You may be interested in incorporating non-traditional yoga practices, such as animal-assisted or themed yoga, into your classes.

Interacting with animals, such as puppies and kittens, in classes can have a positive impact on mental health and provide a therapeutic experience.

Non-traditional yoga practices are becoming popular for making yoga more inclusive and accessible to all.

Yoga offers numerous benefits and can be adapted to suit different ages and fitness levels.

Incorporating novelty elements into yoga classes can create a unique, stress-free environment that positively impacts mental health.

Classical yoga provides a mind-body experience, improves breathing, and enhances physical health, including strength, flexibility, and balance.

Themed yoga incorporates novel elements, while classical yoga focuses on traditional movements and techniques.

Physical trainers can use various metrics to assess the effectiveness of non-traditional yoga classes and track progress towards long-term goals.

Evaluation metrics for non-traditional yoga classes include retention rate, membership tracking, member satisfaction, and physical activity readiness.

As a physical trainer, consider incorporating elements like animal interaction into your classes and use metrics to assess their effectiveness.

Incorporating non-traditional yoga practices can provide a unique experience and improve clients' physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Consider your clients' diverse needs, including medical conditions like osteoporosis, when designing classes.

Understanding anatomy and physiology is essential for designing effective yoga classes that cater to diverse client needs.

Offering non-traditional yoga classes helps cater to diverse client needs and achieve their fitness goals.

Incorporating animals into yoga classes can be done safely and responsibly, benefiting the animals through socialization.

You may be interested in incorporating non-traditional yoga practices, such as animal-assisted or themed yoga, into your classes.

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Content: Advertisement

Published 20:27 IST, July 19th 2024

What Is Puppy Yoga? Discover A Playful Way To Improve Your Mental Well-Being

If you seek to re-connect with yourself, whilst having a therapeutic time with adorable pets, or consider yourself an animal lover, puppy yoga is your calling.

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Benefits of Puppy Yoga | Image: Unsplash
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20:27 IST, July 19th 2024

Title:

Content: Thorpe Bay in Essex is the home of yoga with a twist. Pawsz and Tails Yoga combines zen with something probably a little less calm: puppies and kittens everywhere. The Southend based yoga classes have combined all of your favourite things so you can leave feeling warm and fuzzy.

At £30 for an hour session, you can combine a half an hour class with a full hour of silliness with an army of fluff. Pawz and Tails writes on their website: “If you love animals and would like to cuddle and play with them for an hour incorporating a half hour beginner yoga class then book your class now”. The popular classes are booked up far in advance, with only a handful of classes left in the upcoming months.

They add: “We provide a calm and safe atmosphere for our furry companions. Our puppies are free to roam around during the hour to play, sleep and enjoy the attention they receive from humans. Our classes are there to create playtime and socialisation before they go to their forever home.

READ MORE: RSPCA rescue Spaniel puppy 'dumped in a box with his dying brother' on Essex roadside

READ MORE:Pebbles the instantly recognisable 'campus cat' at the University of Essex who now has his own statue

“We have the highest safety standards and you can enjoy our classes knowing that we only work with reputable breeders who have the highest standards of care, we also donate to rescue charities each month.

Classes are for beginners aged 14 and over and aim to create a stress-free environment. A fully qualified yoga teacher will work with you through mainly floor postures, so you’re on a level with the puppies and kittens. Cuddles are optional.

Time spent with a fluffy companion has been proven to have a massive impact on mental health, with 37% of people saying that their pets help them with their lives, according to a Blue Cross study. Just being around animals can have a positive impact on our mental health.

At Pawz and Tails, their classes “provide a haven of pure uplifting bliss, interacting with baby animals is extremely heart warming and you will leave us with a big smile on your face. It's also a fun time for our furry companions, who love to play and be cuddled”.

The animals brought in for the yoga classes are brought from responsible breeders who are looking to socialise the little ones, and Pawz and Tails donate to rescue charities every month.

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Interacting with animals, such as puppies and kittens, in classes can have a positive impact on mental health and provide a therapeutic experience.

Non-traditional yoga practices are becoming popular for making yoga more inclusive and accessible to all.

Title:

Content: Observe-Honor-Activate

Can you practice three days of non-violence? Sounds relatively easy, right? But, when we look more closely, we may realize there are countless ways that we cause ourselves and others harm on a daily basis.

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Yoga offers numerous benefits and can be adapted to suit different ages and fitness levels.

Title:

Content: International Yoga Day: Celebrating the Art and Science of Yoga

Yoga as a practice originated in India over 5,000 years ago. It is rooted in the Indus-Sarasvati civilization, with the earliest references found in the Rig Veda. Thereafter, Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, written around 400 CE, systematized the practice of yoga into eight limbs, forming the basis of modern yoga practice.

First Published Jun 21, 2024, 1:53 PM IST

By - Vineeta Hariharan

(Author is a public policy exponent and a public figure. She is the Vice President of BJP Kerala Mahila Morcha - women’s wing of BJP)

International Yoga Day is celebrated on June 21 each year, a date chosen for its significance as the summer solstice—the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. This day holds a special place in many cultures due to its astronomical importance, symbolizing light and knowledge. The idea of an International Day of Yoga was first proposed by India’s honourable Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in 2014 which received overwhelming support, and in December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed June 21 as International Yoga Day.

History and Origin: Yoga as a practice originated in India over 5,000 years ago. It is rooted in the Indus-Sarasvati civilization, with the earliest references found in the Rig Veda.  Thereafter, Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, written around 400 CE, systematized the practice of yoga into eight limbs, forming the basis of modern yoga practice. The practice spread to the West in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, gaining global popularity for its physical, mental, and spiritual benefits.

Different Schools: Through time as Yoga as a practice evolved, several methods came into being through a variety of schools, each with its own unique approach and emphasis. Some of the noteworthy schools are Hatha Yoga, which focuses on physical postures (asanas) and breathing techniques (pranayama) to prepare the body for meditation. Kundalini Yoga, aims to awaken the dormant energy (kundalini) at the base of the spine through meditation, pranayama, and asana; Ashtanga Yoga is a rigorous style of yoga involving a set sequence of postures linked by breath. The Iyengar school of Yoga, emphasizes precise alignment and the use of props to perform asanas correctly, Vinyasa Yoga is a dynamic style that links movement and breath, often referred to as "flow" yoga.

Benefits of Yoga: As is widely recognised Yoga offers numerous benefits for the mind, body, and spirit such as

- Physical Health:  Improving the  flexibility, strength, and balance; enhancing cardiovascular health; aid in weight management.
-Mental Health:  Reduces stress, anxiety, and depression; enhances mental clarity and focus.
- Emotional Well-being: Promotes relaxation, improves mood, and fosters a sense of inner peace.
- Spiritual Growth: Encourages self-awareness, mindfulness, and a deeper connection with oneself and the universe.

Presence of Yoga in India and Worldwide: Yoga has a profound presence in India, where it is deeply embedded in the cultural and spiritual fabric of the nation. It is practiced widely across the country, from urban centers to rural areas. Globally, yoga has found a significant following, with millions of practitioners in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. Notably, the United States has one of the largest yoga communities outside India, with yoga studios and wellness centers thriving across the country.

Steps to Integrate Yoga into School Curricular:Integrating yoga into school curricula can have numerous benefits for students, including improved concentration, reduced stress, and better physical health. Steps to achieve this may include:

1. Curriculum Development: Create age-appropriate yoga programs that align with educational goals.
2. Teacher Training:  Provide specialized training for teachers to effectively deliver yoga instruction.
3. Resource Allocation: Ensure schools have the necessary resources, such as yoga mats and space.
4. Policy Support: Advocate for policies at the educational and governmental levels to support yoga in schools.
5. Community Engagement: Involve parents and the community to foster a supportive environment for yoga education.

