Saudi Arabia Legalises Yoga as a Sport Thanks to a Female Teacher

Saudi citizens can now acquire a license to teach yoga.

Image used for representational purposes.

(Photo: PTI)

Yoga will now be allowed to be practiced in Saudi Arabia as a sport. Yoga came to find its place in the Muslim-majority Saudi Arabia after Nouf Marwaai, the country’s first female Yoga instructor, began practising yoga to cure an ailment.

Since then, she has been campaigning for it to be made an official activity with the help of Saudi princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, a member of the Royal Council, India Today reported.

Yoga now has been listed as a sport by the country’s Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Marwai shared her joy on social media with a long Facebook post, expressing her gratitude towards the Indian government.

I want to tell you Indians, India Government, Consulate General were helpful throughout the journey. They supported the me unlimitedly. I thank and express my sincere gratitude to every Indian who has helped us in the journey (sic).

Nouf Marwaai, Saudi Arabia’s first yoga instructor

After UN declared 21 June as International Yoga Day, Indian diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia organised a maiden session in Indian schools in the country.

Yoga guru Ramdev tweeted in favour of the move, saying it would “break the myth among Muslim community and open the doors for peace and health.”