US ex-marine Dylan Werner leads thousands at Dubai Yoga

The yoga mat may seem worlds away from the chaos of sirens and fire trucks, yet for Dylan Werner — a former US Marine and Iraq War veteran turned city emergency responder — that very shift has inspired thousands around the globe, including many in the UAE. Werner, a renowned yoga instructor with nearly 800,000 followers on social media, has transformed his path from frontline service to international yoga stardom.

- Nandini Sircar [e-mail]

Speaking to Khaleej Times ahead of his session at Zabeel Park during the final day of Dubai Yoga one of the highlights of Dubai Fitness Challenge-Werner admitted he is still amazed by his journey. "I have no idea," he said when asked what draws people to him and his practice.

After a pause, he reflected, "I think a lot of people were initially attracted because I wasn't your typical yogi at the time... I was in the right place at the right time, and I got very lucky."