Saudi National Yoga Team Wins Big at Mt. Everest International Yoga Championship
The Saudi national yoga team has made history by winning five medals, including a gold medal, at the 2nd Mt. Everest International Yoga Championship held in Katmandu, Nepal from June 8 to June 10. The competition saw the participation of eight countries from South Asia, including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Maldives. The championship was organized by Nepal Yoga & Nature Cure Association and supported by Nepal Yoga Sports Association and World Hatha Yoga Federation.
Saudi Yoga practitioner Samaher Al-Malki won the gold medal, while Badr Al-Ghamdi, Ahmed Shilati, and Sarah Al-Amoudi won three silver medals, with Joud Abed winning the bronze medal. Nouf Al-Marwaai, president of Saudi Yoga Committee, expressed her pride at the distinguished levels that the Saudi National Yoga team achieved.
“This is our first participation in the team’s history, but our yoga team’s champions were able to succeed in winning five medals, which is a large number compared to the intensity of the competition, which gathered very experienced international practitioners and also despite the young age of the participating Saudi practitioners,” she said.
Al-Marwaai dedicated this achievement to the leadership of the Kingdom: “Thanks to the great support that Saudi sports enjoy in all its forms, and with their support, our yoga practitioners were able to obtain these medals.”
Yoga in Saudi Arabia
Yoga has been gaining popularity in Saudi Arabia in recent years. The practice has been embraced by many Saudis as a way to improve their physical and mental health. Nouf Al-Marwaai is credited with introducing yoga to Saudi Arabia. She started practicing yoga in 2002 and became the first certified yoga instructor in Saudi Arabia in 2009. Since then, she has been working to promote yoga and raise awareness about its benefits in the country.
In 2017, the Saudi Ministry of Commerce and Investment officially recognized yoga as a sport. This move was seen as a significant step towards promoting yoga in the country and encouraging more people to take up the practice.
The Saudi Yoga Committee was formed in 2018 to oversee the development of yoga in the country. The committee is headed by Nouf Al-Marwaai and includes representatives from various government agencies and yoga studios.
The committee has been working to organize yoga events and workshops across the country. It has also been promoting the benefits of yoga through social media and other channels. The success of the Saudi national yoga team at the Mt. Everest International Yoga Championship is a testament to the committee’s efforts to promote yoga in the country.
Benefits of Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual practice that originated in ancient India. It involves a series of postures, breathing exercises, and meditation techniques that help improve flexibility, strength, balance, and mental focus. Yoga has been shown to have numerous health benefits, including:
1. Reducing stress and anxiety: Yoga helps calm the mind and reduce stress and anxiety levels.
2. Improving flexibility: Yoga postures help improve flexibility and range of motion.
3. Strengthening muscles: Yoga postures help strengthen muscles and improve overall fitness.
4. Improving balance: Yoga postures help improve balance and coordination.
5. Boosting immunity: Yoga has been shown to boost the immune system and improve overall health.
6. Relieving pain: Yoga has been shown to be effective in relieving chronic pain, such as back pain and arthritis.
Conclusion
The success of the Saudi national yoga team at the Mt. Everest International Yoga Championship is a significant achievement for the country. It is a testament to the growing popularity of yoga in Saudi Arabia and the efforts of the Saudi Yoga Committee to promote the practice. Yoga has numerous health benefits and can help improve physical and mental well-being. As more people in Saudi Arabia take up yoga, the country is likely to see a positive impact on public health and fitness.