Government of India's Efforts to Promote Yoga: While we reflect on Yoga and it's evolution, it is important to recognise that The Government of India under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi has undertaken several initiatives to promote and to reignite the practice in India and internationally. Some of the key initiatives being

- the setting up of a separate Ministry of AYUSH:  to develop education, research, and propagation of indigenous alternative medicine systems, including yoga.
- Celebrating International Yoga Day on June 21 every year.
- Setting up a Yoga Certification Board:  Provides certification for yoga professionals to ensure quality and standardization.
- Wide Inclusion in Education: Encouraging the inclusion of yoga in school curricula and physical education programs.

"Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self." - The Bhagavad Gita

Preserving Yoga as an Art and Science: To preserve yoga as both an art and science, it is essential to:

1. Maintain Traditional Practices;  Honour and promote traditional yoga practices while integrating modern scientific research.
2. Encourage Research: Support scientific studies on the benefits and applications of yoga.
3. Foster Education:  Provide comprehensive yoga education that includes philosophy, anatomy, and practical application.
4. Cultural Preservation:  Protect and promote the cultural heritage of yoga through museums, archives, and cultural events.
5. Global Collaboration: Engage in international collaboration to share knowledge and best practices.

Conclusion: International Yoga Day serves as a global platform to celebrate the ancient practice of yoga and its numerous benefits. As yoga continues to gain popularity worldwide, it is crucial to preserve its traditional roots while embracing modern advancements. Through collaborative efforts, yoga can be integrated into educational systems, promoted by governments, and cherished as a valuable art and science that enhances the well-being of individuals and societies.

"The body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in." - B.K.S. Iyengar

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Incorporating novelty elements into yoga classes can create a unique, stress-free environment that positively impacts mental health.

Classical yoga provides a mind-body experience, improves breathing, and enhances physical health, including strength, flexibility, and balance.

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Content: Monday 13 December 2021
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
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Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
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Open its doors to everyone.
How did you get into the world of yoga professionally?
Some seek to get to know yoga clearly, as explained by Farah Nofal, health coach, fitness trainer and yoga teacher, to dive into the essence of « Yoga » and its physical and mental benefits, and the types of yoga favorite.
Novell explained on her Instagram page: “Yoga makes her feel comfortable, and she remembers her youth when she tried many sports: seven years of basketball, going to the gym, lifting weights, CrossFit, Pilates, and running. In her yoga practice.
Novell didn ’ t know she would find her goal in yoga to feel perfect, and since then yoga has been the only constant thing in her life, while practicing any kind of sport makes you healthy, fit, and even good-looking, but it doesn ’ t provide a mind-body interaction experience, or a positive effect on breathing.
How did you get into yoga professionally?
Initially, Nofal took an online yoga class at home, which was soothing and healing for her body and mind, however, she wanted to dig deeper and learn properly, so she left the country as a fitness trainer and CrossFit to receive a 200-hour yoga teacher training in 2015-2016.
On the physical benefits of yoga, Nofal said: “It gives you strength when you go deeper into practice, as well as flexibility and a lot of balance, it also strengthens the body and helps in flexibility, movement, coordination, balance and breathing deeply and in different ways, such as breathing in your lungs or abdomen. ”
People who have 9 to 5 office jobs need yoga to treat back, neck and shoulder pain, because a sluggish lifestyle can be very bad for the body.
A single session of yoga won ’ t bring you the peace of mind you ’ re looking for, but 10 minutes of yoga a day can help you relax, but it won ’ t happen overnight.
The best time to practice yoga is in the morning, Nofal likes to start her day with a coffee and a session of yoga, and if she is near the sea or somewhere she can see the sunrise, she will love it, and it is great for night practice because it is soothing, which helps you sleep.

Themed yoga incorporates novel elements, while classical yoga focuses on traditional movements and techniques.

Physical trainers can use various metrics to assess the effectiveness of non-traditional yoga classes and track progress towards long-term goals.

Evaluation metrics for non-traditional yoga classes include retention rate, membership tracking, member satisfaction, and physical activity readiness.

Title:

Content: DUBAI - Dubai Sports Council has approved the criteria and indicators of the fitness centre classification system, the first of its kind, according to the number of stars, the highest being five.

This was accomplished in cooperation with international fitness experts, under the best international practices for fitness centres and sports medicine, to enhance professionalism in the fitness industry and raise the service quality of Dubai’s fitness centres.

The classification criteria and special indicators were adopted while evaluating Dubai’s fitness centres and considering all aspects of work.

The evaluation has begun, and the Council will announce the results, which include the classification of centres meeting the requirements, in October. The plan is to continuously improve the quality of services for the best and motivate those with the lowest classification to raise their work levels and facilities to the quality of services and life in Dubai, according to scientific standards.

The classification system includes 17 criteria and 82 sub-indicators through which qualified teams evaluate all fitness centres. The system was presented at the Middle East Fitness Summit in October 2022. At the Summit, it received praise from more than 1,000 participants and specialists from different nationalities.

The criteria included the quality of the facility, the quality and variety of devices used, the number and qualification levels of trainers at each fitness centre, the percentage of trainees under each trainer, the safety procedures used, insurance for the facility and the trainees, competence and experience in dealing with emergency injuries during training and applying the trainees’ safety requirements. Anti-doping awareness is a priority, in addition to the centre managing the development of each trainee’s condition and the presence of medical and physical files on each member.

The Council has developed a guide for fitness centres that contributes to the development of work in this sector and clarifies to the owners and management the specifications of the model centres, the criterion and indicators through which the evaluation process is conducted. This is to be a reference for workers in this sector while achieving increasing growth in centres and registered members, whether as trainers or trainees of both genders and different nationalities. It also raises the level of services provided to the participants, which contributes to enhancing the health, vitality, and activity of trainees, their happiness, and their participation in the community movement, as well as strengthening the relationship between the various components of society.

The evaluation includes 17 criteria; types of equipment; equipment maintenance; sports facilities; cleanliness; insurance and safety; recovery features; ratio of instructors/ members; certification of instructors; personal training services; retention rate & membership racking system (membership renewals vs leavers and membership access system); group fitness classes; community and anti-doping awareness; physical activity readiness questionnaire; nutrition; parking availability; general satisfaction for members and staff; and speciality services presented to members.

Indicators

In the guide, the indicators for each criterion were identified and explained, which qualify any fitness centre to receive a category of five stars or less according to the approved standard indicators after applying the appropriate model for each criterion, only after they were studied and ensured they could be applied. These would be employed in the current work environment for the health and safety of each trainee and to achieve the greatest benefit for registered members and the community.

As a physical trainer, consider incorporating elements like animal interaction into your classes and use metrics to assess their effectiveness.

Incorporating non-traditional yoga practices can provide a unique experience and improve clients' physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Title:

Content: Recommended NZ | Guide to Money | Gimme: Competitions - Giveaways

Yogi apprentices 'heal hurting bodies through movement and breath'

Contributor:
Fuseworks Media

Working with people as they find their ‘aha’ moments is what keeps Rebecca Harford coming into work every day.

Rebecca and her husband Jeremy are the co-owners of Adapted Yoga and Pilates, a unique Christchurch-based studio with a mission to help everyone find a practice that’s safe, fun and enriching.

Right now, Rebecca is supporting a number of her staff through the Skills Active Exercise Professional apprenticeship, https://www.skillsactive.org.nz/our-qualifications/exercise/apprenticeship-new-zealand-apprenticeship-exercise-professional-level-4/. But teaching and learning have always been passions for her.

Rebecca first came to yoga during her university years. She was pretty sure yoga was frivolous, so her instinct was to learn more about it to confirm her suspicions.

"I had been playing rugby, and was also right into weightlifting and powerlifting. So yoga was quite a different way of looking at the world," Rebecca says. As it turned out, she disproved her theory, and discovered the beginning of a lifelong passion for yoga, which grew to encompass Pilates as well.

Once she finished her degree in physical education, Rebecca left for a stint working on cruise ships, and for three years she taught as many as 28 yoga and Pilates classes a week - a very solid grounding for her teaching career.

