Sheikha Shaikha Al-Sabah’s global rise: From Dar Atma to leading World Yoga Federation
- Sheikha highlighted yoga’s role in deepening Kuwait’s 250-year relationship with India, adding a wellness dimension to longstanding cultural ties.
- She expressed gratitude to regional yoga leaders and emphasized that Kuwaiti and Indian values share common ground rooted in community and goodness.
- On receiving India’s prestigious Padma Shri award, she said the honor strengthened her commitment to promoting yoga and her ongoing efforts continue to position her as a leading advocate for wellness and cross-cultural understanding.
The General Assembly of the World Yoga Federation has approved the appointment of Sheikha Sheikha Ali Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, President of the Kuwaiti Yoga Committee, to assume the presidency of the World Yoga Federation, during the Federation’s General Assembly meeting.
The appointment of Sheikha Sheikha as president of the World Federation reflects Kuwait’s leadership in supporting and developing yoga globally, reports Al-Qabas daily,
Meanwhile, Sheikha Sheikha Ali Al-Jaber Al-Sabah had spoken about her long-standing passion for yoga and her efforts to expand awareness of its physical and emotional benefits in Kuwait.
She said yoga existed in Kuwait for many years, but its formal recognition by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on December 4, 2014 marked a turning point in its development.
Reflecting on her personal journey, she noted that yoga helped her reconnect with her body and mind after becoming a mother.
She emphasized yoga’s adaptability — its ability to be gentle or intense — and its accessibility to anyone with a mat and willingness to practice. While global popularity continues to grow, she believes yoga is just as present in the Middle East as anywhere else.
Discussing her flagship initiative, Dar Atma, Kuwait’s first licensed yoga studio established in 2014, Sheikha explained that the center was founded as a welcoming space for learning. She described the name as a blend of Arabic and Sanskrit, meaning “home of the soul,” and said her goal was to create opportunities for yoga practitioners across the region.
She acknowledged that the main hurdle in creating Dar Atma was bureaucracy, though she credited Kuwait’s supportive systems for easing the entrepreneurial process.
She also highlighted yoga’s role in deepening Kuwait’s 250-year relationship with India, adding a wellness dimension to longstanding cultural ties.
Notably, Kuwait formed its first official Yoga Committee under the Kuwait Olympic Committee on April 28, 2025, aligning with similar initiatives across the GCC.
Sheikha expressed gratitude to regional yoga leaders and emphasized that Kuwaiti and Indian values share common ground rooted in community and goodness.
Encouraging newcomers to explore different styles of yoga, she urged them not to judge the practice from a single class.
On receiving India’s prestigious Padma Shri award, she said the honor strengthened her commitment to promoting yoga. Her ongoing efforts continue to position her as a leading advocate for wellness and cross-cultural understanding.
