JEDDAH: Khalid Al-Zahrani and Haifa Mahzari are a young Saudi couple who aspire to bring the benefits of yoga to every home.
They spent years researching and practicing yoga before launching Ananda Yoga Studio in Jeddah in 2019, and offered free courses and continue to give back to the community.
“Yoga has a significant impact on the mind and body. We want to help those in need and promote yoga to all ages because it is beneficial to joints and can be practiced at any age,” Mahzari said. “We also offer voluntary and awareness classes.”
Khalid Al-Zahrani and his wife Haifa Mahzari with one of their students. (Supplied)
Mahzari knew very little about yoga when she first met Al-Zahrani, but his commitment to the practice inspired her to give it a try. After reading books about yoga and doing research, she realized the value and health advantages of the practice and developed an obsession with it.
Al-Zahrani had trained under numerous instructors. Nouf Al-Marwaai, the first Saudi yoga acharya, first Arab recipient of the Padma Shri Award and president of the Saudi Yoga Committee, was one of the trainers who saw his dedication.
“I obtained a 200-hour instructor certificate and a 500-hour master certificate, and I have a level one and two Himalayan meditation certificate,” he said.
FASTFACTS
• Khalid Al-Zahrani and Haifa Mahzari spent years researching and practicing yoga before launching Ananda Yoga Studio in Jeddah in 2019.
• Their team competed in the Saudi Yoga Asana Championship organized by the Saudi Yoga Committee under the umbrella of the Ministry of Sport.
• The yoga center also offers qualified instructors for kung fu, shaolin, chi kung and other Chinese martial arts.
Al-Zahrani added: “We competed in a competitive yoga tournament and won the gold and silver medals in 2023 and two gold, two silver and one bronze medal in 2024.”
The tournament was organized by the Saudi Yoga Committee under the umbrella of the Ministry of Sport.
Coach Khalid Al-Zahrani receives the prize for Ananda Yoga Studio by Nouf Al Marwaai, the first Saudi Yoga Acharya, recipient of the Padmashri Award, and President of the Saudi Yoga Committee. (Supplied)
Al-Zahrani received support from the committee to open Ananda Yoga and was awarded many gold medals at the Saudi Yoga Asana Championship.
The International Yoga Sports Federation nominated Al-Zahrani for a scholarship in April, for the “advanced international yoga asana coach” certification program.
This is in recognition of his work founding the first Saudi yoga asana squad, called “Team Ananda,” which competed in several regional competitions, winning first place.
Yogasana sport Championship in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia honors Ananda Yoga Studio for winning the gold medal. (Supplied)
“The Saudi Yoga Committee has given me unending support, whether it be through the courses they helped me complete, the certifications they gave me, the yoga judges courses or the scholarship to (attend the) yoga instructor training program in Switzerland at their headquarters,” Al-Zahrani said.
Many have trained at Ananda Yoga Studio, making it a success story for yoga enthusiasts in Jeddah, and with plans to open more locations throughout the Kingdom.
Al-Zahrani said that the Kingdom was encouraging yoga practice and its dissemination as it fostered a healthier community, both physically and spiritually.
Numerous yoga sessions are offered by the studio, including children’s yoga and yoga for anxiety and stress, among others. The center also offers qualified instructors for kung fu, shaolin, chi kung and other Chinese martial arts.
