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During the
Kripalu Yoga Teacher Training, we meditated on what it would feel like to be a yoga teacher. In addition, we visualized
what our lives would look like after the training. Even before we began the exercise I had all sorts of ideas about what I
wanted to do once I was a yoga teacher. While meditating, a whole different vision appeared in my inner eye, however. I saw
myself teaching yoga to underprivileged children. I had never consciously thought about
that before. At first it didn't make sense to me. "How would I do that"?, I asked myself. Fortunately, the Universe
has it's own way to accomplish things. Through a sequence of "coincidences" (I put that word between quotes for
I believe there is no such thing as a coincidence), I got connected to Debby Kaminsky, who is the founder of Newark Yoga Movement.
And Debby connected me with Geri Topfer, the founder of Kula for Karma." So what"?, you might ask. Let me explain:
Newark Yoga Movement is a non-profit organization, bringing yoga classes to children in all the schools in Newark
(New Jersey). In September of this year, I assisted Debby teaching yoga to more than a hundred children at St. Philips Academy.
Also, we introduced yoga to all the physical education teachers of the public schools in Newark. I am amazed and deeply touched
by these little people, who still have their natural playfulness and do all kinds of postures without thinking it might be
too hard.
Currently, I am teaching at Malcom X Shabazz High School
and Technology High School. I am very grateful that I have the opportunity to bring yoga into the lives of all the students
at these schools and thus making a change at these challenging schools.
For
the teaching at the schools in Newark through Newark Yoga Movement, I have twice received a grant from the Rachel Greene Memorial
Fund that is connected to the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. This is a big honour and feels as a reward for the work
I am doing.
Kula for Karma offers yoga, at no charge, to those who have been challenged by difficult
life circumstances, such as illness, abuse and addiction. Through this organization, which works only with volonteers,
I have taught yoga to different groups of women recovering from addiction and to teenage boys at the Children's Village in
Dobbs Ferry (New York). My last project was teaching yoga to the women at Mrs. Wilson's in Morristown (New Jersey), a halfway
home for alcoholic and drug dependent women seeking recovery, in order to facilitate their responsible and successful re-entry
into society. When, after a yoga class, I was told "I feel so much better now", I knew I was doing the right thing
and that yoga really helps to change people’s lives.
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