Rihan Demsew, engaged in the import and export trade in Addis Abeba, sought a solution to her work-related stress and long hours, which led her to join a meditation and yoga centre. Rihan also lives with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), which presented her with numerous physical difficulties. Before beginning her training, Rihan struggled with everyday tasks such as bending to wear shoes, completing hand-related tasks, and climbing stairs, and she also experienced sleep issues. She knew that managing her condition involved medication, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes.

After five months of training, including a one-month yoga package for 3,000 Br, two days a week, Rihan noted a gradual improvement in her physical condition. While she acknowledges that RA may not disappear completely, she believes consistent physical therapy, daily activity, and a balanced diet can substantially improve her condition and reduce pain.

Now, she is able to perform tasks that were previously difficult and feels stronger and healthier. “My body feels stronger and is able to recover well when overworked,” she said.



Many individuals are drawn to meditation and yoga centres for various reasons, including improving body structure, adopting healthier habits, addressing health problems, and reducing weight. The industry has kept pace, offering classes for as much as 1,500 Br per session lasting 60 to 90 minutes.

One individual, a student of Heran Yoga who preferred not to be named, has been practicing meditation for two years and yoga for one year, initially joining out of curiosity after hearing about meditation from others. She started with a passion for meditation as she faced issues like mental distraction and loss of focus. This motivated her to also try yoga.

Based on her experience, she observes that more people are engaging in yoga and meditation, with a growing number of training centres in the capital.

“I see numbers increasing at many places,” she said, even though she expected that more people would have caught on to the activity.



The wellness industry has expanded recently with meditation centres springing up seeking to tackle a new angle of improving health. After the COVID-19 pandemic, meditation and yoga became more accepted by the public, according to Rihan.

Meditation is a practice that involves concentrating the mind through mental and physical methods. Meditation is becoming more popular as individuals seek stress relief, mindfulness, and spiritual growth.



Yoga, on the other hand, is a mind and body practice, involving physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation. It seeks to promote physical and mental well-being through increased flexibility, strength, balance, stress reduction, and mindfulness.

Aremimo, a meditation centre in the capital, was established three years ago by Elias Gebru (PhD) and offers training for individuals, groups, and companies. Elias estimates that there around four similar type meditation centres throughout country.


Companies often seek training to reduce stress and improve the quality of their workforce. Aremimo offers tailored proposals for companies, adjusting training programs and fees based on their capacity to pay. They provide flexible payment systems, with daily, weekly, monthly, and annual packages. Aremimo's clients include major organizations such as Coca-Cola, DMC Real Estate, Bank of Abyssinia, and Ethiopian Airlines.

“Especially foreign-owned companies are our strong customers, some even signing two-year contracts,” Elias told Fortune

A two-month package for individuals costs 7,000 Br at Aremimo, while organizational training fees depend on the organization's capacity, quality of work, and number of employees, averaging 1,000 to 2,000 Br per person per day.


The number of meditation and yoga centres is growing. Other centres like Tulsi Wellness Centre are well-known for their training services. Founder Deborah Lundstrom, a wellness coach at the centre with 11 years of experience, says that more organizations and individuals are visiting Tulsi. Group training is particularly growing, charged at 700 Br per hour. The centre also has membership packages.

Deborah hosted a wellness show on a local TV station during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The show helped viewers understand the effectiveness and benefits of meditation,” she told Fortune.

Another player is Khul Meditation & Yoga Centre, which offers both meditation and yoga training. Meditation trainings are available on daily and monthly packages, while yoga training includes daily, monthly, three-month, and six-month packages.

A one-month yoga package costs 3,000 Br for two days per week and 4,000 Br for three days per week. Three-month packages are 7,500 Br for two-day version and 9,000 Br for the three-day type. They also offer six month packages as well as daily yoga sessions for 600 Br.

Meditation training is priced at 1,400 Br per month with four sessions. Daily meditation sessions costs 500 Br. Rediet Sime, a customer service officer at Khul, stated that on average, the centre has 50 monthly yoga clients and 20 for meditation. The centre also has a team that provides training for the elderly. Khul Meditation Centre was established in 2012.

Heran Tadese, a meditation and yoga trainer, says there are very few certified trainers in Ethiopia, which she estimates to be between 10 and 20. She stated that she paid 3,000 dollars to obtain a wellness certification in Egypt.


In the past two years, her average monthly attendance ranged from 20 to 30 people, but over the past two months, it has dropped to 8 to 10 per class per week. Heran's fees vary depending on location and type of training, with each 90-minute class costing 600 Br to 1,000 Br per session.

She says that yoga centres in Ethiopia are not officially recognised. “Awareness is very slim about this practice,” she said. According to her, yoga centres often close within months of opening as they lack consistency, and most trainees are members of the diaspora and other high-earning people which is not enough clientele to sustain a business.

Sintayehu Yihune, a sociologist and lecturer at Dilla University, says that Ethiopian society has traditionally been bound by culture and faith, which has limited the use of these practices. When people experience anxiety or depression, they typically go to bars or religious institutions. This makes meditation and yoga less common, limiting it to people familiar with foreign cultures.

Still, he attributes the recent rise of wellness centres to a shift in how health is approached. “Diseases that were once treated through traditional methods are now being addressed with medical and alternative treatments, including meditation and yoga," he added. This growing trend signals a cultural shift, with more individuals exploring meditation and yoga to address modern mental health problems.

According to him, while these practices may be effective based on their medical or philosophical foundations, they may not be effective according to social norms. Many in the community cannot afford these services due to low income, background beliefs, and religious affiliations.



PUBLISHED ON Feb 02,2025 [ VOL 25 , NO 1292]


How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.


Editors' Pick



Editorial