Excitement and enthusiasm filled the Kenyan air on Friday, August 27, 2010, as the official promulgation of the new Kenyan constitution took place (as mentioned in a previous post, we arrived in Kenya on voting day for this constitution). Friday was declared a public holiday as the president, prime minister, and 5 other top officials took fresh oaths of office and swore allegiance to the new constitution, which was 20 years in the making. We watched the events of this historic day televised on the TV with Sach’s family. It was an honor to be in Kenya on this day, as in talking with various natives you could feel their positive energy and excitement around what this day means for their country and their rights.
Saturday morning I attended my first Africa Yoga Project teacher’s practice at Sarakasi Dome. Africa Yoga Project was founded in 2007 by yogi Paige Elenson(www.africayogaproject.org). She arranged for famous yogi, Baron Baptiste, to lead a teacher training for about 40 men and women from the slums. Amazing, right? Baron was just here in July too for a follow up leadership training. I would have loved to be here for that, as the yoga teacher training I went through was influenced by Baron Baptiste. Now the trained teachers guide free yoga classes in various settings around Nairobi – social halls in the slums, prisons, schools, and community centers. The purpose is to “use the transformative power of yoga to empower communities and change lives. By inspiring the global yoga community into active service, AYP delivers effective and innovative programs that foster peace, improve physical, emotion and mental well-being, facilitate self-sufficiency and create opportunities to learn and contribute across the communities of East Africa.”
Saturday mornings used to be a teacher’s practice, but from what I understand people started to bring friends, so now it is open to the public – at times over a 100 people show up to practice!! Now I understand why! The room was filled with vibrant energy as over 50 people practiced the powerful benefits of yoga. We were guided by many of the AYP teachers in a 2 ½ hour round- robin type class and the physical adjustments provided were so strong and amazing. Needless to say I left there feeling very fulfilled. I now know where I will be spending my Saturday mornings and looking forward to volunteering my time with AYP in some capacity. I also plan on joining Moses, the country director, at one of his community classes this Tuesday – I will be sure to tell you all about it.
I am beginning to realize what a small world it is – or at least Nairobi. Before I left Denver, my friend Nate found an article about a young, native Coloradan, Jessica Posner, who co-founded a non-profit, Shining Hope for Communities (http://www.hopetoshine.org), which is based in Kibera (the largest slum in Nairobi, 2nd largest slum in Africa). Jessica’s organization opened the first known free school for girls in Kibera, The Shining Hope Community Center, and soon-to-be open health clinic. Jessica was recently recognized as the nation’s “Top World Changer 25 and Under” by Do Something and VH1 – WOW! I was in contact with Jessica over email before we left for Kenya and have been meaning to be in touch with her since we arrived.
So, where I am going with this whole story? Here I go - I got dropped off at Sarakasi Dome by our trusty cab driver, Mosoti. Class was supposed to start at 930, so Mosoti picked me up at 830, just in case of traffic. Well, I got there in less than 20 minutes, no traffic, so I was early. The side door to the big center just opened up when I arrived so I went in there and sat in the lobby area and started reading a book I brought along. A few minutes later 3 white girls walked in with yoga mats, so they were obviously there for the same reason. They saw me and we started talking. I told them my name, they asked where I was from, I said CO/NJ. One of the girls said, oh I am from Denver. I said is your name Jessica, and sure enough it's Jessica Posner, who I have been meaning to get in contact with. Crazy, right? It was her first time going to this class too, as she recently heard about AYP. Incidences like these prove to me I am on the right path.
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