Karma yoga refers to a selfless and caring act done for another.
Sandton-based children’s yoga instructors, Sarah Hedding and Tamlyn Cohen, use this term to describe the yoga lessons they give to underprivileged pupils at Build the Future Preschool in Kaya Sands.
Cohen explained, “Our yoga foundation is called Ombuntu. This word has been especially derived and has a lot of meaning. ‘Om’ refers to the universe and our creator and the term ‘ubuntu’ relates to having humanity towards others. These two words were used to derive Ombuntu which is a yoga township project focused on the universal consciousness towards others.”
She further highlighted that the aim of these yoga lessons was not to make a profit, but to enlighten and teach young pupils the art of yoga.
On 19 July, Hedding and Cohen gave classes to groups of preschool pupils at Build the Future. Cohen added that this specific preschool was built with the aim of keeping the young pupils off dangerous streets. “There are many youngsters in this area who are in danger when they are left to wonder around on their own. Especially because there are often fires. This school is a safe place for them.”
Hedding and Cohen used various techniques to assist the pupils with stretching, strength and education.
The yoga class provides the pupils with lessons on the appearance, sounds and movements of various animals. Cohen brought a bag of different animal figurines to the lesson and required the preschoolers to mimic that animal with the use of their bodies. “We help them pronounce the names of the various animals as well,” highlighted Cohen.
The children enjoyed these fun tasks and all of them co-operated in the lesson with ease.
Yoga lessons also provide the pupils with a lesson on the natural world around them. Cohen said, “We make the pupils reach up for the sun and then stretch down to touch the earth.”
The lesson ended off with the instructors massaging the pressure points on the pupil’s faces and many of them fell asleep. The pupils were also given healthy juices donated by Bliss Juicery in Sandton as the Ombuntu project focuses on overall health and well-being.
Hedding and Cohen received warm hugs after the yoga class and the pupils clearly appreciated their lesson.
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