Art and yoga are passionate pursuits for Bahraini Zahraa Amini. She has found common ground between the two disciplines which she uses as a source of inspiration complementing each other. BTW chats with her about her inspiration and experience so far.
Tell us briefly about yourself: where you were born and your educational background.
I am Bahraini, studied business management and work in an audit department.
Other than art you do yoga? Can you tell us briefly how it all started?
I started drawing since I was a child, copying the cartoons that I was watching as a kid, and with time I kept challenging myself and tried to create realistic artwork and use different mediums for my artwork.
As regards to my yoga, I was trying to have a healthy lifestyle and working out at the gym was like a duty that I need to force myself to do it, until I was introduced to yoga. And since I already have an artistic background I could related yoga to art, there are some poses that I look at it in an artistic way and I consider it as an art of the body i.e. crow pose, handstand, etc.
What type of yoga do you practice?
My main yoga practice is Astanga Yoga, but I do definitely try other type of yoga time to time like power yoga, vinyasa yoga and so on.
Who has been your inspiration?
For yoga / Arts
I find my inspiration from everyone and everywhere for both my yoga and art, I always look outside the box to find my inspiration. It also could be something that is not related to yoga or art that inspire me.
Tell us about the significance
of art in your life.
It is a way to find beauty in the ordinary life.
What have been the major challenges of your life so far?
Managing my time between both my art and yoga, both need significant amount of time.
Do you feel that a formal training is essential to pursue arts?
I encourage any type of training either it is formal training, workshops, youtube videos or even casual gathering with other artists, as long as it adds a value to what you are doing, it will definitely be a beneficial.
Have you participated/held exhibitions in Bahrain or in any other place? Give us a list of the last few.
Nadine Gallery 3rd Annual Exhibition for Bahraini female artists 2014, Nadine Gallery 4th Annual Exhibition for Bahraini female artists 2015, Hend Gallery Art workshop and Exhibition 2015 and Al Aali Art Festival 2014 – 2016
What is your message to the aspiring artists of Bahrain?
Create your own art and don’t try to be some other artist.
What is your message to the people who want to learn yoga?
Yoga suits everybody. You don’t need to be flexible to do yoga that’s why you are going to yoga classes. Don’t quit from the first session, give it time. Try a different type of yoga. And the most important thing, enjoy your time.