Sea, sand and sun salutations: XYoga Dubai returns with new classes, new world-renowned yogis and new beachside location

Dubai, UAE; 1 February, 2018:  The highly anticipated XYoga Dubai festival has confirmed its return to Dubai, 16-17 March, 2018 at a new location, Kite Beach. Following a memorable and highly popular inaugural edition in Downtown Dubai in 2016, the 2018 edition of XYoga Dubai will see two full days of classes designed to keep yogis of all abilities, interests and ages active and zen-like, from sunrise to sundown. Among the yogis confirmed to headline the event is 99-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch, the world’s oldest yoga instructor.

 Opening with a mass morning beach yoga session for 1500 yogis on Friday, 16 March at 8:00 am, XYoga Dubai’s organiser XDubai has confirmed that it is expecting over 10,000 people including individuals, friends and families, for the over 60 classes, workshops and performances that will be on offer over the two days of the festival. As a holistic yoga lifestyle event designed to encourage participants to make their mark, retail activations and outlets from both home-grown and international yoga-related brands as well as a range of healthy food and beverage options will also be available to all attendees each day.

Made possible by a partnership between global investment holding company Dubai Holding and XDubai, XYoga Dubai is one of three fitness events that under the partnership, will be held every year, for the next three years. Announced last year through the release of a short film entitled ‘Make Your Mark’, today’s announcement also further reinforces the partnership as it coincides with the online release of a new film designed to inspire Dubai residents with yoga as seen through the lens of XDubai and Dubai Holding.

With announcements to be made in due course, over 35 international and local yoga instructors including Porchon-Lynch, are also expected to lead the sessions and classes which will run throughout the day, each day. Yoga styles represented will include sri sri yoga, yin yoga, clinical yoga, therapeutic yoga and art therapy yoga as well as Arabic languages yoga classes with many more to be announced. Activations and events in select Dubai Holding locations in the lead-up to the two-day festival are also expected. One such activation, confirmed already is a full moon yoga session led by Talise Spa Madinat Jumeirah set for tonight, 01 February. The first to launch Full Moon Yoga in Dubai, 8 years ago, Talise Spa has been a key driver in yoga’s growth in Dubai. Set in a breath-taking location by the beach overlooking the Burj Al Arab – a location made possible by Dubai Holding – the event will run between 7.30-9pm and will see up to 150 yogis practice traditional Indian Hatha style which includes poses, breath work and yoga nidra.

Edris Alrafi, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Holding, commented:

“We continue our strategy of being part of Dubai's most successful events, and we are proud to present the Emirate’s largest yoga festival to further strengthen Dubai's position as a global hub for health and fitness. We are committed to enhancing the quality of life of our community and embedding wellness as a principle component of it. This has guided our partnership with XDubai, which entails a series of large scale fitness events including XYoga Dubai. We look forward to welcoming thousands of participants to enjoy the festival against the background of Dubai Holding's most recognised icon, Burj al Arab Jumeirah.

“XYoga Dubai is truly an event for all, whether you’re a beginner or expert or whether it’s your calling or simply your way to disconnect and relax. With the second edition of XYoga Dubai, we wanted to channel both the energy and spirit that made our inaugural event so extraordinary, to offer yogis of all levels and interests, new and unique experiences in the new and natural setting of Kite Beach,” said Mohammed Javad, General Manager of XDubai. “With two full days of yoga, led by world-renowned yogis, as well as outstanding teachers from the local yoga community, we are anticipating a fantastic response from the community for this holistic, engaging, and perhaps most importantly, inclusive yoga event.”

The upcoming XYoga Dubai festival, organised by XDubai and presented by Dubai Holding, follows the extremely popular and successful launch which took place in February 2016 in Downtown Dubai. XDubai’s first foray into yoga attracted thousands of Dubai residents and visitors representing over 50 nationalities.  The two-day holistic yoga event was designed to both introduce yoga to new audiences, as it also provided a platform for experienced yogis to practice the discipline amongst friends and family and in new and unique ways.

XYoga Dubai will be open to the public to attend but all classes, workshops and events although complimentary, will be subject to pre-registration with announcements on registration opening dates for the two-day festival to occur soon. The event will run over two days from sunrise to sunset with opportunities available for all levels, ages and abilities.