Zurkhaneh exercises, also known as "the house of strength," are a traditional Persian physical and spiritual discipline that combines elements of martial arts, strength training, and music. The exercises take place in a zurkhaneh, a specialized indoor gym that is typically circular in shape and adorned with ancient Persian symbols.
The centerpiece of the zurkhaneh is a raised platform called a gooshtipeh, where a musician sits and plays traditional instruments such as the daf and tonbak. The athlete, or pahlevan, performs a series of movements in time with the music, ranging from calisthenics and weightlifting to wrestling and acrobatics.
The origins of zurkhaneh exercises can be traced back to ancient Persia, where they were practiced by warriors as a way to maintain their physical and mental strength. Today, zurkhaneh exercises are still popular in Iran and other countries in the Middle East, and have gained a following in other parts of the world as well.
One of the unique aspects of zurkhaneh exercises is their emphasis on spiritual development. The exercises are accompanied by poems and stories that are meant to instill values such as respect, honesty, and courage. The pahlevan is expected to show humility and respect to their fellow athletes, and to strive for self-improvement both physically and spiritually.
In addition to their physical and spiritual benefits, zurkhaneh exercises also have a strong social component. The close-knit community of athletes and the traditional rituals and customs that are followed in the zurkhaneh create a sense of belonging and camaraderie.
Overall, zurkhaneh exercises are a unique and multifaceted discipline that combines physical training, spiritual development, and social engagement. They offer a wide range of benefits to those who practice them, and are an important part of the cultural heritage of Iran and the surrounding region.
Watch Pahlevani exercise in Zurkhaneh
Miandar starts praying for the athletes in the pit, he prays for the crowd outside and the absentees and curses the evildoers! Athletes enter the Gowd with the permission of the Morshed. In the festivals, he recites praises, and in deaths, he recites lamentations. And so, I set out to collect all the exercises the world has to offer and bring them home. The advent of modern irrigation system made it redundant. After the performance, continue to explore Saheb Al-Zaman Zurkhaneh and visit the water reservoir underneath the building.
Iran's zurkhaneh bodybuilders: Praying in the house of strength
Zoorkhaneh operators Morshed Today, Murshed Master is said to be someone who has a good voice and sits on Sardam while exercising. Before the ritual begins, any athlete is able to warm up with a stone alone. During this period, training shifted from what was likely only grappling for military combat purposes to a more ritualistic training routine that culminated with grappling. Afterwards, there are hymns of praise to the Prophet Muhammad and his family, while the athletes pause in reverent silence, while taking a moment to catch their breath. Iranians like to attribute the fact that they excel in international wrestling competitions to their house-of-strength tradition. After the warm-up, the men bring out huge wooden clubs, which can weigh up to fifty kilograms. Pahlavani rituals echo the practices of Sufism, as the ethics involved are similar to Sufi ideals, emphasizing purity of heart.
Persian WalkZurkhaneh Tour
If the person is an important athlete, Morshed will sing for him. All the components of these places and the area have a philosophy in behind. Today, Zoorkhaneh rituals ends after the prayer ceremony, and the wrestling match is held in separate competitions. Since days of the lunar month change every year compared to the solar calendar, there is no exact day for this occasion in solar calendar, and every year this day in solar calendar is different from the previous year. Miandar who is a wrestler takes the Mil and spins it around the shoulder, and other athletes follow him by repeating what the instructor does. And this makes the sport the last one in Iran that has not yet opened up to female athletes. In a way that in the opinion of the believer athlete, Zoorkhaneh was the place of Nikan and Pakan good people and the school of chivalry.
