Around nine thousand hit the mats to kick off inaugural XYoga Dubai Festival

Bollywood Star Leads Mid East’s Largest Yoga Session as Two Day Wellness Event Starts in Style

Dubai, UAE. 21 February 2016:  Around nine thousand yoga enthusiasts from all walks of life kicked off the Middle East’s largest mass participation yoga session, marking the start of the inaugural two-day XYoga Dubai festival, organized by Dubai Tourism and XDubai.

The festival is the anchor event of the year-long Xyoga Dubai initiative which has already seen several yoga flash mobs across prominent locations in the city to transparent trucks carrying people who do yoga.

Led by Bollywood actress, fitness enthusiast and author, Shilpa Shetty and world-renowned yoga guru Suneel Singh, thousands of fitness fans took over Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard in Downtown Dubai to hit the mats for the session in the shadow of the iconic Burj Khalifa.

It was a picture of serenity, as yoga fans of all ages and experience, worked through the 60 minutes routine, which was also broadcast on towering TV screens along the 1.5 kilometers stretch of boulevard that was needed to accommodate the thousands of would-be yogis.

Speaking after the session, Shetty said she was moved by the turnout and pleased that so many new to yoga chose to participate. She commented, “yoga is more than just exercise, it is a path to a healthier life and to see so many people turn out for this event and to see how much Dubai nurtures a healthy and holistic lifestyle, for many of people who have never done it before, was amazing. Yoga is open to anyone, and getting that message across today was so important, everyone should have the opportunity to want a healthier lifestyle, and I think XYoga Dubai has helped remove some of those barriers to achieve that today,” said the starlet.

Following the main session, Shetty spent time at the Burj Park venue taking part in other sessions and visiting the various stands by the partners, Reebok, Cadillac and du.

Dedicated yoga sessions also ran throughout the day tailored to men and women as well as different yoga experiences to cater to beginners up to lifelong practitioners. Women only sessions included Om Chanting, Pregnancy, Hatha Flow and Hormonal sessions, whilst all inclusive sessions included  Yoga for Athletes, Swing Yoga, a spectacular show on the Dubai Fountain with Stand Up Paddle Board expert, Dashama Konah, as well as a dedicated Spiritual Journey through Music experience with Pierre Ravan, the first ‘spiritual house DJ’.

“XYoga Dubai is not just about creating a festival; it’s about creating a wellness movement and tapping into the positive energy of Dubai and the many people that make up its unique tapestry. Health and happiness go hand in hand and that’s what we wanted to show. After a sold out inaugural event, certainly we expect XYoga Dubai to continue to grow in an ever more health aware society and hope that it brings in people from abroad who also wants share in the experience here in Dubai,” said  Javad Khoramifar, Festival Director.

Visitors also got a chance to chill out and learn more at the XYoga Dubai festival village, which had interactive events and live music sets from Capoeira, Ravan and Sadie Nardini as well as food stalls with a focus on healthy eating, raw cooking, yoga apparel and accessories stalls and kids entertainment area.

In addition to the mass session, festivalgoers can also a enjoy a host of workshops and classes led by globally recognized yogi’s suitable for all as the festival continues through to Saturday, 20th February.