After returning to New Zealand, she ended up in a role with ACC, and it was there, working with ACC clients, that the seeds were planted that would eventually lead to the creation of Adapted Yoga and Pilates. The studio welcomes everyone through its doors, including those with disabilities or conditions, so that they can get the life-changing benefits of moving their bodies and using their breath.

"There are so many broken people that need exercise and wellbeing, and there is just not a huge amount of support for them out there. I got frustrated with that [at ACC] and I wanted to do more to help people.

"The difference between us and some other studios is that we are truly open to anybody. Our teachers are able to create a challenging class for people that need challenge, and a safe class for those who need more support. And our ethos is always ‘first do no harm.’"

Rebecca says yoga and Pilates can help everyone, no matter their limitations, and it’s inspiring to see it happen.

"I just love seeing people get their ‘aha’ moment. So even the really simple stuff like how to breathe deeply. Or how to activate their core. Those really basic things that they can take into everyday life, and which will make life better."

These things may be basic or simple, but that doesn’t mean they’re easy for everyone, she adds.

"Even just how to get the right muscles working [can be challenging]. Especially for people that were too scared to try. There are so many women, in particular, that aren’t happy with their bodies or they are in pain or they are anxious.

"In my job I get to see those people change, and think ‘Hey, this is actually something I can do, and I can do it well, no matter how broken I might be.’ It’s really special seeing things click for people."

Broadening horizons through learning on the job

Rebecca is enjoying supporting her teaching staff as they complete their Skills Active apprenticeships. She gets together with the apprentices for regular practical and theory sessions, and is always available for questions, advice and encouragement.

"There is a lot of work involved but it’s worth it. It’s been a really interesting experience and I’ve learned quite a lot as a mentor to my team.

"You need to have an environment where people are okay to make mistakes and ask questions. And I think it’s helpful to have more than one person on hand to ask, because we all learn differently and present information in different ways."

Rebecca is also a registered Skills Active assessor, and assesses the parts of the programme that are within her assessment scope.

She notes that many yoga and Pilates teachers haven’t gone through what others in the wider exercise industry would see as the foundations of being a fitness professional.

"The training that they’ve done doesn’t usually come with the same level of focus on anatomy and physiology, or the cultural awareness side of things. So it’s great to be able to give them that foundational base, and to fill in any gaps that might have happened between their teacher training and going forward."

It also helps to broaden their horizons as exercise professionals, Rebecca adds.

"They can start to have conversations with allied health professionals and personal trainers about their shared clients. And it gives them an opportunity to work more broadly in the various roles that the industry can offer.

"It’s just awesome to see people who were already good teachers, gaining more confidence in their knowledge and abilities. And it helps them to give even more to their students."

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Title:

Content: People may have seen social media posts recently on yoga classes at the golf course and thought of Chevy Chase as the golfer Ty Webb in the comedy "Caddyshack." "There's a force in the universe that makes things happen," he said. "And all you have to do is get in touch with it, stop thinking, let things happen, and be the ball."

Sarah Knutsen teaches a more rational approach to yoga, whether it's to help your golf game or not. She leads a yoga class every week at the Astoria Golf & Country Club.

“People might assume it's for members only, but it's open to the public,” said Knutsen, of Astoria. “We have quite a few regulars, and I'm hoping to get the word-of-mouth out there a little more. I make posts about it on my Facebook and Instagram, and have the club do the same.”

The class takes place at 9 a.m. every Monday. The $15 weekly session is for all ages, for all reasons.

Before taking nearly 200 hours of training to teach others the art, Knutsen got into yoga about a decade ago. "I found some good teachers on YouTube, and that kind of got me hooked," she said. "Then I started going to the gym here, more and more places started opening up, and that's when I started going to as many classes as I could.”

And now she's teaching others.

“It's been all ages. I've had people anywhere from early 20s up to 70 who have used it,” she said. “It's definitely a physical and mental exercise. It's a great workout for your body, and it's so much more than that.

“It's something for the mind and the body. It can be great for arthritis, back pain … it can help with heart health and bone strength, parts of it can be great for cardio, even some of the more slower portions of yoga. And it can be great for flexibility, balance and all-around strength, and can be used for stress as well.”

She advises people not to be intimidated before giving yoga a try.

“Some people hear the word 'yoga,' and picture hand stands or superflexible people,” said Knutsen, the mother of a 2-year-old boy, who is expecting another child in January. “There are a lot of those types, but yoga can be for anybody. I try to make my classes accessible for all levels, whether it's your first class or you've been practicing yoga for 20 years.”

Conveniently — for golfers — yoga can also help your game.

As the club posted on its website, “if you're an avid golfer, you might be surprised to find that yoga can transform your game for the better. Even as a casual yoga practitioner you can experience a change in your game, as well as benefits off the course … even a slight advantage can make the difference between winning a match and having a disappointing day on the golf course.”

Imagine “how your golf game could improve if you incorporated yoga poses that helped an overworked shoulder, tight hips, or sore back.”

And the whole “be the ball” thing from Caddyshack? There may be something to that.

As the club states, “With physical fitness more of a given, your mind would be free to work on your strategy, or simply relax and enjoy the beautiful weather.”

Gary Henley is a sports reporter for The Astorian. Contact him at 503-861-8493 or ghenley@dailyastorian.com.

Consider your clients' diverse needs, including medical conditions like osteoporosis, when designing classes.

Title:

Content: Everything you wanted to know, and do, about osteoporosis

If you have been cleared to exercise by your physician, here are three exercises which I consider to be the Big 3 when it comes to getting started on a program for fighting back against bone loss, Ernie Schramayr writes.

Although I have written about osteoporosis in the past, I thought that it would be a good time to revisit the basics in regard to exercise when it comes to building strong, healthy bones. Osteoporosis (and its precursor called osteopenia) is one of the more common medical conditions that affect the clients who I work with.

Here is the “W5” of this medical condition:

Who: According to Osteoporosis Canada (a national organization serving those affected by the disease), 2,000,000 Canadians are affected by and at least one in three women and one in five men will suffer an osteoporotic fracture during their lifetime. According to the Mayo Clinic, the disease affects both men and women while white and Asian women post-menopause are at the highest risk.

What: Bone is living tissue that is continually being broken down and replaced. When osteoporosis occurs, the body cannot regenerate new bone fast enough to keep up with lost tissue. It is a disease that weakens and softens bones causing by low bone mass and leading to an increased fracture risk. If bones become brittle enough even mild exertion like when bending or coughing can cause a break.

When: Since there are no real symptoms associated with the early stages of bone loss, it can be difficult to know when to seek medical attention for osteoporosis. It is a disease that takes years to develop, meaning that sometimes the first warning sign is something called a “fragility” fracture which refers to a break that occurs from a force that would not ordinarily result in a broken bone. An example would be a fall from standing height or less.

Other early signs that bones have become weakened, include; stooped, hunched over posture, loss of height and back pain related to fractured or collapsed vertebral bones in the spine. Additionally, one might seek medical advice if they’ve gone through early menopause or if one’s parents had hip fractures.

Where: Osteoporosis most often affects the bones of the hips, the spine and the wrists. These are the areas where fractures most often occur as a result of falling. For this reason, the strength training exercises that help fight against osteoporosis tend to focus on these areas.

Why: According to WebMD.com, there are a number of factors at play that cause bones to become brittle, porous and prone to breaking as one ages. The main ones are hormonal imbalances, a diet lacking in certain nutrients, thyroid conditions, medical conditions and medications, smoking and a sedentary lifestyle.

There are so many things to consider in managing osteoporosis that it makes sense to have a team with expertise in various areas as part of your defence once you have been diagnosed with the disease; a physician, a registered dietician (RD) and a fitness expert or physiotherapist. Actively seek advice about nutrition, medication and exercise. It is up to each of us to “control the controllables” while accepting the things that we cannot control; things like our genetics.

