Yogi Haider (born Shamshad Haider) is a yoga teacher living in Pakistan. He is the founder of Yoga Pakistan and Way of Nature through which he teaches yoga and meditation. He studied yoga in Burma, Tibet, Nepal and India, including from S. N. Goenka.[1] Haider is from Pakistan's Punjab province. He has been teaching yoga since 1994.[2] His organisation teaches yoga to over 10,000 students in Islamabad, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore.[citation needed]

Haider's students include Pakistani politicians such as Qaim Ali Shah (chief minister of Sindh) and Ghulam Mustafa Khar (a former governor of Punjab).[3] He gives free public training. He says that his ambition is to emulate Ramdev Baba and popularise yoga amongst Pakistanis.[4] He has been called the face of yoga in Pakistan.[5] He has been described as coming across as an Indian yogi, simple, peaceful and confident. He speaks English, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, Arabic and Nepalese.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Interference in ecosystem aggravates an epidemic". Dawn. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
    - Bajwa, Harpreet (24 May 2015). "Asanas Bind Neighbours Together as Lone Pakistani Yoga Master Teaches the Art". The Sunday Standard. Indian Express Group. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  2. ^ "A 'CAMAL' project in education". Dawn. 10 April 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  3. ^ Anas, Mohammad (15 June 2015). "Yoga becomes popular in Pak". Sunday Guardian. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  4. ^ Madhavan, Deepu (15 June 2015). "Pakistan's Baba Ramdev Shamshad Haider Says Yoga Began In Pakistan, Chants 'Allah Hoo' Instead Of 'Om' During Asanas". India Times. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Yoga in Pakistan: Meet Pakistan's Baba Ramdev-Yogi Haider". News Nation. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  6. ^ "पाकिस्तान में छाया योग दिवस का क्रेज, मुस्लिमों को नहीं ऐतराज" [Craze for Chhaya Yoga Day in Pakistan, Muslims have no objection]. Rajasthan Patrika (in Hindi). 15 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.