HALABJA, Kurdistan Region – Twice a week, the faithful at a Halabja mosque stretch out their bodies after exercising their souls.
A group of men and boys stay for a guided workout after morning prayers.
“It is good for someone who is a bit old. The young people move a lot and play football. But the elderly like us, we have very little activity,” said Rafiq Rashed.
They are also given diet tips and trainer Dara Mahmood helps them track their progress.
“We like for them to prepare and fill out a form when they start. We want them to write down their problems. After 3-4 months, we want them to again fill out the form like a student’s report card in order to inform us of their changes, whether physically or psychologically,” he said.
Reporting by Amal Naji.