Kids, adults bend for yoga in Egypt

Egyptian children and adults bent, stretched and twisted their bodies in multiple complex postures during a yoga championship held here to encourage enthusiasts of all age to practice the ancient Indian meditative discipline.
Kids as young as five year olds and adults as old as 70 participated in the 2nd Yoga Championship organised yesterday by the Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture of the Indian embassy here inside the premises of the Centre in Zamalek.
The participants were divided into four categories: the first was below 18 years old, the second between 18 and 35, another group comprised people between 36 to 50 years of age, and the last one beyond 50.

"It is interesting to know that kids as young as five or six were participating and also people beyond 50 years of age. So, we are giving a chance to people of all age groups to compete in this event," Ann Haokip, the director of MACIC told PTI.
"We want to promote yoga as one of the activities at MACIC. We, last year, started for the first time the yoga championship and we encouraged practitioners of yoga whether they are young or old or advance or just beginners to show us how much they are into yoga," she said.
Haokip said the participation of people from all age groups in the event was a reflection of the interest people have in yoga.

"We see good number of people coming even though this is the exam season. We are hoping that we can get more response over coming days," she added.

As the third International Day of Yoga, or commonly referred to as Yoga Day, is approaching on June 21, the Indian embassy is preparing to celebrate it with more activities.
Apart from the championship, a photography competition and some other activities have been lined up, Haokip said.
Yoga is an invaluable gift of ancient Indian tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature and a holistic approach to health and well-being.

"We wish that in Egypt people can see yoga as a way in which they can cope with stress or some health related conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure," she said.