Muslim women in India using yoga to break social barrier

Muslim women in Ahmedabad are using yoga in the quest to become fit.

An NGO in the city will be running yoga classes and about 32 Muslim women have enrolled so far. Indian Congress councilor Azra Kadri is also among those who have enrolled.

"Yoga is associated with Indian culture and has nothing to do with religion," said Kadri while speaking to The Times of India.



"I don't mind performing the surya namaskar as it is not a prayer but a collage of 12 asans."

Last year some Muslim clerics in India opposed yoga, especially the surya namaskar, branding it un-Islamic.

Farhat Jahan Syed, a member of the NGO, said that yoga would make women more health conscious.

"More importantly, we want Muslim women to break social barriers," she said.

"Yoga is a science and has nothing do with religion."

Classes are to be conduced by Tasneem Kanchwala. A mother of two, Kanchwala overcame acute thyroid with the help of yoga and recognises its power in making a person healthy.

"I learnt yoga and then started a class. Muslim women have taken to yoga in large numbers to stay fit," said Kanchwala.



"Even if you are a homemaker, yoga will help you remain fit and ward off diseases. Yoga is an important part of Indian culture and science, and when the whole world is embracing yoga we, as Indians, should not lag behind."

The yoga class does not impose a particular dress code.

"I have women coming to my classes in burqa too" added Kanchwala.

Faeza Soniwala is one Tasneem's students and says she practises yoga daily and doesn't think she's participating in something un-Islamic.

"I have been feeling fit and full of energy since I took up yoga," she added.
This story originally appeared on The Times of India