Mobile yoga brings unity and wellness to communities

THE Sivananda World Peace Foundation launched the first-ever mobile yoga vehicle, called Sivananda Yoga Vahanam, on 16 October on Sun Coast Casino’s Sun Deck. According to the foundation’s executive vice-president lshwar Ramlutchman Mabheka Zulu, the launch of this project will see many communities benefitting through various yoga and wellness programmes conducted by yoga experts.

“We will be travelling through various communities, in rural areas, towns and cities, to promote yoga. I am delighted to demonstrate yoga on a large scale to benefit various communities. Yoga is a source of inspiration that binds us all as a nation and teaches us to remain calm through turbulent times,” said Ramlutchman Mabheka Zulu. Under the the theme ‘Yoga for Health, Wellness and Humanity‘, the Sivananda Yoga Vahanam has online and physical programmes at rural schools, as well as various religious institutions. Over the past six months, the foundation has been to schools across KZN to highlight the benefits of yoga to students. “Children are faced with many challenges, and by us bringing yoga to schools, their concentration will be enhanced, making them excel in their studies.”

Yoga has gained popularity over the years but it is, in fact, a 5 000-year-old physical, mental and spiritual practice speculated to date back to pre-Vedic lndian traditions. It developed around the sixth and fifth centuries BC with yoga gurus (teachers) from lndia introducing it to the West in the late 19th and early 20th century. “The objective of the mobile yoga vehicle is to create awareness about yoga and how it benefits everyone, and to better understand the significance of traditional and authentic yoga techniques.” According to the Honourable Prime Minister of lndia, Narendra Modi during his UN General Assembly address that saw the 21 June approved as International Day of Yoga: “Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being.”

This is what makes yoga not just about working out; it’s about a healthy lifestyle. The practice of yoga allows students to be still in a world consumed with chaos. Almost 200 million people around the world practice yoga and Zulu would like to encourage communities to follow this yogic lifestyle. “We wish all members of the community to join hands in using yoga as a medium to promote unity in diversity in KZN and South Africa.”

Yoga experts who wish to volunteer in this initiative across the province are welcome to contact the Sivananda World Peace Foundation on sivanandaworldpeace@gmail.com or 083 3578747.