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EIGHT years ago Fatima Al Mansoori was diagnosed with chronic fatigue and a rheumatic condition called fibromyalgia. She was told that there was no cure.
In 2010, she took her first meditation class and made the first step on the road to recovery and used yoga as a tool for well-being.
So convinced by its healing properties she became a yoga teacher 12 months later and continued to study before becoming a certified therapist.
Yoga is said to lower stress through meditation techniques, boost confidence, lower the risk of injury, help with weight loss, increase flexibility, muscle tone and strength, as well as lowering blood pressure and improving posture.
Now she is sharing her experience and tips with others suffering from anxiety issues.
For example, the 33-year-old Bahraini lifestyle coach, speaker and columnist joined a session highlighting the benefits of using yoga for those who stress over travel at a recent conference hosted by tour operators Spire Travel.
It took place at the HotSpot Restaurant in Adliya to support a Sri Lanka Meditation Tour event. Sayed Ebrahim, the founder of Spire Travel, came up with the idea to integrate yoga to help relax passengers on a coming visit.
Fatima said: 'This new idea integrates meditation and self-development workshops throughout the trip. During the conference we discussed how yoga could help people suffering from travelling stress and to cope with conditions such as panic attacks, fear of flying, anxiety and tension.
'Although people often travel to relieve stress, travelling can be stressful in itself. Yoga techniques and meditation on the plane can help reduce tension.
'There is often a direct relation between fear of flying, anxiety, panic attacks and breathing. Mindfulness of breath is often the key to coping in such situations.'
During the conference Fatima demonstrated various exercises to run through whenever anxiety creeps up, such as the correct sitting posture and functional breathing along with simple practices to reduce muscle tension, back pain, as well as neck and shoulder stiffness.
Aside from specialising in yoga counselling and one-to-one coaching, Fatima runs ‘nostril cleanse breathing’ therapy courses and is also an Ayurvedic lifestyle coach. This technique is one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems developed thousands of years ago in India and is based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between mind, body and spirit.
Fatima said: 'If you are suffering from a chronic disease, chronic pain or any medical condition, try making positive lifestyle changes. Practice yoga, eat healthily, detox and seek guidance. You don’t have to suffer for the rest of your life and self-healing can help.'
Fatima isn’t the only one who has found relief through yoga as Olivia Middleton, a former Bahrain resident and current yoga assistant manager in Dubai, has also gained from the spiritual practice.
In 2010, Olivia started to suffer from severe anxiety attacks which she didn’t understand. She consulted one doctor after the other for an answer until one suggested she try yoga. She discovered Bikram yoga, among other forms, and never looked back.
Bikram features 26 postures that systematically work every part of the body to work all the internal organs, veins, ligaments and muscles to help maintain optimum health and maximum function, according to those who practice it.
Olivia, who trained with Evolution Yoga, said: 'Bikram is a set sequence of postures performed in a hot room along to constant dialogue. The heat allows for a deeper stretch into the postures and is a great way to learn to control your breathing. I feel more balanced for sure and peace is an ongoing journey.'
Olivia is currently undergoing more yoga training and hopes to one day run her own studio.
