It’s early afternoon on a gloomy day at the Jamia Usmania mosque in Bradford and a group of mostly elderly men have finished their midday prayers.
The assembly of mainly retired men would usually return to the familiar drumbeat of day-to-day life, but instead they make their way downstairs to tackle squats, glute bridges and the butterfly position in the mosque’s weekly 45-minute pilates class.
“It’s a very unique thing for older Asian men,” said Zafar Kayani, 69, the pilates instructor. “They’re coming here for their spiritual health. Then getting that physical exercise and mental wellbeing, and they’re connecting with each other.”
‘They’re connecting with each other,’ says instructor Zafar Kayani (in grey top). Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian
It has been a whirlwind few weeks for the organisers of the pilates sessions, which began at three mosques in Bradford with a small number of attenders. A TikTok video promoting the class went viral, since amassing almost 2m views, and interest has grown, with up to 30 people attending each session.
The TikTok sparked interest from mosques across the UK and farther afield, including from Malaysia and Canada, with inquiries on how similar initiatives could be implemented for their congregation.
“We never expected it to go that viral,” said the mosque’s general secretary, Mohammed Ilyas. “It was just a general upload to promote and get more members in. It started from Bradford and if it goes worldwide, we believe it’s a positive thing and we’re making a change.”
The class is attended by men of varying abilities, aged between 50 and 80. “They feel comfortable in the environment,” Ilyas said. “They come to pray already at the mosque, and after the prayers they can just join in the class, [in] whatever they’re wearing.”
The men can join in the classes in whatever they’re wearing, says the mosque’s general secretary. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian
The session begins with stretches before moving on to more strenuous exercises. So far the classes have been a success, with people noting improvements in their mental and physical wellbeing.
“Before I used to feel ache[s] everywhere, all over [my] body,” said Mohammed Salim, a 66-year-old retired shopkeeper. “But when I started walking and doing exercise, it’s much better. Recently I had the pacemaker fitted, but I don’t feel anything because I do the activity.”
Tahir Butt, 74, has had a double-knee replacement, and said the classes had been “very beneficial”. “I wouldn’t think of doing those exercises [before] because of my condition,” said the retired bus driver.
Kayani, who runs the sessions, believes the classes will have a positive impact on public health and the NHS. According to government health data on physical activity published in 2024, men from the Asian (59.6%) and “other” (60%) ethnic groups were less likely to be active than the overall average (65.6%).
“When they start there will be aches and pains, there will be groans,” said Kayani. “A few weeks along the line, you can see they’re doing [it] with ease.
“This is beneficial for the NHS. If there’s less people going to see the doctors, going to the hospital appointments, it’s less cost to them.”
Despite the focus on physical exercise, the instructor keeps the sessions lighthearted and jovial, punctuating the 45-minute period with witty comments and humour – and telling people they are “men of steel”.
A man takes part in the weekly pilates class at the Jamia Usmania mosque. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian
At the end of the session, he invites the group to close their eyes, breathe deeply and imagine the bliss of being on holiday in a hot climate, prompting a short period of quiet and calm in the room. “Open your eyes and you’re back in wet Bradford,” he says, triggering laughter.
Akhtar Malik, the manager of the Bradford Youth Development Partnership, said the sessions had fostered friendships and helped to tackle loneliness. “That’s the key thing – being happy, laughing – [it] gives you that motivation to keep coming, week in week out,” he said. “We provide a social platform where they can meet other people. It’s a friendship group.”
For Ilyas, the success of the pilates sessions has spurred on his mission to transform the mosque into a space not just for prayer but for community activities – with plans for a female pilates class and youth clubs.
“As well as a mosque, a community hub where people can join in other activities, which were provided by the council 20 years ago but are nonexistent now – we want to make that happen again,” Ilyas said. “Make it as accessible as possible, not just for the elders, for the young generation as well, make the mosque welcoming.”
