A true yogi master will soon be on the Island to share his practice with locals.Yiser Ra Hotep and his yoga teacher Asar Hapi first studied yoga from Egyptian hieroglyphs 30 years ago.They have since recreated a practice they believe was likely to have been used by the ancient Egyptians.“I started practising Yoga with my teacher Dr Asar Hapi in the 1970s,” said Mr Hotep in an interview with Body & Soul from his home in Chicago.“As persons who studied ancient Egyptian history and philosophy and were African-oriented we both felt that yoga came from there.“We essentially developed the system from our primary research by deciphering the hieroglyphs and other symbols of ancient Egypt and seeing the connection with yoga. We started the movement now known as Kemetic yoga.”India is considered the birthplace of yoga by many, but Mr Hotep believes the practice was actually introduced to them by black Egyptians.“Kemetic yoga, and any workshop that I teach, is open everyone regardless of race,” said Mr Hotep. “Race is an artificial construct that was created to control the consciousness of people.“I am Black and African, and I teach from my experience but this does not mean that those from other cultural backgrounds cannot benefit from the teachings.”He said that for years people the world over have been comfortable studying and practising Indian yoga, and that Kemetic yoga is embraced the same way.“Kemetic Yoga is a science and I encourage others not to self-censor themselves.“I’ve done many workshops around the United States where I have presented the same information to multiracial audiences and it is well received by all.“I’ve also presented workshops at venues where Indian yoga, philosophy and language is taught and was greeted with much acknowledgment of the veracity of my information.”Mr Hotep has been practising yoga for 36 years. He said a girlfriend was the reason he took his first class.“I enjoyed it and could immediately grasp the power of it and the potential to help me achieve health, wellness and longevity. That is what made me stay with it,” he added.Today he is the creator and branded the YogaSkills method. This is a method of developing and training of inner calm.He has received much recognition for the method and for his work in using the method with children, drug addicts and those with learning disabilities.“I travel extensively teaching and lecturing on Kemetic yoga,” he said. “I have students across the United States that I travel to and train. I also conduct teacher-training and certification intensives in Jamaica and several cities in the US.“I have students I train in my home city of Chicago daily whenever I am in town.“I also operate Kemetic yoga programmes for youth development and teach courses at DePaul University in Chicago, the largest Catholic University in the United States, in stress management, science of yoga and ancient wisdom.”Kemetic yoga teacher Latoya Bridgewater invited Mr Hotep to Bermuda. While here he will offer a Kemetic yoga workshop.It will be divided into several parts beginning with a lecture and PowerPoint presentation on the history, philosophy and scientific background of Kemetic yoga and the powerful effects it can have on our personal development.“In this presentation participants will see images of uniquely Kemetic (ancient Egyptian) yoga postures and symbols that are from the artefacts found on temple walls and in the ancient manuscripts,” said Mr Hotep.“Attendees will receive an understanding of the health and wellness benefits of Kemetic yoga and how it can assist with high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer and heart disease prevention as well as weight loss and prostate health for men.“We will next go into the practices of Kemetic yoga and learn basic techniques that can be easily incorporated into your lifestyle as a daily practice to keep you healthy and stress-free.There will also be discussion of the importance of diet and what foods should be eliminated and added to one’s eating habits in order to bring about optimal health.“Finally we will focus on deep breathing, relaxation and focusing practices that can help to energise the body and mind, eliminate negative and self-defeating thoughts and help to produce a mindset of positive self-affirmation. “Mr Hotep will give a free talk on the history and theory of Kemetic yoga at the old Berkeley school from 6pm to 8pm next Friday, March 2.He will then hold a Kemetic yoga workshop on the following two days at Manchester Lodge Hall. The cost is $125 for both days or $75 for one.For more information contact Ms Bridgewater on 595-4105 or kemeticyogabda[AT]gmail.com.