by GILLIAN CILIBRASI
Director UZIT Program
January 2015
On our recent trip to Haiti we were asked, “Why provide yoga for orphans when we can’t feed them?” It’s a logical question when one has to prioritize funding. The more I pondered this through our visits to orphanages, schools and hospitals, the more I realized that nourishment comes in many forms.In one example, at ProDev’s Union Des Apotres school in La Reference, Cite Soleil we were fortunate to participate in a yoga class for 20 kids. The kids waited as patiently as kids can for the arrival of the Ayiti Yoga Mentor. As Showti (Ismael St. Jour) turned the corner the children began to chant his name in unison. The quick line up on their mats reminded me of a game of musical chairs — those that found a mat got to be in the first class, those that didn’t had to wait along the sidelines for the next.
The yoga classes, made possible by a grant from SowaSeed, move the children through a series of basic yoga shapes, from serious and fierce ‘warriors’ to belly laughing ‘boats.’ They were steady and serious ‘trees,’ powerful ‘archers’ and the true calm in the chaos in ‘final rest.’ They were playful and curious about the shapes and so full of joy.
The same things many yogis seek in their practice – community, discipline, movement, self-esteem, joy in our bodies, present-moment connection – I experienced with these kids in the middle of post-disaster Haiti. As is true in my practice and for all who practice yoga, these sacred shapes nourish these children holistically and for about 50 cents per student per class. Bringing the practice of yoga to these children can profoundly influence them into becoming upstanding, confident and honorable young men and women.