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5 Amazing Arab Women Bringing Diversity to Yoga

With its power to invigorate the mind, body and soul, yoga has become a popular pastime for men and women alike. However, the yoga industry has drawn criticism for its lack of diversity, with yoga books, magazines and YouTube videos being dominated by skinny white women wearing expensive yoga pants.

Thankfully, things are slowly starting to change with more and more people from different backgrounds, including Arab women, making their mark on the yoga world.

To celebrate this sea of change, here are 5 talented yoginis paving the way for Arab women in the world of yoga:

Hanane Lazaar

Hanne Lazaar has made a name for herself as one of the most popular hijabi yoginis in the MENA region. Originally from Morocco, not only does she impress with her super flexible moves but she also posts pictures in beautiful traditional outfits, showing that you don’t have to wear expensive yoga pants to be a great yogi.

Rita Tchamitchian

 

Paris

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Morning Sunshine Meditation

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Based in Beirut, Rita Tchamitchian started practicing yoga and meditation at the age of 16 and has never looked back. As well as certifying as a yoga teacher in her native Lebanon, Tchamitchian has travelled around the world studying her craft and received her second teacher training at an Ashram in India. She is also a certified physiotherapist, masseuse and acupuncturist.

Lamise Mansur

Lamise Mansur first encountered yoga at the age of 9 when her mother brought home a yoga VHS tape. Since then, the multi-talented yoga teacher who is of Lebanese, Palestinian and Brazilian descent has continued to wow with her incredible skill and strength on and off the matt. As well as teaching yoga, Mansur loves taking photographs and cooking healthy meals.

Noura El-Emam

Noura El-Emam is a famous Dubai yoga instructor and worked in the field of marketing before turning her passion for yoga into a business. She now runs Yogalates Bliss in Dubai, a studio that teaches classes in yoga and pilates. A lover of nature and the outdoors, El-Emam runs an annual yoga retreat on the beautiful island of Bali.

Layla Al-Naif

 Layla Al-Naif started practicing yoga as a way to combat a longstanding illness and fell in love with the practice. Since then, she has gone on to found Yogaluls, a yoga studio that focuses on connecting the mind and body through meditation and breath. Al-Naif is also a certified holistic nutritionist and believes in the importance of healthy eating to unlock energy.

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