SORKEL SHEIKHO

Amuda_In recent years, yoga has made its way into Rojava, entering as a new sport and practice into people’s lives. Many women have chosen to break barriers and embark on a new experience that redefines the relationship between body and mind.

Yoga emerged more than five thousand years ago in the northern Indian subcontinent, particularly in the Indus Valley region, which today includes parts of India and Pakistan. It is a practice based on achieving harmony between body, mind, and breath, and is not limited to physical movements and exercises but extends to relaxation, concentration, and meditation.

From the beginning, the women of Rojava have played a prominent role in driving development in their region. They receive modern sciences and knowledge in universities across the Middle East and the world, then return to their cities carrying new knowledge to share with children, women, and the community.

A Journey That Began 18 Years Ago

Alaa Abdel Fattah hails from the city of Amuda in Rojava and has been practicing yoga since 2008. Alaa and her husband Gernas undertook a specialized academic experience in this field, studying and graduating from Om University in Rishikesh, India—known worldwide as the yoga capital.

After specializing in children's yoga, she continued her educational journey, joining a specialized academy for children's yoga in the Netherlands, where she spent an additional year studying and training.

She Returned to Rojava Carrying a Story

In 2020, Alaa Abdel Fattah returned to Rojava, but she did not return alone; she carried with her years of learning and training, and she also carried a story titled "The Journey of Zain and Zina."

The story tells of a girl named Sorkel, who tries to overcome feelings of distress and sadness caused by the departure of her friend who lives in another country. Through songs and yoga, Sorkel learns how to regain her calm and balance.

But "The Journey of Zain and Zina" is not merely a bedtime story for children; it is an educational tool and an integrated program that helps children discover yoga through their favorite world: stories, games, and music.

For six years, in collaboration with the Kolturfan Cultural Center in Amuda, Alaa Abdel Fattah and Gernas have been teaching yoga to children and women, attempting to transform this ancient practice into part of daily life in the region.

Ancient Knowledge with a New Spirit

Alaa Abdel Fattah says that yoga is a very ancient science, and its impact is not limited to moving the body but extends to the spirit and mind as well: "Yoga brings a person closer to themselves, makes them present in their life, and able to return to themselves. When we were in India, we studied yoga science, and we wanted to return to our city and pass on what we learned to its children, so they could live a calmer life, especially in a region that has experienced many difficulties."

She believes that yoga is still a relatively new practice in the Middle East, and that even in Europe it was recognized late compared to India, where yoga is part of daily life for many people.

But she found a special way into children's hearts through play and storytelling: "Children here love yoga because we don't present it to them in a traditional way; we connect it to games and stories."

Stories from the Region's Culture to Teach Yoga

Alaa Abdel Fattah did not merely transfer what she learned; she sought to create an approach that fits the culture of the community she returned to. She says: "We created stories that fit our people's culture. We prepared them to teach children, and we use songs in them so they learn yoga movements in a likable way."

One of the stories revolves around two children who leave their country and learn yoga during their journey, discovering something different in each new country, before finally returning to their city carrying new experiences and knowledge in their bags.

"The Journey of Zain and Zina" Reaches the World

For Alaa Abdel Fattah, the importance of the story does not stop at teaching children yoga; it goes beyond that to conveying the community's stories and culture to the world: "My story, titled 'The Journey of Zain and Zina,' is a vision of how to deliver our stories to the whole world."

The book was published by an Egyptian publishing house and was also showcased at the Sharjah Book Fair. Alaa Abdel Fattah and her team are currently working on translating the stories into Kurdish, in an attempt to make them closer to children in the region and more connected to their language and culture.

A New Generation Learns and Teaches

The project was not limited to teaching yoga; it also began discovering talented children and developing their abilities. Alaa Abdel Fattah says that the Kolturfan Cultural Center has so far taught yoga to 125 children, noting that some children have continued training without interruption for six years.

She added: "We found ten children who are very talented and deserve the title 'Rojava Yoga Stars.' We prepared cards for them so they can teach yoga in the Gulf and other countries as well."

She believes that what distinguishes this project is that it was prepared in the local language and tailored to the community's culture, not merely a translation of a ready-made program.

Alongside children, Alaa Abdel Fattah has dedicated part of her work to teaching women. She says many women initially did not know what yoga was or its benefits, but they soon became attached to it after experiencing it themselves: "I have been offering yoga to women for three years, and we are also trying to train teachers so this knowledge spreads in our community."

Thus, for Alaa, yoga transforms from an individual practice into a collective space that allows women to gain knowledge, take care of themselves, and pass on what they learn to others.

Body, Breath, and Mind... A Trinity for Restoring Balance

Yoga is based on combining body movements, regular breathing, and mental focus. Through these three elements, yoga sessions aim to reduce stress and restore inner balance.

In conclusion, Alaa Abdel Fattah sums up her yoga philosophy in a simple sentence: "A person's breath is the greatest weapon in their hands, but unfortunately many people do not know this truth and do not understand how to use it."