In regards to exercise, the role of a personal trainer or medical exercise specialist is not to diagnose medical conditions or injuries or to “treat” specific injuries or diseases. It is to provide safe exercise guidance to help clients maintain (and increase) their muscle and bone mass. The good news is that it does not require expensive equipment, a gym membership or excessive amounts of time and energy. If you have been cleared to exercise by your physician, here are three exercises which I consider to be the Big 3 when it comes to getting started on a program for fighting back against bone loss:

Squats: For a true beginner, this could mean simply getting up and down from a chair, while a seasoned exerciser will perform squats holding dumbbells or a barbell.

Pushups: Pushups can be performed against a wall or counter top or from the floor from the toes or kneeling.

Bird dogs: An exercise adapted from yoga, the bird dog exercise builds strength and stability throughout the spine while developing the muscles of the core, shoulders and buttocks. It can be performed standing up facing a wall, leaning over a chair or from the floor on the hands and knees.

It’s important to note that all of these exercises can be adjusted to be very gentle and safe or to be incredibly difficult and challenging depending on one’s fitness level, exercise history and health status. For non-exercisers, as they are added to a weekly routine, they have the potential to impact the different areas of the body where osteoporosis can be the most damaging; the hips, arms and spine.

Medical Exercise Specialist Ernie Schramayr helps his clients manage medical conditions with exercise. You can follow him at erniesfitnessworld.com; 905-741-7532 or erniesfitnessworld@gmail.com

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Understanding anatomy and physiology is essential for designing effective yoga classes that cater to diverse client needs.

Offering non-traditional yoga classes helps cater to diverse client needs and achieve their fitness goals.

Title:

Content: • En
American Hot Air Yoga Taiwan English Friendly Space Den Yoga
The American style of hot flow yoga is perfect, with a flexible and dynamic style that makes young women fascinated. (Photo / Den Yoga)
(Taiwan English News / Chang Ya-chun, Taipei Interview Report) In recent years, Taiwan has become more and more healthy, and the emerging trend of sports in Taiwan has gradually won the favor of Taiwanese consumers with the all-around training of strength, core and heart.
3 years of epidemic has made the public pay more attention to health, and the long-lasting yoga movement has also been favored by various ethnic groups.
American style heat flow yoga is relatively new in the Taiwan market, with brisk pop music, less calm, more vitality of aerobic exercise; pay attention to the sense of flow, but also add strength and cardiopulmonary training, more comprehensive exercise, not boring, and hot yoga field and advantages, prompting the trainer to sweat a lot, accelerate the body metabolism and energy consumption, can be said to meet many wishes at once.
The sports industry has also undergone a considerable change in the way the annual pricing and full payment of membership binding customization is no longer favored by consumers. The studios that smell business opportunities have launched short-term plans. People can adjust their consumption plans at any time according to their needs, taking into account the economic and training benefits.
Not only that, but with the development of international tourism, business and education in Taiwan, English-friendly sports spaces have also become the latest trend.
Foreign consumers living in Taiwan can also find a relatively adaptable Western-style teaching style and communicate with the same people.
Yoga teacher Betty17 years to travel to and from the United States, Taiwan teaching, found that Taiwan 's special American thermal mobile yoga classroom is very rare, decided to set up his own studio in Taipei, Den Yoga, hope that everyone can return to the comfort of the corner of the home, relax and enjoy the joy of exercise while listening to music.
Compared with the use of geothermal and heating, Den Yoga introduces a far infrared heating system, so that students can still keep their breathing smooth and body active when training in a high temperature environment.
The studio provides the necessary training equipment, as well as professional cleaning and maintenance, plus the bathroom space such as a business hotel, which is very well received.
Blue lighting helps students calm down and improve exercise performance (Photo / Courtesy of Den Yoga)
The reporter visited Den Yoga, the low-key quality space is very clean and comfortable. From the course booking APP, the check-in counter and the cleaning and maintenance staff have provided English support. Many students began to greet and chat in Chinese and English when they entered the door.
The students are mostly young women, and there are also men and elderly people to attend classes, and some even have two classes, which can be said to be an English and gender-friendly sports space.
Entering the far infrared classroom for the first time, although it is warm, it will not be bored or breathless, and the pores feel opened, and the rigid body is more active, so that it can complete the action more in place.
People who experience it for the first time may be a little unaccustomed to the temperature in the first few sessions, but while sweating like rain, it seems that they have also experienced a spiritual detoxification, removing the troubles in life and the stress of work, which makes them feel refreshed.
Complete a dialogue with your body and mind under the guidance of your teacher. (Photo / Courtesy of Den Yoga)
Dark blue or red lighting allows people to immerse themselves in the corresponding atmosphere, without worrying about imperfections being noticed, and can be more relaxed and focused on exercise.
The elegant fragrance of essential oil in the room not only calms the mind, but also avoids the discomfort of smelling sweat. There are professional cleaning equipment and towels, and you can use them with peace of mind.
In general, just bring your own sports clothing and water cup to experience the course at a higher level.
Den Yoga ’ s five classes are all 1 hour long. If beginners need to re-establish the basics, it is recommended to start with D1 and learn the basic cat, upper dog, lower dog, etc., to start the body to prepare for advanced training. Or you can refer to DD, this is the first half of the yoga class, the second half of the course is based on soothing stretching, it is not too challenging. It is also the most popular course to achieve a balance between exercise and stretching.
The course is divided according to the needs of the students, and fully exercise various abilities and whole body muscles.
(Courtesy of Den Yoga)
Students who already have a foundation can choose D2, integrate a variety of yoga styles, flow with different combinations, and be more flexible and interesting.
If you like to change without fear of fatigue, you can choose DF or DB two comprehensive training courses, both of which combine yoga with dumbbell and elastic belt, and the strength, core, and cardiopulmonary exercise will be exhausted. The difference is that DB focuses on lower body sculpture, focusing on strengthening the lines of the hips and legs.
Betty laughs that some students have been to DF and DB, simply retired from the gym membership, because strength training, core training can be all covered, and some students will also take two classes, while meeting the needs of yoga and compound training.
In addition, the content-oriented curriculum design policy, not teacher-oriented, also ensures that students do not have to follow the progress of a specific teacher, as long as there are classes to connect.
If you want to find a friendly English exercise space, a yoga studio that is textured and clean, or you want to experience hot yoga with music, focus on mobility and comprehensive training, American thermal flow yoga is a good choice.
Den Yoga also organizes outdoor yoga, advanced workshops and related activities from time to time, so that students can have more experience.
(Courtesy of Den Yoga)
Updated: 2023-11-15 16: 25 GMT + 08: 00

Incorporating animals into yoga classes can be done safely and responsibly, benefiting the animals through socialization.


The Elgin Marbles are a collection of 17 sculptures removed from the ancient Parthenon temple 200 years ago, and their presence in the British Museum is a subject of ongoing controversy and a long-standing dispute between Greece and the UK, with Greece seeking their return.

The British Museum has argued that the Parthenon Marbles should not be returned to Greece due to the country's lack of a suitable location for their display, but the Acropolis Museum in Athens is considered one of the world's top ten best museums and has a suitable location to display the Parthenon Marbles.

The Elgin Marbles are considered a cornerstone of Greece's national heritage, while the British maintain that they were legally acquired and belong in a universal museum.

The issue of the Parthenon Marbles' return has been on the agenda of the Unesco Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property (ICPRCP) for decades, and in 1982, the Unesco World Conference ruled in favor of the return of the Parthenon Marbles.

The British Museum is prohibited by law from removing the Elgin Marbles from its collection, except in certain circumstances, but is allowed to lend them.

A potential long-term cultural partnership agreement between the British Museum and Greece could facilitate the return of the British Museum's Parthenon collection to Greece.

The head of the British Museum, George Osborne, is pushing for a temporary loan to return the Elgin Marbles to Greece, and is believed to have drawn up a deal as part of a long-term 'cultural exchange'.

The UK government has rejected calls to make it easier for UK museums to consider returning cultural objects, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stating that the UK 'has no plans to change our approach'.

The Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, is trying to broker a deal for the return of the Parthenon marbles to Greece, and has offered to loan Greek treasures to the British Museum in exchange for the return of the Parthenon marbles.

The return of the Elgin Marbles to Greece could have potential economic benefits, including increased tourism to the Acropolis Museum and Athens.

A deal to return the Elgin Marbles to Greece is at an advanced stage, with talks taking place between the British Museum and the Greek prime minister since November last year.

The British Museum is 'still exploring if there is an arrangement that would allow some of the Parthenon sculptures to travel to Greece', indicating a potential willingness to negotiate the repatriation of the Elgin Marbles.

Over half of the British people support the repatriation of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

The Acropolis Museum in Athens has a special place reserved for the Parthenon Marbles, currently occupied by a replica.

The return of the Parthenon Marbles could be used as an educational opportunity to promote cultural understanding and exchange between Greece and the UK, with museums and cultural institutions playing a key role in this process.

Museums and cultural institutions, such as the British Museum and the Acropolis Museum, can facilitate cultural exchange and understanding by providing a platform for the display and interpretation of cultural artifacts, such as the Elgin Marbles.

The repatriation of cultural artifacts like the Elgin Marbles can be used as an educational opportunity to promote cultural understanding and exchange between countries, such as Greece and the UK.

The British Museum is still exploring arrangements that would allow some of the Parthenon sculptures (Elgin Marbles) to travel to Greece, indicating a potential willingness to engage in cultural exchange and cooperation.

Deals such as the one between the UK and Ghana, which returned Asante Gold to Ghana, can help provide a solution to former colonial nations requesting the return of their cultural treasures, including Greece's request for the repatriation of the Elgin Marbles.

The Elgin Marbles are a collection of 17 sculptures removed from the ancient Parthenon temple 200 years ago, and their presence in the British Museum is a subject of ongoing controversy and a long-standing dispute between Greece and the UK, with Greece seeking their return.

Title:

Content: Explainer

Beyond the Elgin Marbles: Which other famous artefacts has the UK been urged to give back?

British museums are bulging with items taken from other countries with - or in many cases without - permission. Greece has made high-profile demands for the return of the Elgin Marbles. Sky News looks at some of the other countries calling for the UK to hand back precious items.

Why you can trust Sky News

Greece has long called for Britain to hand back the Elgin Marbles - 17 sculptures controversially removed from the ancient Parthenon temple 200 years ago.

UK officials have discussed legal ways they could block any export of the sculptures, Sky News understands, as Downing Street cancelled a meeting between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Greek counterpart.

But Greece is not alone in demanding the return of artefacts held by British museums.

Here, Sky News looks at some of the other countries calling for the UK to hand back precious items.

Benin Bronzes - Nigeria

Nigeria has called for the return of the Benin Bronzes - and renewed its demand after it emerged earlier this year that 2,000 artefacts had been stolen from the British Museum.

The artefacts, which date back as far as the 16th century, were taken from Benin City after British forces invaded the Kingdom in modern day Nigeria in 1897.

"They are the subject of loot. They were illegally taken out of the country," said Abba Isa Tijani, director of Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments, speaking to Sky News in August.

"It is irrespective whether they are safe there. That is not an issue. The issue is that these are stolen artefacts, and they should be returned to Nigeria to the communities that they belong to."

Mold gold cape and Moel Hebog shield - Wales

Thefts at the British Museum also prompted demands for Welsh artefacts to be returned to Wales.

The Mold gold cape, which is around 4,000 years old, and the Moel Hebog shield, thought to be from between the 12th and 10th centuries BC, were among the items in the museum's collection with a Welsh connection.

Liz Saville Roberts, Plaid Cymru MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, said the argument that items were safer in London "no longer holds water".

She added: "These items belong to everyone but they belong especially to us in Wales and we have the means for them to play a part in the way we interpret our history."

The Rosetta Stone - Egypt

Egypt petitioned for the return of the Rosetta Stone, saying the "key to the decipherment of hieroglyphs is an icon of our Egyptian identity".

The demand for the British Museum to hand back the artefact, which was taken by the British in 1801 after being uncovered by the French, gained more than 200,000 signatures.

The Maqdala collection - Ethiopia

Crosses, religious texts and a shield were among the items of the Maqdala collection returned to Ethiopia in 2021.

But more artefacts looted by British soldiers during the Battle of Maqdala in 1868 remain in British museums.

Receiving the items, Ethiopia's ambassador to the UK ambassador, Teferi Melesse Desta said: "To honour the memory of Maqdala, I once again renew the calls made by countless Ethiopians before me for museums, collectors and holders of Maqdala heritage to return [these items].

"It is my hope that in the Maqdala returns to come, the relations between our two nations and people can deepen and grow from strength to strength."

Hoa Hakananai'a sculpture - Easter Island/Rapa Nui

In 2018, a delegation from Easter Island asked the British Museum to return a seven-foot tall basalt sculpture known as Hoa Hakananai'a, which means "the stolen or hidden friend" in the Rapa Nui language.

It is believed to date from around 1200 AD. It was removed from the island in 1868 and given as a gift to Queen Victoria.

"This is no rock," Carlos Edmunds, president of the Council of Elders, told the Guardian. "It embodies the spirit of an ancestor, almost like a grandfather. This is what we want returned to our island - not just a statue."

Items from Omdurman battlefield - Sudan

Sudan has demanded the return of artefacts and body parts taken by British soldiers at the Battle of Omdurman in 1898.

Two skulls, a banner and a suit of armour were among the items Sudan want returned.

Cultural relics - China

China joined demands for the return of artefacts after the British Museum theft scandal with an editorial in state-run newspaper The Global Times.

It said there were 23,000 Chinese cultural items in the museum's collection, including statues, bronzes, scrolls "and other extremely valuable national treasures".

"It's difficult to trace how exactly China lost them to the British Museum, but most Chinese collections were certainly looted or stolen by Britain when it created and later took advantage of China's crisis, or even directly robbed China," the editorial said.

"As long as Britain cannot prove which collection was acquired legally and honestly, then the mother country of these collections has the right to seek their repatriation."

Read more:
What are the Elgin Marbles?
British Museum reveals types of items believed to have been stolen

Neanderthal skulls - Gibraltar

In 2018, Gibraltar asked for the return of two Neanderthal skulls display at the Natural History Museum.

The skulls, belonging to an adult woman and a child, are the "best-studied human fossils in the world", according to the Natural History Museum.

"It is only right that such significant items come back home where they will be cherished and well looked after," Gibraltar's minister for heritage said at the time.

The British Museum has argued that the Parthenon Marbles should not be returned to Greece due to the country's lack of a suitable location for their display, but the Acropolis Museum in Athens is considered one of the world's top ten best museums and has a suitable location to display the Parthenon Marbles.

Title:

Content: Opinion

Bring them home

At the end of August, it was reported that around 2,000 artefacts, including gold jewellery and gems, had been stolen from the British Museum over a long period of time.

Chairman of the trustees, George Osborne acknowledged that the museum’s reputation has suffered as a result of its mishandling of the thefts, which sparked outrage after it was revealed that most of the stolen antiquities may never be recovered due to the museum’s poor record keeping, raising questions about security and leadership.

For decades, the British Museum has argued that the Parthenon Marbles should not be returned to Greece since the country lacks a suitable location for their display.

The Acropolis Museum, on the other hand, has solidified its place among the world’s top ten best museums and is the go-to museum in Athens where one can readily understand why Greece is considered the cradle of Western civilization. So, why not return the Parthenon marbles to their rightful home, and how did they end up in the British Museum in the first place?

In the early 1800s, when British aristocrat Lord Elgin sailed home from Greece, he also shipped to England some of the greatest treasures of antiquity, which included a collection of Greek statues and carved frieze panels that once decorated the Parthenon in Athens.

