Daulat Rahman/Guwahati

As the world celebrated the 21st International Yoga Day on Sunday, many Muslims in Assam are highlighting how yoga has positively transformed their lives, as many practice it every day to promote a healthier and balanced way of living.

One such practitioner is leadership coach and trainer Tinat Atifa Masood, who began her yoga journey several years ago.

“My relationship with yoga began as a sincere commitment to my life, body and mind rather than an obligation. Every breath became a silent conversation with my body, and every asana felt like a promise to honour both my strengths and weaknesses,” Tinat Atifa Masood, Founder & CEO: #IAmTheBest Leadership Academy, told Awaz-The Voice.

Tinat recalls discovering the transformative power of Surya Namaskar through regular practice.

“I was already aware of the importance of Surya Namaskar, but yoga taught me discipline, patience and joy at the same time. I still remember completing 108 rounds of Surya Namaskar in just 25 minutes. It remains a living reminder of the concentration and physical fitness that consistent practice can build,” Tinat said.

Tinat Atifa Masood

For the past year, Tinat has been practising yoga online under the guidance of renowned yoga instructor Sourav Bothra.

“For me, daily Surya Namaskar is a way of expressing gratitude for life while nurturing physical health and mental clarity. Yoga not only improves flexibility but also makes the mind calmer, steadier and more resilient,” she added.

As part of her leadership development programmes, Tinat also teaches pranayama to students.

“It is deeply moving to see a student’s restless breathing gradually become calm, tense shoulders relax, and a sense of peace emerge on their face. I always tell students that the success of yoga is not about mastering difficult postures but about connecting with your breath, living in the present moment and developing a compassionate and courageous mind,” Tinat said.

She encourages everyone to practice yoga regularly.

“Do not see yoga merely as a way to relax the body. See it as a celebration of the incredible possibilities that our bodies offer us. Start slowly, breathe mindfully, and yoga will teach you the art of living beautifully.”

Tasnim Anwari, a teacher based in Guwahati, believes that despite the popularity of various forms of exercise, many people still do not fully understand the diverse benefits of yoga.

According to Anwari, yoga should be introduced to children at the school level.“Many children face flexibility issues or postural problems. Regular yoga helps correct these. Practising yoga under proper guidance can also help address headaches, migraines, stress and several other health issues. Therefore, yoga should become an integral part of daily life,” Anwari said.

Tasnim Anwari

“We introduce students to simple yoga postures, stretching exercises and age-appropriate physical activities. Not every child can immediately understand complex yoga techniques, so we gradually teach them different asanas. With regular practice, their flexibility improves, concentration increases, and they become more physically active," Anwari said.

According to Anwari, yoga has existed since ancient times. Both prayer and yoga have their own distinct purpose and significance. While yoga promotes physical and mental well-being, prayer is an act of worship that also offers numerous physical and emotional benefits. "Although yoga includes practices such as chanting ‘Om’ and prayer does not, both encourage discipline, self-control and a balanced lifestyle," she said.

Another passionate yoga practitioner is Saikh Md. Sabah Al-Ahmed, a senior English and Social Science teacher and poet at Don Bosco School, Panbazar, Guwahati. He was introduced to yoga more than a decade ago by his first yoga teacher, J.P. Majumder.

“Within just a month or two of attending his classes regularly, I noticed a remarkable transformation in myself. Mentally, emotionally and spiritually, I felt rejuvenated. Life seemed to gain a new momentum, and I felt nearly twenty years younger and healthier,” Ahmed said.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sabah Al-Ahmed continued practising yoga online. In 2021, his second yoga mentor, Ujjwal Bhattacharya, began guiding him through regular sessions at home.

Saikh Md. Sabah Al-Ahmed

“Pranayama, in particular, has had a profound impact on my life. It has improved my sleep quality and brought greater peace of mind and emotional stability,” Ahmed said.

As an educator, he strongly encourages students to dedicate at least thirty minutes each day to yoga.

“Simple yoga practices that can be learned through YouTube or other platforms help improve concentration, memory and academic performance. Students who practice regularly become more focused and disciplined," he said.

Now 52, Sabah Al-Ahmed remains committed to promoting healthy living and frequently shares the benefits of yoga with colleagues, friends and students.

“Yoga is not merely physical exercise. It is a complete path toward a healthy body, a calm mind and a balanced life,” he said.

Successful entrepreneur Runa Rafique is another strong advocate of yoga. She has been practising regularly for nearly two decades and firmly believes in its transformative power.

“When practised correctly and consistently, yoga not only develops a healthy body but also nurtures a calm, stable and positive mindset,” she said.

According to Rafique, a physically healthy and mentally balanced individual can make a positive contribution to society.

Runa Rafique

“A healthy society is built by healthy individuals. Therefore, yoga should be embraced as an integral part of everyday life,” she said.

Rafique believes yoga has become particularly relevant in modern times, when stress and anxiety affect people of all ages.

“Yoga teaches us how to manage our minds, and that journey begins with controlling our breath. Different breathing techniques combined with yoga help keep the body healthy and the mind free from stress,” she said.

According to Rafique, the essence of yoga lies in creating harmony between body and mind.

“It is not enough for the body alone to be healthy. The mind must also remain calm and balanced. Yoga teaches us how to achieve this equilibrium.”

Padma Shri awardee physician Dr Elias Ali also strongly endorses yoga from a medical perspective.

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“As a doctor, I firmly believe in the benefits of yoga. However, it should not be treated as a trend or a tool for social media promotion. Yoga must be approached holistically and practised according to proper methods and guidelines if people are to derive its true physical an