Dubai: Thousands of residents braved humid conditions to take part in a mass yoga event in Dubai’s Zabeel Park to mark the fifth International Day of Yoga on Friday.
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The free public event attracted families, friends, youth, the elderly and yoga enthusiasts from Dubai and other emirates, which are also hosting yoga events until Saturday.
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Dubai’s main yoga event at Zabeel Park was organised by the Indian Consulate in Dubai in cooperation with Dubai Sports Council, NMC Healthcare Group, and supported by Dubai Municipality.
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Yoga teachers from the Art of Living conducted some of the sessions, and other participating yoga schools included Sahaj Yoga, Raja Yoga Centre, Heartfullness Yoga, Sky Yoga and Laughter Yoga.
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There were prizes for participants — such as a television, microwave oven and refrigerator — and two free air tickets to India were given away through a raffle draw. There were women-only, senior citizens’ and children’s contests too.
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Carrying their yoga mats, people streamed through gate three of Zabeel Park to take part in the Friday’s event, which started at 6.30pm.
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Rows of cloth were also laid out in the main area for the yoga sessions, held in the oval-shaped amphitheatre-like centre of the public park. Water bottles were also arranged neatly along the rows.
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People registered and were handed white T-shirts carrying the yoga day logo.
###People participate during the 5th International Yoga day at Zabeel Park
Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/ Gulf News###
There was also a session on ‘laughter yoga’, which included laughing non-stop for a minute, while looking up, arms reaching to the sky.
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Two large screens and speakers made it easy for the yogis to follow the lead of instructors from a stage at the front of the gathering. Some visitors followed the sessions intermittently from the sidelines.
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For certain positions or routines, instructors also provided a word of caution for those with ailments such as high blood pressure or those who had undergone certain surgeries. A first-aid station and ambulances were also present.
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Indian swimming coach Mahesh Chauhan, 24, said he practised yoga every morning. “I take part every year in the mass yoga events in Dubai for International Yoga Day. Though I do yoga daily, this is a special event and I make it a point to enjoy it with friends,” he added.
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Another participant, Prasant Upadhyay, 26, said he had been a yoga fan since grade one, when his school — in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh — would hold yoga sessions.
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“Yoga is not new to me, what brings me here today is the community spirit and chance to enjoy time with friends,” Upadhyay, said a maintenance supervisor from India.
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“I don’t mind the humidity, we spend all the time indoors with the air-conditioning on, so why not spend one evening outside? It’s a chance to enjoy the outdoors and nature in this nice park,” he added.
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