Saudi Arabia approves Yoga as sports activity, Muslim cleric welcomes the move

[Paranoid Android]

"Yoga was never prohibited in Islam. Yoga is meant for a healthy body and Islam does not deny this fact," says Maulana Sajid Rashidi.

Maulana Sajid Rashidi on Wednesday welcomed Saudi Arabia's decision of listing Yoga under sports activities, saying that health should not be related to any particular religion.

Speaking to ANI, the Muslim cleric said, "Yoga was never prohibited in Islam. Yoga is meant for a healthy body and Islam does not deny this fact. People make an issue when we talk about 'Surya Namaskar', a type of yoga posture, and associate yoga with Hindu religion. I think health should not be associated with a particular religion. Therefore, Saudi Arab has approved Yoga. I support this move".

He added that first, the government needs to take initiatives to encourage a healthy environment, then only people will follow. "We welcome this move by the Saudi Ministry," Rashidi said.

The Saudi Ministry of Trade and Industry approved Yoga under "sports activities" and allowed Saudi citizen to practice it on the issuance of the licence from the government.

Nouf Marwaai, a Riyadh-based Yoga expert, who dedicated herself to promote Yoga in the Gulf region, confirmed that the Saudi Ministry has listed Yoga under its sports category.

"Yoga is a legal sports activity in Saudi Arabia now. It's on the official website of the ministry of trade and industry listed under sports activities. Licenses are available for yoga centers and studios. Saudi yoga teachers have even started preparing their own yoga studios," she said.

In an exclusive interaction with ANI, Marwaai revealed that she had to face a lot of accusations and threats for even writing about Yoga or Yoga day.

She said, "I struggled a lot. I had to face a lot of accusations and threats. Any article that was released about yoga or yoga day, I would receive many messages and texts. I could not teach yoga officially. I also couldn't get a license in 2012 for naturopathy center, even after spending USD 1 million, just because it wasn't classified yet."

http://www.dnaindia.com/world/repor...ivity-muslim-cleric-welcomes-the-move-2560126

 

[Clutch]

"Yoga was never prohibited in Islam. Yoga is meant for a healthy body and Islam does not deny this fact," says Maulana Sajid Rashidi.

Maulana Sajid Rashidi on Wednesday welcomed Saudi Arabia's decision of listing Yoga under sports activities, saying that health should not be related to any particular religion.

Speaking to ANI, the Muslim cleric said, "Yoga was never prohibited in Islam. Yoga is meant for a healthy body and Islam does not deny this fact. People make an issue when we talk about 'Surya Namaskar', a type of yoga posture, and associate yoga with Hindu religion. I think health should not be associated with a particular religion. Therefore, Saudi Arab has approved Yoga. I support this move".

He added that first, the government needs to take initiatives to encourage a healthy environment, then only people will follow. "We welcome this move by the Saudi Ministry," Rashidi said.

The Saudi Ministry of Trade and Industry approved Yoga under "sports activities" and allowed Saudi citizen to practice it on the issuance of the licence from the government.

Nouf Marwaai, a Riyadh-based Yoga expert, who dedicated herself to promote Yoga in the Gulf region, confirmed that the Saudi Ministry has listed Yoga under its sports category.

"Yoga is a legal sports activity in Saudi Arabia now. It's on the official website of the ministry of trade and industry listed under sports activities. Licenses are available for yoga centers and studios. Saudi yoga teachers have even started preparing their own yoga studios," she said.

In an exclusive interaction with ANI, Marwaai revealed that she had to face a lot of accusations and threats for even writing about Yoga or Yoga day.

She said, "I struggled a lot. I had to face a lot of accusations and threats. Any article that was released about yoga or yoga day, I would receive many messages and texts. I could not teach yoga officially. I also couldn't get a license in 2012 for naturopathy center, even after spending USD 1 million, just because it wasn't classified yet."

http://www.dnaindia.com/world/repor...ivity-muslim-cleric-welcomes-the-move-2560126

My wife does yoga.... And so do most Muslims... the five.times prayer (Nawaz) if done properly is in fact a very much a yoga exercise.

 

[ito]

Yoga is good for health. Good move by KSA.

 

[BHarwana]

I never knew Yoga was banned in KSA before lol.

 

[Vanamali]

My wife does yoga.... And so do most Muslims... the five.times prayer (Nawaz) if done properly is in fact a very much a yoga exercise.

Till date you were doing only Vajrasana, now you can try other asanas and enjoy the benefits.

 

[Clutch]

Yoga is good for health. Good move by KSA.



Every living being is the product of Kamasutra yoga. With out Kamasutra yoga there would be no life on this earth.

It's called fact of life.

 

[Chhatrapati]

My wife does yoga.... And so do most Muslims... the five.times prayer (Nawaz) if done properly is in fact a very much a yoga exercise.

Namaz is not yoga nor an exercise.

 

[baajey]

Yoga is good for health. Good move by KSA.



Every living being is the product of Kamasutra yoga. With out Kamasutra yoga there would be no life on this earth.

correction: there would be no human life on earth.
other lives wud prosper.

 

[ito]

correction: there would be no human life on earth.
other lives wud prosper.

Yes..there are exception.

 

[baajey]

Yes..there are exception.

cheers buddy

 

[Clutch]

Namaz is not yoga nor an exercise.

You are right it isn't... but if done right it gives you the same stretching and strength building.

 

[Chhatrapati]

You are right it isn't... but if done right it gives you the same stretching and strength building.

We are doing a lot of things that involve stretching and bending. Namaz cannot be equated to an exercise or yoga, it is obligatory and benefits us in our daily life and after life. People should do namaz keeping in mind that, not because they want flexible body.

 

[Clutch]

We are doing a lot of things that involve stretching and bending. Namaz cannot be equated to an exercise or yoga, it is obligatory and benefits us in our daily life and after life. People should do namaz keeping in mind that, not because they want flexible body.

According to my wife... there is a basics of yoga which is very similar to our namaaz. I forget what the technical word for it is. It is just 4 to 5 poses. Her suspicion is that the yoga of today could have been a namaaz thousands of years ago which morphed into today's yoga as Hinduism possibly started as a monotheistic religion and changed. Just a thought.

 

[oOo]

You are right it isn't... but if done right it gives you the same stretching and strength building.

Dont forget the mental health. If Namaz can keep your mind cool and give you peace, its a perfect yoga.

Perhaps, stretching might not be that productive in Namaz postures.

 

[H!TchHiker]

Fake news