"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” ~ Lao Tzu
Sometimes in life, when we are faced with an enormous challenge, the hardest part is taking that very first step. A few years ago, The Gems Of Yoga ,Yoga Center chose to take that step – to begin a new journey as starting to teach A Yoga Teacher Training Program with 3 intakes a year apart from Yoga sessions at the studio and its outreach program of yoga @ home. Following my dream and continuing to grow this beautiful community of yoga, The Gems Of Yoga Teacher Training Program at Gems Of Yoga,Yoga Studio was born. At times the task seemed too overwhelming, but each new step built momentum, and little by little, things started falling into place. As in any business there are things that need to be done. Some of these changes you’ll see immediately, others will occur over time.
Read More
Creativity cannot be rushed. The old website with thousands of pages of encyclopedic information was hacked and making the new website is a challenging part of this process…… it took many weeks to evolve and I want to thank all of you for your patience and support. It should be ready by beginning of February. Our Yoga teacher training website is linked to the credentialing body Yoga Alliance Professionals and the company website is www.gemsofyogadubai.com Our facebook page is www.facebook.com/gemsofyogauae
Our logo not only represents Sri Yantra which is virtual impossibility made possible and the beauty of nature, but the magnificent journey of growth and transformation. When I first began thinking about a logo for The Gems Of Yoga, Yoga Studio, it was winter in February 2000…… and just as nature was preparing for a change, so were we. A tree begins its life as a tiny seed. It is nurtured, softened in the earth, and begins to grow. Balanced and stable – grounded by its roots, the tree branches out, reaching toward the light. In the fall, it must shed its leaves to prepare for the change of seasons. In winter it must hibernate to prepare for new growth.
In all of nature, growth is a process – just as yoga is a process. It begins as something small, but as it takes root, it grows. Connecting to the earth elements, you connect to your true nature. When there is growth, there is always change, and yoga is about being open to the possibility for change.
I believe that yoga is never about holding on, it is always about letting go. Just like the trees let go of their leaves, we must also let go and be open – open to the transformation that brings new life, new experiences, and new opportunities. With The Gems Of Yoga, Yoga Studio, I feel like I have been given a second chance – the chance of a lifetime. The yoga practice itself is challenging, and it helps you deal with life’s daily challenges. You open up, bringing more gratitude and appreciation into your life.
Yoga means “union” or “joining together”. It is not only the communion of mind, body and spirit, but the joining together of people. Without this wonderful yoga community, The Yoga Studio would not be here today. Each one of you has helped me in your own special way. I truly couldn’t have done this without you – you make it possible for me to do the job that I love. We built this yoga community together and will continue to grow it together. It is my studio, it is your studio, it is ours – we are ALL connected, we are ONE.
I wish you peace, love and happiness…..
Namaste,
After spending the past 19 years with Gems Of Yoga, I feel very privileged to be writing this message as the Founder & chief executive officer.
This is a special time in our company’s history as we celebrate our 19th anniversary. We began our journey on February 6, 2000, and have spent the past decade continuing to build our brand, which has now become synonymous with our commitment to helping our clients share knowledge and create innovation.
As a company, we have seen much change over the past 19 years. For example:
- A mushrooming of yoga centers in UAE since the year 2000.
- An increased interest in Yoga by local community of UAE.
- An acceptance of Yoga and meditation as a therapy to increase happiness quotient, reduce obesity and deal with diabetes, arthritis and stress.
Gems Of Yoga continues to be a place where people from all walks of life come for inspiration, restoration, and new ideas. Our mission guides us to help people find health, happiness, and community while living gently on the Earth. It’s beautiful to see the work that happens here and the experience that people have. In the end that’s what has kept me going through the difficult times. When we look out at the world it seems more split apart and more environmentally unsound and fragile than any of us ever imagined. So I think it’s important for Gems Of Yoga to look at the issues around us and see if we can, in some fashion, show people how to create more compassion, more love, more happiness, and a deeper understanding among people.
Looking ahead, we are focused on accelerating the execution of our growth strategy while continuing to build on the strength of our brand—in helping our clients share knowledge and create innovation and in bringing positive change to the communities in which we work and live. I am incredibly excited about this journey and truly believe the best of Gems Of Yoga is yet to come.
Sunita Bhalla / Gems of Yoga Dubai Founder
Through innovative educational experiences that awaken the best in the human spirit, Gems Of Yoga provides hope and healing for individuals and society.
VALUES
Accountability – We expect each of us to do what we say we will do, to meet commitments, and be dependable and responsible.
Holism – Gems Of Yoga honor the mind, body, heart, and spirit in each individual, knowing the need to balance and blend all these elements. In our programming, we encourage authenticity as a means to build trust, and as essential to the growth and development of the whole.
Integrity – In business and in relationships we conduct ourselves with honesty, fairness, truth, candor, and respect. We treat others, as we ourselves would want to be treated. We focus on the collective good.
Service – We value the practice of service and what it teaches us about ourselves, and our relation to others. Our participants are here to experience the world in new ways. We are attuned to and care about their experience, needs, and expectations. We treat each other with similar grace.
Simplicity – We strive for clear, direct, and unambiguous communication. We seek true, underlying meaning, and employ spiritual guidance in that quest. In this way, we work to make sense of the complexities of modern life.
Sustainability – We consider the impact of our actions. We advocate for fairness in the treatment of all species, make decisions for the common good, and encourage activism as a means to social justice. Our facilities are grounded in the awareness of our relationship to the environment. We endeavor to have our work in the world be self-sustaining.
Teamwork – We work together, inclusively, collaboratively, with energy, intention, and commitment. We keep each other informed, share what we are thinking and doing, and expect the same in return.
Welcoming – We invite people to find space here, to feel safe, to create community, to feel at home, and find nourishment. Our environment is nurturing, relaxing, stimulating, and inspiring.
Reach Up You have the Sun and the Moon in You!
Gems Of Yoga, the first classical, authentic yoga center of United Arab Emirates, Dubai is first and foremost a community of unique individuals who foster a safe & nurturing environment to explore the Art and science of Yoga: We want to spread enlightment, awakening, emotional growth, intellectual ascent, and physical wellness and opening the seven chakras like the awakening of the blooming of the lotus. And through our growth as a microcosm and as a Sangha we choose to live in the present moment, to cultivate more consciousness in the world, and to uplift others around us through our actions on the path of Patanjali Ashtanga Yoga.
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Our practice is built on the foundations of Satyananda Yoga and kundalini Yoga philosophy, although all styles of practice are welcome. We celebrate diversity while honoring the love uniting us all. Therefore, as Yoga teachers, we look for and honor the good in our students as a reflection of the Divine within each person. Our focus is not on the attainment of a perfected physical pose but the practice of opening our third eye to the beauty to be found in each day and in every situation to create thought patterns opening our Nine gates and the breeze of five winds becoming our breathcraft to prepare for the journey to the inner universe. The instructors at Gems Of Yoga maintain the highest level of personal practice, study, and integrity on and off the mat. Our classes are designed to tune in to your body as a medium to transcend the mind across the nine gates and five winds and feel LIGHT. We encourage all who enter our studio, and we strive for our personal best in each practice since “Yoga is the art of getting good at being yourself.”
As a Yoga organization, Gems Of Yoga is able to realize its mission through the generous support of more than a hundred Friends of Gems of Yoga generous contributions, government good will, and like-minded partners and sponsors. With your help, we are able to continue our mission of providing hope and healing for individuals and society.
