Days after, I was still in pain from a community Africa Yoga Project class in Nairobi. I can’t thank my friend Aleya enough for introducing me to what has to be the most uplifting experience I’ve had this year.
2 hours allowed for a holistic session comprising of meditation, thankfulness, an intense physical practice and time afterward for newbies to introduce themselves and share how it was for them. There must have been at least 50 people in the room and the energy was electric. And so positive!
Despite the fact that there were so many of us, we didn’t lack for individual attention. There were several teaching assistants constantly roaming the room helping to support, adjust and push you past where your mind had decided it couldn’t go.
Yoga for all
Africa Yoga Project is bringing the amazing benefits of yoga to a diverse mix of people in Kenya. From their website:
“Yoga has empowered millions of people across the world by supporting physical, mental and emotional health, facilitating authentic personal expression, building supportive communities, and inspiring positive actionto contribute to others. We are dedicated to delivering all that yoga has to offer to the diverse communities of East Africa, while at the same time providing opportunities for members of the global yoga community to participate and contribute.”
These guys believe in accessibilty. Their outreach has included classes for the deaf, for women in prison and for other marginalised groups. You can take classes at a very reasonable price, 7 days a week, or visit the free community session on Saturdays. As the counter on their website announces, the project has trained 52 yoga teachers who are earning a living wage; it runs 250 free classes each week in the slums of Nairobi and; reaches 5,000 people every week!
Over to you
You must check out the Africa Yoga Project website – it’s inspiring stuff (don’t forget to ‘meet’ the teachers). If you’re fortunate enough to live in or visit Nairobi, I compel you to try out a class. Make me jealous – tell me how you found it.
Images via the Africa Yoga Project Facebook page, photography by Robin O’Neill Photography.
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