The so-called Elgin Marbles were later sold to the British government with the approval of the Ottomans who ruled Greece at the time and became the most storied artefacts in the British Museum’s collection. They also became the subject of perhaps the world’s most notorious cultural dispute.

The British maintain that the marbles were legally acquired and they belong in a universal museum alongside other artefacts, excluding the 2,000 that were now reportedly stolen. The Greeks, on the other hand, view them as looted treasures that form the cornerstone of their national heritage.

For decades, the issue of the Parthenon Marbles has been on the agenda of the Unesco Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property (ICPRCP). In fact, it was Melina Mercouri, the Greek Minister of Culture at the time, who raised the matter of their return during the 1982 Unesco World Conference.

Although the forum ruled in favour of the cause, stating that restitution of works illegally removed from their countries of origin is a fundamental principle of people-to-people cultural relations, Mercouri’s British counterpart responded that the UK Government “could not intervene in the affairs of a private establishment like the British Museum.”

While efforts are underway to retrieve the stolen antiquities, the British Museum’s collections may never be recovered because the museum’s records only identify the collection as a whole and fail to list the individual pieces.

This is not the first time the museum’s image as a safe keeper of global treasures has been called into doubt. The poor condition of the British Museum’s western block has been recorded numerous times. Images of water leaking into the Parthenon gallery were broadcast on Greek television in 2018, resulting from a cracked glass ceiling pane. Although the glass was replaced with new fixings and no sculptures were destroyed, a leaking roof in 2021 resulted in water seeping through, once again, delaying the reopening of the Greek galleries following the pandemic.

The British Museum claimed that none of the statues had been damaged and the issue was addressed. However, for Greece, these events demonstrate that the British Museum is failing to care for the Parthenon Marbles, reinforcing the country’s legitimate claim that the sculptures be permanently returned to Athens.

Earlier this year, the British Museum moved closer to a landmark agreement with Athens that could result in the return of the marbles. Although existing legislation makes it illegal to give away treasures, Osborne is reportedly seeking to repatriate the Parthenon Marbles as part of a cultural exchange that would see other Greek antiques displayed at the British Museum. Over half of the British people support their repatriation to Greece.

Hundreds of statues from the Archaic and Classical periods can be found at the ultramodern Acropolis Museum. The top level is the museum’s showcase, which provides a visual link to the Acropolis and allows visitors to view both the monument and its sculptures. The majority of the Parthenon Marbles will be displayed there upon their anticipated return.

The Parthenon Sculptures were made in Greece by Greeks to honour the glory of Greece. They represent millions of people’s cultural identities. Greece is their true home. It is where they belong.

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The Elgin Marbles are considered a cornerstone of Greece's national heritage, while the British maintain that they were legally acquired and belong in a universal museum.

The issue of the Parthenon Marbles' return has been on the agenda of the Unesco Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property (ICPRCP) for decades, and in 1982, the Unesco World Conference ruled in favor of the return of the Parthenon Marbles.

The British Museum is prohibited by law from removing the Elgin Marbles from its collection, except in certain circumstances, but is allowed to lend them.

Title:

Content: Skip to main contentSkip to navigation

Italy returns Parthenon fragment to Greece amid UK row over marbles

Loan deal could renew pressure on Britain to repatriate ancient Parthenon marbles to Athens

Italy is returning a fragment belonging to the Parthenon’s eastern frieze to Greece in a breakthrough deal that could renew pressure on Britain to repatriate the 2,500-year-old Parthenon marbles removed by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century.

The marble fragment, which depicts the foot of a goddess, either Peitho or Artemis, peeking out from beneath an elaborate tunic, is currently held at the Antonino Salinas Regional Archaeological Museum in Palermo, Sicily. It was originally bought by the University of Palermo from the widow of Robert Fagan, the British consul for Sicily and Malta, after his death in 1816.

The artefact is being returned on a four-year loan as part of a cultural exchange agreement between Sicily and Greece, with the intention for the loan period to be extended by a further four years. However, the move back to Greece could eventually become permanent.

In return, the Acropolis Museum in Athens will loan the Palermo museum a 5th-century BC headless statue of the goddess Athena, as well as an 8th-century BC amphora.

The deal, which includes an exchange of cultural initiatives between the two museums, comes after several years of negotiations between Sicilian and Greek authorities.

“Sending back to the context of its origins a small, but significant, fragment belonging to the Parthenon has a very strong symbolic value,” said Sicily’s councillor for culture, Alberto Samonà. “It is also a response to the international debate [about the Parthenon artefacts]. But I don’t want to get into that debate. For us, this is a gesture of friendship – Greece and Sicily are two areas of the Mediterranean that share a common story.”

The fragment was loaned to Greece in 2002 and in 2008. Samonà said the latest transfer could become permanent, but that it would be up to the Italian culture ministry to take the measures needed to make that happen.

It is not known how Fagan, an amateur archaeologist, acquired the fragment, although one theory suggests it might have been given to him by Elgin, the British aristocrat who excavated the bulk of the ancient Parthenon marbles between 1801 and 1804 before selling them to the British Museum in 1816, where the artefacts are currently on display.

Greece has long fought for the marbles to be repatriated from the UK. In November, the Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, demanded that Britain return the marbles to Greece, while at the same time offering to loan some Greek historical treasures to the British Museum. In response, Downing Street said returning the marbles was a matter for the British Museum. The UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, had previously said the marbles would remain in Britain, arguing that they were legally acquired.

A potential long-term cultural partnership agreement between the British Museum and Greece could facilitate the return of the British Museum's Parthenon collection to Greece.

Title:

Content: Parthenon Sculptures: Agreement to Return Parthenon Marbles to Greece Arrives at Advanced Stage - Reports
• Kitty Razel
• Cultural Affairs Editor
Greece and Britain are close to reaching an agreement to return Parthenon sculptures (also known in Britain as the Elgin Marbles) to Greece, according to a Greek newspaper.
The Nea newspaper reported that the director of the British Museum, George Osborne, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, held secret talks with the Greek prime minister.
Greece has been demanding the return of the statues for decades.
The British Museum said it was "ready to talk to anyone, including the Greek government" in order to reach a partnership on the subject.
The Parthenon sculptures are considered by many to be among the most important works of art that are being debated for return to their countries of origin.
Carved from the Parthenon Temple in Athens in the 19th century by British diplomat and military officer Lord Elgin, the sculptures were brought to Britain by the British government and placed in the British Museum in 1816.
The marble statues were among those decorated in the 2,500-year-old temple, which was carved by the sculptor Phidias.
The exhibition of the Parthenon Gallery at the Acropolis Museum in Greece was built more than a decade ago to display sculptures there.
In addition to the original marble sculptures that remain in Greece, the exhibition includes plaster copies of those other original marble sculptures that are currently housed in the British Museum and other foreign museums.
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Ta Nea reported that meetings were held with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for the first time in London in 2021.
Osborne held preliminary talks with Mitsotakis about the fate of the Greek sculptures at the Greek ambassador's home in Mayfair, and also met with the Greek foreign minister.
He later met with the Greek foreign minister and the Greek minister of state, the paper said.
Mitsotakis met Osborne again this week at the Berkeley Hotel in London.
A Greek source familiar with the matter told the paper that an agreement was almost complete, but important details were still under discussion, that agreement on it was difficult but not impossible, and that tangible progress had been made.
Osborne told LBC that an agreement on Parthenon sculptures was under consideration and could be accomplished if neither party had preconditions or red lines.
A spokesman for the British Museum said the museum had previously called for a partnership on Parthenon sculptures with Greece, adding: “We are seeking a long-term and positive partnership with countries and communities around the world, and that includes Greece of course. ”
"We are acting legally and we will not dismantle our great collection of sculptures, they tell a unique story of human history," the museum said, which may be the most important obstacle to reaching an agreement with Greece.
The Horniman Museum and Gardens in London has signed a partnership agreement on 72 of its holdings, the Bronzes of Benin, with Nigeria over ownership of the artefacts.
The pieces were looted by British troops from the city of Benin, in what is now Nigeria, in 1897.
The museum ’ s director, Nick Merriman, said: “We are in the final stages of getting museums to recognize the era of colonial history. ”
Horniman has been able to act as a charity, and is governed by laws different from those governing national institutions.
British law prohibits the British Museum from relinquishing parts of its holdings, including 900 Benin bronzes, as well as Parthenon sculptures.
I had prepared a report in October on the efforts of the then Minister of Culture, Lord Vizin, to explore the possibility of changing the law.
The Ministry of Culture, Media and Sport said: “The British Museum is prohibited by law from transporting items except in a few exceptional circumstances, and the government is not considering changing this law. ”
Lord Vizi is currently the director of the Parthenon Project, an organization founded by Greek businessman John Levas.
Last summer, the association conducted a survey of 2,000 people about the return of the sculptures to Greece, which found that 54 percent of those surveyed said the sculptures should be returned, while 16 percent disagreed.
The claimants' view was that it originally belonged to Greece.
The Parthenon project is campaigning for a mutually satisfactory solution, and news from the talks suggests that a solution is close.
The project aims to reach an agreement in the interest of both parties, centered on a cultural partnership between the two countries.
According to the Te Nea report, the partnership is at the center of talks between the two sides, and the talk is about the return of the sculptures to Greece while the British Museum hosts archaeological treasures from Greece that have not been exhibited abroad before.
British officials have proposed that London and Athens share the sculptures and have explored the possibility of returning part of them to Greece.
The Greek government is not expected to settle for any solution that does not include the permanent return of the sculptures to Greece.

