She’s energetic, fun, and has a bright smile, and she’s spreading yoga in places like none other than Syria. Introducing Liam Alshadeide. She was born into a Christian family and hails from the capital, Damascus, a city thought to have been continuously inhabited for more than 2,500 years. Liam, who is married to musician Elias Zayat, is the mother of two daughters and she is Syria’s unofficial yoga ambassador.
In an interview with Aditi Bhaduri She talks about her yoga journey, her experience in India, and the future of yoga in Syria.
How did you become interested in yoga?
Actually, I discovered yoga by chance. I was practicing sports at a sports club near my house. I saw they were offering yoga classes. I was curious and wanted to try it out. So I signed up for it. That was in 2008.
And so began my long journey into yoga. By the way, it turned out that I was quite good at it. The yoga instructor said the pose came to her almost naturally. He asked me if I wanted to become a yoga instructor. The idea appealed to me, and in 2010 he took me to Syria for eight days of further intensive yoga training. After finishing, I received a “Yoga Instructor” certificate from the Syrian Sports Federation.
There were others with me, but I quickly became successful and promoted. Somehow it seemed natural to me. It seems like he “felt it”. I felt like I had found what I had been looking for for a long time.
What specifically did you find in yoga?
When I learned about yoga and started practicing it, I knew it was what I needed in my life. [Yoga] It’s not just a physical exercise, it’s also a way of living and thinking. Yoga seemed so right to me. I started to feel satisfied with my life, I felt stronger both physically and mentally, and since yoga made my body more energetic and my mind clearer, I found it much easier to find solutions to my daily problems. I feel it.
Liam Alshadeide Yoga session in Damascus
So, how long have you been teaching yoga?
When I started my journey as a yoga instructor, I started out as a volunteer yoga instructor. I used to teach yoga for free in various places and in 2016 I received a scholarship from the Indian government to study yoga at his S_VYASA Yoga University in Bangalore. 200 hours (hours) Obtained yoga instructor qualification. Soon after, I went to Rishikish again to attend another yoga course and receive another yoga teacher training certificate. In 2022, I traveled to Hyderabad to attend Heartfulness Community’s Advanced Yoga Instructor Course 300h. Additionally, I have traveled to Bali, Indonesia, and Dubai many times to attend yoga courses as a yoga trainer.
During this period, I continued to teach yoga to children and the elderly in different parts of Syria.
I founded a yoga center in Damascus, the capital of Syria, in 2014. I also teach yoga at various sports clubs and recently started teaching yoga for free as a volunteer at the Indian Embassy in Damascus and a public garden in Syria.
Is yoga popular in Syria?
Yoga is very popular in Syria and the number of people practicing yoga is increasing day by day. I’m sure it has a future in Syria as well. My prayer for my loved ones is that everyone should try practicing yoga to live a better life.
Most Syrians who practice yoga feel the benefits of yoga in their daily lives. [who practice] I became more peaceful, loving, and deeply understanding and accepting of others. Some of my students suffer from high blood pressure, back pain, stress, and insomnia, but after starting yoga, they notice a difference and, in some cases, stop taking their medications because their health has improved. I could even do it.
You have been to India many times. Is it very different from Syria? How did you find India?
I had a really great experience in India. All the people I met there are so kind, loving and supportive. The places I visited in India, especially the nature, were amazing and very refreshing. I really felt like I belonged to this land and the people made you feel at home and were so welcoming.
The generosity of the people of India is similar to the generosity of the people of my country, Syria. Good host manners and respect for guests, which can also be seen in Syria. I liked that no one asked about my religion there. This is the same in my country, Syria.
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The difference between India and Syria is diversity. India has a huge number of languages, cultures, traditions and customs. In Syria, you can find something similar, but not as diverse. The colors and food of India touch my heart. [is what] I liked it the most.
