Hundreds perform 108 sun salutations to mark days yoga practitioner, other hostages have been held in Gaza

Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center

Several hundred yoga practitioners do 108 sun salutations to mark 108 days of captivity for yoga teacher Carmel Gat and the other remaining hostages on January 22, 2024. (Jessica Steinberg/Times of Israel)
Several hundred yoga practitioners do 108 sun salutations to mark 108 days of captivity for yoga teacher Carmel Gat and the other remaining hostages on January 22, 2024. (Jessica Steinberg/Times of Israel)

Several hundred people gather to mark 108 days of captivity for hostage and yoga practitioner Carmel Gat at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, with 108 sun salutations, a mindfulness practice in yoga.

“There have been 108 sunrises and sunsets, but the hostages haven’t seen the light of day,” says a cousin of Gat, who was abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7.

Gat, 39, an occupational therapist from Tel Aviv, was visiting her parents in Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7 when Hamas terrorists attacked, killing her mother, Kinneret.

She was taken captive, and with the release of dozens of hostages, the family received word that Carmel was kept captive with some children and did yoga once a day with them.

“We know she teaches in captivity,” says her cousin.

Carmel Gat was taken captive by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023 from her parents’ home in Kibbutz Be’eri (Courtesy)

The number 108 is significant in yoga practice, and equals the number nine, says Carmel Gat’s friend and yoga teacher Roni. It is considered a sacred number.

“I’m always introduced as Carmel’s teacher, but she’s now my teacher,” says Roni. “She is one of the strongest and most curious people I know. We know she teaches in captivity, and seeing all of you warms our heart and belief that our strength can bring about a better energy to bring them home.”

For the next hour and a half, some 200 yoga practitioners practice 108 sun salutations on the cement floor of the square, their yoga mats placed under gray mats printed with the words, Yoga with Carmel, Bringing Them Home Now!, in yellow, reaching their arms toward the sky, leaning down toward the ground into a downward dog position, and then up again.

“Seeing all these people warms the heart and brings about a better energy to bring them home,” says Carmel’s cousin.

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