Art of Living completes the first Youth Leadership Training Program (YLTP) in the Gulf, for MOSA, Sultanate of Oman.
Muscat, Dec.16, 2012: The Ministry of Sports Affairs in partnership with The Oman chapter of the Art of Living Foundation conducted its pilot Youth Leadership Training Program (YLTP) for the first batch of around 30 Omani sports coaches, from all parts of the Sultanate.
Hassan Tafti, a dynamic presenter of human potential programs to corporate and youth audiences around the world, facilitated the Oman Youth Leadership Training Program. Hassan, known to empower participants to make life challenging decisions and actions in a practical and fun way, is trained to facilitate many of the programs of the Art of Living Foundation. He has traveled to a number of foreign countries across four continents, trading people’s stress for health and happiness.
The program was in the mould of ‘Train the Trainers’, wherein the Sport of Yoga was taught to the Coaches, who are now trained to cascade the skills and the attendant benefits, to the youth in their individual communities, towns, schools and colleges from where the coaches have come from. The youth with these skills have become more confident, dynamic and in turn will assume leadership responsibilities in the future. The “Sports of Yoga” Trainers would help people in their communities become stress free and more alert and productive. These trainers will now reach out to and impact positively the Road Safety and other productivity/
Describing the YLTP, Hassan Tafti says, “The YLTP is a unique leadership program based on Yoga and commitment to serve society. I have observed that the youth have a passion for sports and a strong interest in enhancing their own fitness. All that is needed is to draw out a similar passion and commitment from them to serve their society and their nation. I am happy to say that in just these few days, there is a huge change and blossoming in these youth. They showed keen participation, a readiness to absorb the yoga practices and a very positive attitude towards serving their society.”
One of the partcipants, Said Al Dhuli from Nizwa shares, “yoga is not merely a sport or a game. It’s a lifestyle that is designed to improve the quality of our life. The knowledge we gain from this course will be useless if we don’t put it to practice. Before we start spreading what we learnt about Yoga, we should first believe in it ourselves, so others will believe it too.” He further adds, “One of the most important things I learned from this course is simply how to breathe!” His message to everybody is, “keep breathing with a smile on your face…and be aware of the unlimited power of your bodies.”
Essa Ali Khamis Al Mamari from Sohar, says, “In this course, I felt that my body, mind, heart, breath all work together in harmony. I feel more relaxed, comfortable, and can concentrate better. I have better control over myself in my family and society.”
This is the beginning of many such programs that will be conducted for the young sports coaches in Oman. The intensive residential program that started on December 9th, 2012 was taught over a period of 8 days and used stress-eliminating breathing techniques, basic yoga and deep relaxation to help the young coaches realize their inner potential and ability to live a happy, fulfilling and meaningful life. The program focused on leadership, teamwork and communication skills to help them come together in a spirit of service. During the program, participants volunteered for community projects and over a period of time, the community, as a whole will experience the results of their effort. The program has prepared the Coaches to teach and take the techniques, learnt by them, back to their community.
The participants of the YLTP were awarded certificates acknowledging their successful completion of the program in a ceremony on December 16th, 2012, graced by Sheikh Saif bin Hilal Al Hosni, Chairman, Oman Athletes Association and other dignitaries and officials.
National Bank of Oman, Bank Sohar, Qatar National Bank, Oman Arab Bank, Khimji Ramdas, Nawras, Saud Bahwan Group and others have supported the YLTP program, conducted specifically for the Ministry of Sports as part of a nation building initiative. According to Ajay Khimji, Art of Living Faculty and Apex body Member Gulf/ME, “the Art of Living has for the first time in the Gulf, conducted the YLTP for Omani coaches from different parts of the country. This a pure nation building program from the Foundation. It will help them be more focused, dynamic, responsible and committed to the society in Oman. After learning the sport of yoga, they can now impart the Health and Well Being programs of the foundation to their communities.”
https://www.artofliving.org/om-en/video-youth-leadership-training-progra...