We’re excited to see more and more skaters embrace their overall physical health and understand how various exercises can affect not just their performance and the longevity of it, but also mental health and the relationship between them. Yoga has a proven track record of having a huge potential to improve both physical and mental wellbeing.

We reached out to Majdal Sobah, a Ramallah-based yoga instructor and kindergarten teacher (who you may remember from SAHTEN) to discuss this further, as well as the yoga scene in Palestine, and the many benefits of daily yoga practice for skateboarders.

How did you start your adventure with yoga and what drew you towards it?

M: I started practising yoga after finishing my BA in Communication from Ohio, USA and returning to Palestine. My friend’s sister, who is a yoga instructor, introduced me to the practice and the non-profit center, Farashe Yoga in Ramallah, where I started my yogic journey. I was drawn to the therapeutic aspects of yoga, and how it reveals the connection between the mind and body. I could feel my mental and physical health improving and knew that that was a lifestyle worth adopting.

How did you become a yoga instructor?

M: I owe all my progress as a yoga instructor to Farashe Yoga, where all the teachers and board members volunteer to spread wellbeing across Palestine. I first took a teacher training course there for my own practice, but soon after, I started volunteering at the centre. Afterwards, I accessed scholarships through Farashe to India and USA for further training.

What’s the current yoga scene like in Palestine?

M: It definitely evolved wonderfully within the five years I’ve been involved in the scene, and it’s still evolving! Farashe was the first and only yoga centre available for a while, but now yoga is gradually spreading. It’s more prominent in Ramallah and Bethlehem, but there are classes being offered in nearby villages and refugee camps. The demand is also increasing due to the psychosocial support yoga can provide.

I’m very thrilled that we just completed the first 200 hour Palestinian yoga teacher training in Arabic at the end of 2020 with Farashe Yoga and in cooperation with Seven Centers, USA with the intention of creating multipliers (what does this mean?) for sustainability. It’s a big deal because previously we had to rely on foreign teachers and travel for learning yoga, but now these trainings are becoming available here and in Arabic.

What do you think will be the future of yoga in Palestine?

M: I’m sure it will continue to evolve and more people will be introduced to the practice. When done therapeutically, I think it will help more people cope and find inner strength and stability.

I envision more yoga teacher trainings and more Palestinian instructors emerging and contexualizing their knowledge to fit the specific needs of the Palestinian communities.

You worked with Izzeldin Bukhari from Sacred Cuisine on a series of events called ‘Mindful Eating’, would you be able to tell us more about them and how were they received?

M: Our intention was to remind individuals about nature’s wisdom and how its food is medicinal. We reminded the participants of the importance and intelligence we can connect with when we eat seasonally and locally. We paired Izzeldin’s delicious menu with gentle yoga to balance bodies and minds.

It was received pretty well and I was very happy with the wholesome conversations and discussions in which we all engaged at those events.

How do you think practising yoga can benefit people and skaters in particular?

M: Physically, the yoga poses paired with breathing exercises help individuals release tensions and increase strength and flexibility, improving one’s overall health when practised on a regular basis.

Mentally, it helps increase concentration and brings a sense of calmness. With regular practice on and off the mat, one further develops qualities of patience, acceptance, determination, mental strength and agility.

Our bodies and minds are deeply connected. When we practise yoga poses and breathwork, we start to notice our mental patterns, and improve upon them. As we release our bodily tensions, we also have the capacity to release our mental tensions. That’s why the majority of people improve their mental wellbeing with yoga.

All of these are beneficial for all people. Particularly, athletes and skaters benefit from yoga because it improves their progress in their sport. Skaters can also use their yoga practice to target the muscle groups that they use most in skating to prevent wear and tear, and increase their strength.

What would you say is the best approach to combining yoga and skateboarding?

M: I would say the best way is for skaters to develop a regular yoga practice with the intention of self-care. This could be as short as 10 minutes (or as long as you’d like it to be) daily when they wake up or at another suitable time. Breathe, stretch, and smile, and this will for sure improve skateboarding!

Majdal shared with us a short yoga sequence perfect for skaters and featured in SAHTEN. You can watch it below.

Animated by: Jonah Ainslie

Sound Design by: TIBA

Yoga, sustainability and skateboarding - interview with Majdal Sobah

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