allegedly wooing voters during electioneering.

The Gokak Police, who had investigated the case, however had submitted a 'B' report to the court letting off the Chief minister from the charges.

However the Magistrate, rejecting the Police report, had maintained that there exists prima facie case against the accused and issued summons to appear before the court on September one, the sources added.

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News Network
May 18,2020

Bengaluru, May 18: Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Mallikarjuna Kharge on Monday slammed the State Government’s decision to appoint administrative committees to Panchayats, which completes their five-year term, shortly.

Speaking to media persons, the Congress leader described the State Government’s decision on appointing committees as a ‘death knell ‘ to the basic characters of the Panchayat bodies, which were elected on a non-party basis.

Strongly recommending the BJP-led government to desist from its decision, Kharge urged Chief minister B S Yediyurappa to extend the term of the elected bodies of the Panchayats by six months.

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News Network
February 27,2020

Bengaluru, Feb 27: The Centre has adopted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mantra of "Make in India', for India and the world" to build strong defence and security infrastructure in the country, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh after inaugurating the new Light Combat Helicopter Production Hangar at Helicopter Division in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Complex here on Thursday.

According to an official statement, the Defence Minister said in the last five years, India has made significant progress towards manufacturing military equipment indigenously under the 'Make in India' initiative.

Stressing that the defence industry plays a major role in the economic development of the country, Singh lauded the significant contribution of organisations like HAL.

Highlighting the Rs 35,000 crore exports target set for the coming years, he expressed confidence that HAL, through its various platforms, will contribute significantly to achieve this milestone.

According to the statement, Rajnath Singh commended HAL for being the backbone of the Indian Air Force and meeting the requirements of the Armed Forces.

"The HAL has excelled both in operations and finance in the last five years. It has achieved operational clearance on seven platforms, including Light Combat Aircraft and Light Combat Helicopter, and overhauled platforms like Hawk and SU 30 MKI," he said.

He also appreciated that HAL had a turnover of Rs 19,705 crore till March 2019 and it gave shareholders a healthy dividend of 198 per cent.

HAL also apprised the Defence Minister on the progress of the new design and development programme of indigenous Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH), the statement informed.

The full-scale mock-up was showcased to Rajnath Singh. The IMRH is proposed as a replacement to the existing medium-lift helicopters such as Mi17's, Kamovs and Seakings which will phase out in the next eight to ten years.

LCH is a 5.5-tonne class combat helicopter designed and developed by HAL. It is powered by two Shakti engines and inherits many technical features of the Advanced Light Helicopter. LCH has the distinction of being the first attack helicopter to land in Forward Bases at Siachen, 4,700 mts above sea level with 500kg load.

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