This Spring equinox, the 20th March 2022, myself and some fantastic yogis joined together in Tandle Hill, Royton, Oldham, Greater Manchester in order to do what we could to raise funds to help towards the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
When I saw the events unfurling in Ukraine, I really felt for those innocents, suffering at the hands of others. Although we can meditate on peace, I wanted to actually DO something but I felt powerless; I couldn’t provide medical care as I’m not qualified, and I can’t provide a huge amount of financial aid on my own.
However, it is my true belief that everyone has some talent or skill that can be used to help others. It just takes some creative thought to find a way to do this.
Something I can do is yoga, and a lot of other people enjoy yoga too. I’ve always enjoyed a challenge, so it occurred to me that I could set up a fundraiser, encompassing a yoga challenge for myself and anyone who wished to join me, in order to raise financial support to help those suffering in Ukraine. So I set up a JustGiving page, advertised it at all of my classes and social media platforms and even got in the local paper.
The challenge was a ‘Yoga-thon’, which involved 108 Sun Salutations, aka a ‘yogamala’. A sun salutation is a series of poses put together in a flow and why 108? Well, it’s an auspicious number in Indian and Yogic tradition for various reasons (such 108 marma points in the body, 108 upanishads, 108 tantras, and these are just a few of the reasons), and we kept count using crystals.
Luckily the weather was perfect, the company fantastic and the support outstanding. People were free to join for as few or as many as they liked. Many who took part were amazed by their own performances and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience (though my hamstrings are feeling it now!).
All donations have been gratefully received. My JustGiving page will remain open until Saturday 28th March 2022 so please feel free to donate if you can via the link below.
Thank you again to everyone who has supported this cause.
Peace
x
Go To Yoga 