Yoga Association Forms In Bali

Despite the ban on certain elements of yoga by the Indonesia’s top Muslim clerics, the first yoga association formed at the International Bali India Yoga festival.

Formed by Somvir, an Indian spiritual guru and academic who set up the Bali India Foundation to teach yoga more than 10 years ago, the association’s main aim is to remove misconceptions about yoga and spread awareness about it’s benefits.

"There are many yoga centres here in Bali and elsewhere but hardly anyone knows each other. This association will be like an umbrella organisation to exchange ideas, information and ultimately spread awareness that yoga is a medium to good health," Mr. Somvir said at the festival on Thursday.

According to Somvir, there are more than 10 million people practising yoga in Indonesia. A total of 30 yoga centres from various parts of Indonesia like Bali, Java and Lombo have came together to form the association.

"In Indonesia, yoga is becoming popular but many people still keep away from it thinking that it’s a mystic art that should avoid. We will try and disseminate information that yoga is just an exercise for physical and mental well being," Mr. Somvir added.

Although Somvir is the founding member of the association, the chief of the association is a Balinese woman entrepreneur who has been learning yoga at the Bali India Foundation for a year now.

"Sri is an avid yoga practitioner. Since nearly 90 percent of those practising yoga in the world are women, it’s only fair that a woman is the chief of the association," he said. 

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