Yoga, ultra-Orthodox style

Yoga, ultra-Orthodox style

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Beit Shemesh Yoga Studio offers its students: “improved quality of life and health”. Read the phrase and you might think that it is like any other yoga school. But there is one important difference: this studio teaches classes to ultra orthodox Jews in the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh, a controversial idea in an area where tensions have flared between the very conservative ultra-Orthodox, and more moderate members of the community.

. BEIT SHEMESH, Israel. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

This is Avraham Kolberg, who manages the studio along with his wife Rachel. The couple both used to be secular Jews but became members of the Orthodox community ten years ago after they were brought closer to the idea of God and religious life, partly through studying yoga in India.

The yoga studio they now run from their home in Beit Shemesh caters to the ultra-Orthodox, offering separate classes for men and women in accordance with religious beliefs against mixing different sexes in public.

Even so, the classes have created some conflict with conservative Orthodox Jews in Beit Shemesh, who distrust the practice of yoga and who have previously clashed with more modern members of the community in the neighbourhood - particularly over the way women in the area act and dress.

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Almost a dozen devout Jewish men meet weekly at the studio.
. BEiT SHEMESH, Israel. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Almost a dozen devout Jewish men meet weekly at the studio.

Avraham Kolberg runs male classes like this one, and his wife Rachel teaches the female students.
. BEiT SHEMESH, Israel. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Avraham Kolberg runs male classes like this one, and his wife Rachel teaches the female students.

The studio is based in the couple’s own home in Beit Shemesh.
. BEIT SHEMESH, Israel. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

The studio is based in the couple’s own home in Beit Shemesh.

Orthodox yoga students stretch out their hands during a class.
. BEIT SHEMESH, Israel. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Orthodox yoga students stretch out their hands during a class.

Avraham sits beside some of his students during a lesson.
. BEIT SHEMESH, Israel. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Avraham sits beside some of his students during a lesson.

He leads a yoga session, demonstrating a posture with his hands behind his back.
. BEIT SHEMESH, Israel. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

He leads a yoga session, demonstrating a posture with his hands behind his back.

Avraham observes a student during class.
. BEiT SHEMESH, Israel. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Avraham observes a student during class.

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men take part in a class, hanging upside down from their hips.
. BEiT SHEMESH, Israel. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men take part in a class, hanging upside down from their hips.

A yoga student practices on his mat before class begins.
. BEIT SHEMESH, Israel. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

A yoga student practices on his mat before class begins.