The head of the British Museum, George Osborne, is pushing for a temporary loan to return the Elgin Marbles to Greece, and is believed to have drawn up a deal as part of a long-term 'cultural exchange'.

Title:

Content: LONDON (Reuters) - The historic Greek treasure of Elgin Marbles is nearing its return to its country of origin, 200 years after it was moved and ended up in the British Museum.
The Parthenon marble, seen as a symbol of freedom in Greece, was controversially moved out of the country by a British diplomat in a move that ignited a debate that lasted more than two centuries.
Greece has made repeated requests for the sculptures to be returned after they were controversially removed from one of the world ’ s most historic landmarks.
Prime Minister Rishi Sonak had been scheduled to meet his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday, but Downing Street canceled the arrangement and sent Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Duden instead.
The head of the British Museum, former Conservative Chancellor George Osborne, is pushing for a temporary loan to be returned to Greece, and is believed to have drawn up a deal.
But both Sonak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer say they will not support a change to the British Museum law that currently bars their return.
The museum said it was continuing "constructive discussions" about their possible return.
Gin Marble
The Algin marble is 17 sculptures that are 2,500 years old.
His pieces were part of a frieze that adorned the ancient Parthenon temple at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.
The marbles make up about half of the 160-meter-long frieze of the Parthenon Temple, which is considered one of the greatest cultural monuments in the world.
These sculptures are seen as symbols of freedom in Greece, where they are known as Parthenon marble.
British diplomat Lord Elgin removed the sculptures from the majestic Parthenon temple in the early 19th century.
At that time, he was ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, which ruled Greece.
Beginning in 1801, Lord Elgin is said to have supervised the removal of the marble and shipped it to the UK in 170 boxes.
He is said to have claimed to have obtained permission from the Ottoman Empire to move the marble, but despite massive documentation from that period, nothing was found to support his actions.
In the United Kingdom, Lord Elgin received support and criticism, and sold it to the United Kingdom government in 1816 before the marble was transferred to the custody of the British Museum.
The beginning and evolution of the dispute
The controversy between Greece and Britain can be traced back to when the marble first arrived in Britain due to criticism of its removal.
In 1832, Greece gained independence from the Ottoman Empire before it began trying to recover sculptures and other works of art taken from the country.
In the early 1980s, the actress and then Greek Minister of Culture, Melina Mercury, reignited the campaign when she made it her mission to secure the return of marble sculptures.
In 1983, she met with the director of the British Museum, Dr. David Wilson, in London to demand the return of the sculptures.
She continued to press the museum and the British government until her death in 1994.
Despite other requests and high-level media coverage, no agreement was reached in the years that followed.
A new campaign
In 2009, Greece stepped up its marble recovery campaign after opening a new museum at the foot of the Acropolis Hill, hoping one day to house it.
In 2014, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney called on Britain to start talks with Greece over the return of the Elgin marble.
The lawyer, who is the wife of Hollywood star George Clooney, said: "This is an injustice that has been going on for a long time, in a world full of intractable conflicts."
In 2015, Greece ruled out any legal action against the UK over Elgin Marbles.
In May 2022, the so-called Fagan fragment — a piece showing the foot of the ancient Greek goddess Artemis seated — was permanently returned to Athens from a museum in Italy.
It was originally part of the eastern frieze of the temple dating back to the 5th century BC.
The British reaction
In 2022, there were calls to make it easier for UK museums to consider returning cultural objects, but the government rejected them.
Former Conservative culture minister Lord Vaizi also headed a new body aimed at returning Elgin marble to Greece.
The refusal came after then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the Greek prime minister during talks at Downing Street in 2021 that the sculpture issue was "a matter for the curators of the British Museum".
Then, at the beginning of December, George Osborne, the head of the British Museum, reportedly held secret talks with the Greek prime minister about the possibility of returning the marble sculptures.
Negotiations between former Treasury Secretary Osborne and Kiriakos Mitsotakis have been taking place in London since November 2021, according to the Greek daily Ta Nea.
The Greek prime minister has on numerous occasions called for the relocation of the sculptures, and even offered to lend other treasures to the British Museum in return.
A spokesman for Project Parthenon, a campaign advocating the return of marble sculptures, hailed the talks as a “positive sign ” that a“ win-win solution ” to the centuries-old debate could be reached.
Possible deal?
In December last year, Downing Street said there were no plans to change the law that prohibits the museum from disposing of objects in its collection except in very limited circumstances.
A spokesman for the prime minister said: “The Parthenon sculptures are legally owned by trustees and are practically independent of the government. ”
Last month, the British Museum issued a statement saying it would not dismantle its collection “because it tells a unique story of our common humanity, ” but added that it wanted to forge a new“ Parthenon partnership ” with Greece.
The talks in Westminster were used by former culture minister Lord Vaizi to press again for the return of the sculptures.
He said that the frieze in Athens "resembles a film that was cut in half and half of it was moved against the will of its owners to another country."
After cancelling the bilateral meeting between Sonak and Mitsotakis on Tuesday, the Greek leader said he was "disappointed".
Mr Sonak said the UK “has no plans to change our approach ” but“ did not ask him [Mr Mitsotakis] what short-term or new ideas have been put forward ”.
Starmer and Mitsotakis Meet
Opposition Labour leader Sir Kiir Starmer met Mitsotakis on Monday.
A source close to Labour leader Sir Kiir Starmer told the Financial Times he was unlikely to change the law if he won the next election.
"We are committed to the current law, but if a mutually acceptable loan deal can be agreed between the British Museum and the Greek government, we will not stand in the way."
Is the agreement possible?
The head of the National Museum, George Osborne, is understood to have drawn up a deal with Athens, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Current legislation bars the museum from legally granting treasures, but Osborne is said to be seeking to repatriate the antiquities as part of a long-term "cultural exchange."
But this loan deal is not expected to permanently end the long-running dispute.
The article was prepared from the site of (Sky News) British channel:
https: / / news.sky.com / story / elgin-marbles-what-are-they-and-how-did-they-end-up-in-the-british-museum-12779617

The UK government has rejected calls to make it easier for UK museums to consider returning cultural objects, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stating that the UK 'has no plans to change our approach'.

The Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, is trying to broker a deal for the return of the Parthenon marbles to Greece, and has offered to loan Greek treasures to the British Museum in exchange for the return of the Parthenon marbles.

