As the Israeli-Palestinian peace process unravels once again and the prospect of a peaceful resolution faces its deepest crisis yet, a new documentary explores how Palestinian women find unexpected ways to cope with everyday life under military occupation- through yoga.
These days, it’s easy to find a yoga class just about anywhere in Ireland. The choice of yoga styles and celebrity-backed endorsements filling social media networks make the mind boggle as this ancient and revered Indian practice has become a vast global multi-billion dollar industry. For a group of Palestinian women living in the West Bank, however yoga presents a very different and unique opportunity.
‘Freedom On The Mat’ tells the remarkable story of a small group of Palestinian women who are defying the limitations and restrictions they encounter in their daily lives by bringing the benefits of yoga to their communities, villages and refugee camps throughout the West Bank- with unprecedented results.
Over a period spanning two years, 25 Palestinian women have undertaken intensive yoga teacher training at a Palestinian-run yoga center in Ramallah, called Farashe with support from American NGO, Anahata International. Each year for two weeks, the women spend hours travelling to and from the city of Ramallah, often crossing checkpoints with long delays to attend the training course. As something completely new and culturally alien to them, the majority of the women arrive expecting to sit and do nothing. Soon, though they discover a rare source of inner peace, strength and freedom that can be accessed and shared easily with others seeking respite from the unpredictable realities of life under military occupation.
As a qualified yoga instructor with a keen interest in social justice and the impact of the Israeli/ Palestinian conflict on ordinary people, Irish documentary maker Muireann de Barra travels to Palestine to document the extraordinary stories of some of the trainees. The documentary follows three trainees from different parts of the West Bank as they begin to introduce yoga to their communities in creative and unprecedented ways- including in schools and refugee camps. Along the way, the documentary observes the immense capacity the women have for humanity, resilience and dignity along with their bold and witty sense of humour.
As peace negotiations arise, stall and collapse, the women in Freedom On The Mat remain determined to find even the briefest respite for themselves and their communities as they remain hopeful of a just and lasting peace.
‘Freedom On The Mat’ will be broadcast on Newstalk 106-108fm this weekend, Saturday 28th March at 7am, and repeated at 10am on Sunday 29th March.
BROADCAST DETAILS: ‘Freedom On The Mat’ is part of the Spring season of Documentary on Newstalk
‘Freedom On The Mat’ can also be listened to online at www.newstalk.com A podcast will be available at www.newstalk.com/documentaryonnewstalk after the broadcast.
CREDITS: ‘Freedom On The Mat’ was produced and edited by Muireann de Barra with translation by Lubna Takruri.
For more information, see:
https://www.facebook.com/freedomonthemat
