"They're coming here for their spiritual health. Then getting that physical exercise and mental wellbeing, and they're connecting with each other. They're connecting with each other."
"We never expected it to go that viral. It was just a general upload to promote and get more members in. It started from Bradford and if it goes worldwide, we believe it's a positive thing and we're making a change."
"They feel comfortable in the environment, Ilyas said. They come to pray already at the mosque, and after the prayers they can just join in the class, [in] whatever they're wearing."
At Jamia Usmania mosque in Bradford, mostly retired men gather after midday prayers to attend a weekly 45-minute pilates class that includes stretches, squats, glute bridges and the butterfly position. The class attracts men aged about 50–80 and is led by instructor Zafar Kayani. Participants value spiritual health alongside physical exercise, mental wellbeing and social connection. Sessions began at three mosques with a small number of attenders before a promotional TikTok video went viral and reached almost two million views. Attendance has grown to around 30 people per session and mosques from the UK, Malaysia and Canada have enquired about replicating the initiative.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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