Increasing number of people, especially women in Doha, show interest in more than being free from illness but focusing on wellness a dynamic process of change and growth. Here comes the significance of getting exposed into the mindfulness practices of Yoga and the increase in the number of people approaching various yoga centres in Doha underlines the growing trend.
They choose maintaining an optimal level of wellness which is absolutely crucial to live a higher quality life.
“Everyone is beginning to understand that we need to focus on this as a community so we are getting more requests from corporate organisations and schools in addition to a lot of interest from the community,” says Valerie Jeremijenko, the founder, owner and director of Yama Yoga Studios in Doha, Qatar and of Yama Yoga Retreat Center in Pcheliste Bulgaria, just outside of Veliko Tarnovo.
“Doha is a transient place so we always have new people coming but I do see more and more people coming from the Arab communities,” said Valerie, who is also the Yama Yoga Director of teacher training programs.
Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life.
Wellness is a conscious, self-directed and evolving process of achieving full potential: wellness is multidimensional and holistic, encompassing lifestyle, mental and spiritual well-being, and the environment: Wellness is positive and affirming.
It is an active process through which people become aware of, and make choices toward, a more successful existence.
To gain wellness in life people seek different programmes on mindfulness, emotional wellbeing, joy in motherhood and mindful parenting, meditation and yoga.
Yama Yoga Studios offers Doha the widest range of yoga, pilates and movement classes at two central locations. The Yoga classes draw from a number of traditional lineages of yoga with particular focus on Astanga, vinaysas and flow forms to build strength, stamina and mindfulness.
“At Yama yoga we teach vinyasa yoga, iyengar yoga, astanga yoga, yin yoga and astanga yoga. All are very popular with different groups of people and for different reasons. Vinyasa classes flow creatively from one pose to another and often use music. They are gentle and supportive but at the same time free to explore dynamic poses. Iyangar yoga focuses on alignment and move more slowly. Again this class is great for beginners to advanced students and also anyone who has an injury or condition that are protecting and seeking to heal. Yin classes are designed for the joints and fascia. Though long sustained holds these classes help to maintain the health of the connective tissues. They are also deeply relaxing. Astanga classes are physically demanding and can provide fitness and stamina as well as strength and flexibility,” said Valerie.
“All of these classes are popular with different groups but they also work very well together and students often combine them all to maintain a balanced body and practice,” she added.
According to Valarie with more than 15 years experience in Doha, yoga is very popular among women and it is getting more popular all the time. Right now women are the ones who come to yoga more frequently but many men are realising how beneficial it can be both for well being as well as for general fitness.
Mindfulness programmes are also becoming equally popular among people in Doha. The practice of mindfulness has been a growing trend itself. In simple terms, mindfulness focuses on ‘being’ rather than ‘doing.’
Wellness matters. Wellness matters because everything a person does and every emotion is related to well-being. Well-being directly affects a person’s actions and emotions. Therefore, it is important for everyone to achieve optimal wellness in order to subdue stress, reduce the risk of illness and ensure positive interactions.
Anahi Brown a wellness expert speaking about the demand for wellness services said, “I think there’s beginning to be a boom of this industry worldwide. Qatar isn’t an exception, although things feel a bit slower. I believe in the next few years we will see more interest and understanding on the importance of these for our communal success.”
Anahi, a Women’s Empowerment Coach and she provides one on one coaching, group coaching programs on themes like, Holistic Nourishment and Beauty, Wellness, Emotional Wellbeing, Joy in Motherhood and Mindful Parenting. She also offer workshops, seminars and planning to launch online programs later on in 2017.
Women who seek her services are mothers, mostly between 28 and 40 years.
Speaking about client demand Anahi said, “They are lost. They dreamed about having children, they craved motherhood but then it happened and suddenly they are completely lost. They had forgotten who they are and what they love, they know they want to be happy but can’t remember how. So, together we help her reconnect to that, to her purpose, her joy, herself.”
“When I have one on one clients I personalised their program to make sure I help them reach their goals and get the results they want. In group settings the program it’s set, however I do try to individualised as much as I can,” she said.
There are eight dimensions of wellness such as occupational, emotional, spiritual, environmental, financial, physical, social, and intellectual. Each dimension of wellness is interrelated with another. Each dimension is equally vital in the pursuit of optimum health. One can reach an optimal level of wellness by understanding how to maintain and optimise each of the dimensions of wellness. The concept of Wellness therefore is a life-long process of moving towards enhancing each of these components in life; it is a state of optimal well-being that is oriented toward maximizing an individual’s potential.
