WATCH: Mosque in Kurdistan Region’s Halabja provides exercise session after morning prayer

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – After morning prayers at a mosque in the Kurdistan Region’s Halabja governorate, people stick around to exercise and stretch for the day ahead.

Instructors provide people who stay behind after the morning prayer different exercises and training routines as well as health tips according to their fitness goals.

Sarkawt Nuri, one of the participants, said the training benefits those who participate after the prayer.

“Personally, the practice has reduced the pain from my chronic diseases,” Nuri told Kurdistan 24.

Nuri said those who regularly attend the training sessions hope it continues because the trainer provides people suffering from chronic health conditions with training tips and even activities to doat home.

“All the participants continue to request that the instructor carry on with his sessions after the morning prayer.”

The training instructor, Dara Mahmood, said the exercises are available to anyone who is interested, no matter their age or fitness goals.

“The exercise sessions start after the morning prayer at the mosque and last for 45 minutes twice a week,” Mahmood stated. “The participants are 13 to 75 years of age and are given different coaching tips accordingto their health conditions.”

According to the training instructor, the sessions begin with a gradual warm-up followed by aerobic activities and then a cool-down.

Although uncommon in mosques across the Kurdistan Region, the initiative’s goal is to help people integrate exercise and fitness into their daily lives.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany

(Additional reporting by Evin Atta)