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Greek prime minister tries to broker deal for return of Parthenon marbles

Kyriakos Mitsotakis offers to loan Greek treasures to British Museum if ‘stolen’ sculptures are returned to Acropolis

The Greek prime minister has demanded that the 2,500-year-old Parthenon marbles, which he accuses Britain of stealing, be returned to Greece, and even offered to loan some of his country’s treasures to the British Museum in an attempt to broker a deal.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis told the Daily Telegraph that the sculptures, also known as the Elgin marbles, belong in the Acropolis Museum in Athens.

However, Boris Johnson has previously ruled out returning them on the grounds that they were acquired legally.

Mitsotakis said: “Our position is very clear. The marbles were stolen in the 19th century; they belong in the Acropolis Museum and we need to discuss this issue in earnest.

“I am sure that if there was a willingness on the part of the government to move we could find an arrangement with the British Museum in terms of us sending abroad cultural treasures on loan, which have never left the country.”

The marbles were removed from the Acropolis more than 200 years ago by Lord Elgin in circumstances that have spurred one of the world’s most famous cultural rows and have long been the subject of dispute.

Mitsotakis said he would raise the issue with Johnson when the two meet next week for talks that could shape future relations between the two countries.

“Refusing to discuss the topic seems to me, given the context of everything that has been happening in terms of the return of cultural treasures, to be rather an anachronistic approach,” he added.

“It would be a fantastic statement by what Boris calls Global Britain if they were to move on this and look at it through a completely different lens.”

But Johnson dismissed the appeal for their return to Greece earlier this year, telling the Greek newspaper Ta Nea: “I understand the strong feelings of the Greek people – and indeed prime minister Mitsotakis – on the issue.

“But the UK government has a firm, longstanding position on the sculptures, which is that they were legally acquired by Lord Elgin under the appropriate laws of the time and have been legally owned by the British Museum’s trustees since their acquisition.”

Greece has long called for the reunification of the sculptures, displayed in museums across Europe but mostly in London, and says it is integral to understanding the artworks in the context of the Acropolis.

The return of the Elgin Marbles to Greece could have potential economic benefits, including increased tourism to the Acropolis Museum and Athens.

A deal to return the Elgin Marbles to Greece is at an advanced stage, with talks taking place between the British Museum and the Greek prime minister since November last year.

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Reports say a deal to return Elgin Marbles to Greece is at an "advanced stage"

The Greek daily newspaper, Ta Nea, says talks have been taking place between the British Museum and the Greek prime minister since November last year.

The Greek daily newspaper, Ta Nea, says talks have been taking place between the British Museum and the Greek prime minister since November last year.

Also on the programme: an alternative to plastic; and the story of how a fossil, which lay unnoticed in a drawer for over half a century, has advanced our understanding of the origins of reptiles.

(Picture: One of the Parthenon Statues, also known as the Elgin Marbles. Credit: Reuters)

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The British Museum is 'still exploring if there is an arrangement that would allow some of the Parthenon sculptures to travel to Greece', indicating a potential willingness to negotiate the repatriation of the Elgin Marbles.

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Content: UK museums strike loan deal to return Asante Gold to Ghana that was looted over 100 years ago

25 January 2024, 07:25 | Updated: 25 January 2024, 07:27

By Jenny Medlicott

The UK is returning a selection of Asante Gold looted from Ghana over 100 years ago in a historic loan deal.

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The British Museum has struck a deal to return 15 pieces of the gold to Ghana and the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) 17 pieces, under a new three-year loan deal.

Loan deals are used as a way to enable collections to return to their countries of origin.

The Ghanian loan deal, which can be extended by an additional three years, was agreed with Otumfo Osei Tutu II, the current Asante king known as the Asantehene.

Some national museums in the UK, including the V&A and British Museum, are prohibited from permanently returning such items to their countries of origin.

The items will reportedly go on display at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi, the capital of the Asante region, to celebrate the Asantehene's silver jubilee.

Tristram Hunt, director of the V&A, said the gold items taken from the court of the Asante King are the equivalent of "our Crown Jewels".

Mr Hunt also said when museums "hold objects with origins in war and looting in military campaigns, we have a responsibility to the countries of origin to think about how we can share those more fairly today.

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"It doesn't seem to me that all of our museums will fall down if we build up these kind of partnerships and exchanges,” he told the BBC.

It is hoped the historic deal will pave the way for handling other repatriation disputes - potentially including the long-running dispute over the Elgin Marbles.

Ghana’s chief operation said he hoped the deal would bring a “a new sense of cultural co-operation” following years of anger.

However, some have expressed concern that accepting the items on loan could be seen as acceptance of the UK’s ownership of the contested items.

Most of the items were taken during 19th-century wars between the British and the Asante.

A sword of state and gold badges worn by officials charged with cleansing the soul of the king are among the items to be returned.

The artefacts are seen as a symbol of the Asante royal government and are believed to hold the spirits of former Asante kings.

As for other contested artefacts held by British museums, in the case of the Elgin Marbles, a senior British Museum has source said the museum was “still exploring if there is an arrangement that would allow some of the Parthenon sculptures to travel to Greece”.

It is hoped deals such as these could help provide a solution to former colonial nations requesting the return of their cultural treasures.

Over half of the British people support the repatriation of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

The Acropolis Museum in Athens has a special place reserved for the Parthenon Marbles, currently occupied by a replica.

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Content: Wednesday 24 November 2021
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Greek PM praises British support to return Parthenon marbles to Athens
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday welcomed the "support of the British people" for the return to Greece of the Parthenon Marbles currently in the British Museum in London, according to a YouGov poll.
The survey, published on the Daily Questin website, found that 59 per cent of respondents considered the Parthenon Marbles to be “Greek property ”, 18 per cent attributed it to the UK, and 22 per cent said they did not know the best answer to this question.
The survey was conducted on Tuesday on a sample of 7,717 British adults, according to the institute ’ s website.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis tweeted: “The relationship between Greece and the UK is strong.
It ’ s time to do the right thing and collect the Parthenon sculptures in Athens, a move supported by the British people, ” he tweeted.
Greece has been demanding for decades the return of Parthenon marbles that were separated from the ancient temple of the Acropolis of Athens and shipped to London by British diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 19th century.
The Acropolis Museum in Athens has kept a special place for these marbles waiting for their return.
A replica of it is currently on display at the museum, which has been built on 15,000 square meters since 2009 at the foot of the Holy Rock, a site from the 5th century BC that is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world.
During an official visit to London last week, Kyriakos reminded Mitsotakis of Athens ’ request during a meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
While Johnson said he understood "the strength of the feeling of the Greek people", he reiterated London's position that it was up to the directors of the British Museum, stressing that the issue of the Parthenon Marbles did not affect the "strength" of the partnership between the two countries.
London has consistently refused to return the marbles, saying they were taken from Athens with the permission of the Ottoman leaders who were occupying Greece at the time, but Greek authorities see the process as "theft".
In March, Boris Johnson, in an interview with the Greek newspaper Ta Nea, recalled the British government ’ s “firm position ” on the subject.

The return of the Parthenon Marbles could be used as an educational opportunity to promote cultural understanding and exchange between Greece and the UK, with museums and cultural institutions playing a key role in this process.

Museums and cultural institutions, such as the British Museum and the Acropolis Museum, can facilitate cultural exchange and understanding by providing a platform for the display and interpretation of cultural artifacts, such as the Elgin Marbles.

The repatriation of cultural artifacts like the Elgin Marbles can be used as an educational opportunity to promote cultural understanding and exchange between countries, such as Greece and the UK.

The British Museum is still exploring arrangements that would allow some of the Parthenon sculptures (Elgin Marbles) to travel to Greece, indicating a potential willingness to engage in cultural exchange and cooperation.

Deals such as the one between the UK and Ghana, which returned Asante Gold to Ghana, can help provide a solution to former colonial nations requesting the return of their cultural treasures, including Greece's request for the repatriation of the Elgin Marbles.