Yoga is an ancient system to experience divine freedom, peace, and self-realization through physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual practices. Originating from Sanskrit, the term Yoga means “yoke” which refers to drawing, binding; or uniting together. The purpose of Yoga is to unite the body, mind, and soul, as well as the universal consciousness. A healthy mind and body lead to a healthy family, community, and city.
However, the hectic urban life in Dhaka city gives the residents little room for calmness, contemplation, or purpose. Thanks to Shazia Omar for hosting the Festival of Yoga Wellness Dhaka Flow. Let’s take a look at the host and the festival.
Dhaka Flow: A Wellness Movement
Dhaka Flow is a wellness movement in Bangladesh. Dhaka Flow aims to promote a sustainable lifestyle of self-growth, joy, and gratitude. Dhaka Flow promotes wellness through festivals and retreats, events and gatherings, social media, and more.
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Dhaka Flow organizes the Festival of Yoga & Wellness in January 2023 to bring together the vendors of wellness products, fitness teachers, healers, and people, to build community, celebrate health and healing, honor the environment, and elevate the spirit.
The festival will be conducted with zero plastic waste. Dhaka Flow also upholds the principle of ahimsa which means non-violence towards any living being, and as such, food stalls will ALL offer vegetarian meals only.
Journey of Shazia Omar: From investment banker to yogi
Starting her career as an investment banker at Lehman Brothers in Manhattan, Shazia soon realized this was not her calling in life. She grew disillusioned with the state of the world and geopolitics and capitalism and soon after 9/11, she left her job and went traveling around the world to look for a better way to be. Shazia landed up in South Africa, working at an AIDS orphanage as a volunteer, where she met a group of yogis.
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From there, her passion for the practice began. She began visiting ashrams and yoga schools in India and Thailand and eventually got certified in ashtanga yoga. She has been teaching yoga for 20 years.
Shazia teaches regular classes at Nordic Club and Canadian Club in Dhaka. She has conducted numerous corporate workshops on yoga, mindfulness, well-being, health, and fitness. She organizes retreats around Bangladesh and around the world because she believes well-being and wanderlust go hand-in-hand. She is associated with Samahita Yoga Retreat in Thailand.
Shazia has written a mind, body, and spirit book (Intentional Smile: A Girl’s Guide to Positive Living, Bloomsbury 2016) and children’s books (Sun Moon Secret, Guba Books 2022) as well as two novels. Shazia writes a regular column for Daily Star (Kundalini Rising). Shazia did her undergrad at Dartmouth College, USA, and her Master's in Social Psychology at LSE, UK. Shazia Omar’s channel is YouTube.com/ShazzyOm.
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Dhaka Flow: Festival of Yoga and Wellness
Dhaka Flow organizes a unique event to bring many of Dhaka’s yoga teachers and healers under the same sky. Aside from yoga, there will be certified practitioners offering meditation, reiki and energy healing, martial arts and boxing, cardio and HIIT, and much more.
Over 30 companies and entrepreneurs are participating in the fair, with a similar vision to promote a cleaner and greener Dhaka city, cultivating good health and well-being. The event will be organized with eco-friendly materials, like jute stalls, cloth canvas signs, etc. Food partners will provide vegetarian treats.
During this festival, there will be free yoga classes all day long by different teachers in the yoga shala. These classes are suitable for all ages and sizes. There will be cardio and HIIT and martial arts classes in the fitness pavilion. There will be dance, breathing, meditation, and kids' yoga in the amphitheater. There will be art activities in the art corner.
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Time and Venue of Dhaka Flow Festival of Yoga and Wellness
The festival will be held at Gulshan Society Lake Park on Friday, January 13, 2022, from 11 am to 5 pm.
How to Participate in Dhaka Flow Festival of Yoga and Wellness
Registration is required to participate in the event. It is totally free of cost.
Visit the following link for free registration:
https://partyinvite.club/e/Dhaka-Flow--Festival-of-Yoga---Wellness-6388813caf21872f9b6dcf8b