by TOMOKO KOJIMA owner of a wellness company ” Purewells LLC”
Oman, a connection hub in the Arabian Peninsula between the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), about 45 minutes flight distance from the famous Dubai. A country that is fond for neutral diplomacy so to be called the Switzerland of the Middle East, is where you can feel the real spirit of yoga.
A country overflowing with warm hospitality and generous people with good manners based on seniority respect and family care. Beautiful and expressive mountains, coastline of shallow water, colorful garden of flowers blue like a clear sky, and the capital of Oman, Muscat, where you can feel the balance between the new and the old culture all around the city.
I have had the opportunity to teach yoga for 7 years in Muscat with the exquisite balance. I have noticed change in people’s consciousness toward yoga in the last seven years and more are accepting the concept of yoga. Due to development of technology such as social media, people have greater access and understanding the benefits of yoga. In addition, it has become trendy, health conscious and more acceptable by people to practice the Western style of yoga.
I would like to share the three things that I am most careful about teaching yoga in the Omani market that is still expanding.
– It is said that the class composition of a mix gender is not preferred. However, some women who live overseas don’t mind such class, but the majority are not open for such class.
– It is important to get approval if all pictures taken with women in yoga before sharing on SNS.
– Since there is a possibility that yoga may be interpreted as a religion, chanting is best avoided unless it is for advanced practitioners
Along with the growth of yoga populations and the SNS, Oman’s yoga situation changes year by year. I am looking forward to the maturity of the yoga market in Oman.
TOMOKO KOJIMA
Tomoko is a RYT, registered Yoga alliance teacher, from Japan.
She is based in Oman for last 10 years and is an experienced yoga instructor with 7 years teaching and conducts open classes. In addition, she teaches private sessions that are custom designed for her clients to meet their different needs by using various yoga techniques and methodologies that she learned from around the world. Her main focus is mental wellbeing, physical strength and detoxification in an effective manner.