Kovalam – the new-found yoga capital of Kerala
Kovalam is set to be in the global yoga tour map. Kovalam is the best place for yoga, certify the participants of Yoga Ambassador Tour. Around 60 yoga exponents from 22 countries are participating in the Yoga Ambassador Tour, organized by ATTOI (Association of Tourism Trade Organizations, India), in association with Ministry of Ayush and Kerala Tourism.
On day two of Yoga Ambassadors Tour, Kovalam beach was opted as the venue for conducting the yoga session. The session was led by Dr Arun Tejas of Sri Chithra Institute, Thiruvananthapuram.
Though Kerala has witnessed mass yoga sessions in the state before, it was a new experience to watch these much foreigners doing yoga in one session.
The participants in the event include from Yoga instructors, researchers, disciples, tour operators, wellness magazine personnel to yoga admirers. Though they came from different parts of the world, talking different languages, with different religious believes – all were unanimous in one thing – the serenity and ambience of Kovalam beach as the venue for practicing yoga. They lauded the organizers – ATTOI- for finding such an apt place for conducting the yoga event.
One of the participants, Sandra Barnes, who is a yoga teacher from Worcestershire, England, said, “The yoga session on the Kovalam beach was an amazing experience. With the fellow ambassadors, organizers and hotel staff, it was more like an extended family. With the sea in the back and the sunlight coming from the trees in the front, it was altogether a different experience doing yoga on the Kovalam beach. I strongly advice people to come to Kovalam and get a different yoga experience”, she added.
Nicole Rene’e Mathews, a yoga teacher from United States of America said “Hospitality people, the teachers and even the ATTOI staff – everyone is a yogi here. Everyone is bringing the spirit of unity to wherever their work is. And, that’s what makes Kovalam a yoga destination. It really touched me in a deeper level. The energy of the multi-cultural yogis and the power of the ocean made the difference here”
Kovalam beach has been venue for various events in the past, but the potential to highlight Kovalam as the destination for yoga was not realized until the Yoga Ambassadors Tour.
Yoga Ambassadors Tour aimed to propagate Kerala as a global destination for yoga tour was officially inaugurated by Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State, (I/C), Ministry of AYUSH Government of India at Leela Raviz Hotel on 14th June 2018 and will conclude on International Yoga Day, which falls on June 21.
