The Ubuntu Yoga Project

Despite a slow start to our fundraising campaign, we managed to host a Yoga and Music festival called the Spirit of UBUNTU, and this was really the start of us being able to get yoga grounded at Nourish, and get the funds to buy the first few mats. The festival was held at Nourish Eco Village, over World Peace day, World Rhino Day and Heritage day, and was a special weekend of yoga, meditation, music and cultural dancing, and a beatiful platform for social integration. Many young women from the village accessed yoga for the first time and enjoyed their first Vinyasa Flow yoga class by local teacher Cathrine Harper-Tee from Hoedspruits MarulaMala Yoga Studio. Proceeds from this festival allowed us to buy the first few foam mats we needed to get started, and to start offering the children who come to the Nourish library-- yoga as an afterschool activity. 

Last weeks yoga class took place on Friday, during their Sport period for aftercare. Many of these children are from vulnerable families, and come to the Nourish center as a place for a warm healthy meal, security and love and support. After lunch at our feeding scheme and an hour reading the mats were unfurnled, and Jacquie Gauthier - who is helping launch the Ubuntu Yoga Project spend the next hour working the children through a fun, and interactive yoga practice, from grounding poses, to calm breathing, and fun tall stretches... with movement and interpretation, yoga was unlocked for our learners, and what a special experience. 

we look forward to hosting weekly yoga classes, and having more space and equipment for these children to engage in the calming and strengthening practice of yoga. But for now, Namaste, and thank you!