The Ubuntu Yoga Project

The Ubuntu Yoga project is in a hibernation phase, partly out of necessity and partly because that is where we are right now on our journey. 

Yes- we want to enable young women and men in South Africa to discover their power and stillness through YOGA! 

Yes - we want children to find their center, and develop motor skills and balance from YOGA! 

Yes - we want the spirit of Ubuntu to permeate everything we do, from the shared yoga classes, to hopefully one day training and upskilling local women to become Yoga Teachers, bringing together yoga and the African spirit in a unique way, and at the same time creating income generation and empowerment. 

All these beautiful things YES! 

But for now - we are taking time, figuring out how to develop an online reportoire of yoga classes to bring in ongoing donations. For now, we are re-grouping in the aftermath of a crazy Covid year, and for now, we are starting small... 

Knowing that after the hibernation, after time to think and plan and dream and connect (with others and our network, and ourselves) that the resulting butterfly is worth the wait! 

Thank you for being part of our journey. 

Sometimes the most beautiful and important thing we can do is adapt, and bend to the winds of change... the same way that grass survives not be being brittle and strong and hard, but by bending with the wind, and allowing itself to be moved. 

We underwent this same transition over the COVIV-19 pandemic and lockdown, and with things changing in terms of gathering and exercise spaces not being allowed, we realised an even greater need, that to support communitiies with access to farming training and skills, so they could be empowered to learn to grow food for themselves. 

And so the process of converting our open air yoga pavilion started, adding up-cycled windows that we got donated, and making DIY blinds from shadenet, so that we can use the space as a classroom for farming lessons. 

The demo garden, started to be the focus and is starting to flourish with cabbage and spinach looking amazing and already contributing to our food parcels. Food security now is so important as more and more families struggle with poverty and its ripples in their lives. 

So the most beautiful thing we did, was shift our yoga space to a food growing and learning space, and unlock all the support this has to offer. We hope in future to find another little nook at the Nourish eco village to keep offering our kids and Ubuntu yoga, but for now this is where the journey has led us. 

Thank you for being part of our beautiful evolving journey. 

Yoga is about not letting life throw a spanner in the works, or when it does; finding a way to just adapt, and make the most of the situation. Covid-19 in South Africa has changed life as we know it, it has changed peoples movement, and way of thinking, it has changed the children being allowed to come to Nourish daily, and changed the ability of groups to gather for Yoga. 

This is not something we can change, so we adapt... and in this time we try to support our children the best way we can, through supporting their families with food security parcels, and masks for hygiene, and a warm blanket for winter. After all the root of all yoga is to connect to the self; to elevate your spirit to a higher level and find our untapped capacity for ubuntu, for wisdom, compassion, and empathy. 

So have a look at our beautiful children keeping safe and warm at home, and know that the Ubuntu Yoga space will be there for them when this all goes back to normal.

And in the meantime, one of our beautiful Ubuntu Yoga mentors Jacquie Gautier shared online yoga with the world to raise funds to put towards food hampers. You can join her lovely light African flavoured yoga class for free ( or for a donation if you wish ) on our Youtube channel. 

In the meantime, stay safe, and take care. 

Namaste~ and Ubuntu

Links:

• Free Ubuntu Yoga Class

 What can we say that Iyangar hasn't summed up: 

Persistent practice alone is the key to Yoga. As you take pains to learn, continue with devotion what you have learnt. 

~ B.K.S Iyengar

Our Ubuntu African Yogis have been practicing, practicing and practicing, deepening their understanding of yoga, and its asanas, as well as the breathwork, and connectivity that you develop to yourself and the world as you spend more time on the mat. 

Thank you to Ena, Patricia and Jacquie ( three amazing experienced Yogis) for sharing their passion and time to guide our trainees! and to all our sponsors, please keep spreading the word - our Ubuntu yoga deck is in need of an eco friendly sustainable and long lasting floor, so any and all donations are welcome! 

Namaste - Ubuntu 

~engar

Our African yoga trainees are still passionately trying to get trained--- when they can they attend a private class with Jacquie, or myself - or even had the fortune of a lesson at the Ubuntu Yoga deck by the Senior Yoga instructor who trained both Jacquie and I, Ena During from DevaHiti. So slowly their understanding of the postures and yogic concepts is deepening and their body awareness already is quite amazing. 

Our BIGGEST goal is 2 -fold. To get a floor on our Ubuntu Yoga Pavilion... and find the funding to send our trainees to the African Yoga Project in Kenya to get qualified---  so if you can help with either of this-- please reach out! 

In the meantime, our Yogis " Pay it Forward" by starting to teach classes ( which also gives good practical experience ) to the children from the Nourish aftercare center. The best way to learn yoga is to teach and it was amazing to see the children being so quiet and focused during their afternoon Yoga session. There is really something special in these Yogis and in what Yoga can bring to these children and this community! 

We hope you stay involved and keep walking this road with us! 

Ubuntu - Namaste