Fruitful Orphanage is an orphanage in Arusha (Tanzania) established in 2014 by Isaac John Sumary. He currently supports about 70 children who lost one or both parents. All children in need are supported by the orphanage, regardless of their tribe, religion and gender. His vision is to create a peaceful society where everyone has access to food, water and education. Each year they receive volunteers from all over the world who help the center continue to grow. Yoga Without Borders decided to teach yoga during his stay in Arusha.
BENEFITS YOGA FOR CHILDREN
Experts indicate that after 4 years children are already prepared to practice yoga. At this age they have already achieved greater control over their body, which allows them to assume certain postures and understand the connection between movement and breathing.
– Increases flexibility, coordination and balance: Children tend to be very flexible, but it is important that they practice exercises that allow them to maintain that flexibility when they grow up, as well as encourage coordination and balance, rhythm and muscular strength.
– Promotes harmony: In an orphanage it is important that children feel cherished and part of something. Promoting values of harmony and collaboration is essential.
– Improve concentration and energy management : Yoga helps canalizing the energy and raise awareness of your body. In Arusha there is a lot of poverty and there are not too many sport facilities. Fortunately, to practice yoga you need nothing more than your mat (sometimes not even that) and your breathing.
– Create healthy habits: In Fruitful Orphanage you cannot always eat fruits and vegetables. In Arusha it is also difficult to play sports and it become a big challenge for African children to be have healthy habits. Through yoga we can sow a seed and educate them to try to eat in the healthiest way possible while caring for their body.
– Improves self-esteem: Yoga is an excellent practice to overcome shyness, embarrassing or nonadaptive children. Exercises and breaths build self confidence and raise your self-esteem.
– Stimulates self-control and encourages self-knowledge: Yoga exercises are very effective in stimulating self-control and getting children to develop their own strategies to manage their emotions. In fact, yoga will help them deal with frustration and anger.
** Meritxell Martorell taught Fruitful Orphanage children yoga classes for 15 days in 2017. Now Yoga Without Borders has created a volunteer program (minimum one month) where interested yoga teachers can go to collaborate and teach daily to Orphanage children. If you are interested in collaborating write at:
info@yogasinfronteras.org