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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