Yoga for Peace: A Joint Effort for Peace in Mindanao
THE POWER OF INTENT. Manila and Cagayan de Oro meditates together for peace in Mindanao.
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In celebration of the first-ever International Yoga Day, The Art of Living Foundation (AOLF) organized Yoga for Peace in Mindanao last June 21, held at the Art of Living Foundation Center, Makati City from 3:00-5:00 pm. It is a free two-hour session featuring yoga postures, breathing techniques and meditation.
It is a simultaneous effort of Manila and Cagayan de Oro to send “ripples of peace” in Mindanao, a place of conflict for years. Regarded as the second largest island in the Philippines, and home to many ethnic minorities, peace talks and treaties seem to take the toll on both sides of the opposition. AOLF’s Yoga for Peace intends to introduce the idea of peace that, instead of coming from external sources, comes from within.
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AT ONE. Regardless of nationalities, religions and races, participants shared mats.
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UNIVERSAL. Yoga transcends cultures.
Coinciding with Father’s Day, the Philippine Marines in starched green shirts and sports shoes joined the event. They stretched their limbs, rolled in the mat and swayed their bodies from side to side together with people from other nationalities, other religions who are one with AOFL and theiryoga advocacy. AOFL Head of Special Projects Charmaine Cu-unjieng, Chapter Coordinator Nameeta Dargani, and Breath and Sound Therapy Instructor Ruth Owen believe in the universality of yoga, transcending boundaries such as race and religion.
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FATHER’S DAY TREAT. The Marines has a special participation in the event.
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AOFL is a non-profit organization that aims to contribute to society by promoting and strengthening the individual. Aside from yoga, they specialize in breathing techniques used in disaster psychiatry. They conducted workshops for trauma victims housed at evacuation centers in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan after Typhoon Sendong and to volunteers in relief centers in Manila for Typhoon Ondoy.
Despite being miles apart, Manila and Cagayan de Oro was able to nurture ‘waves’ to send to Mindanao. With everyone’s help, differences were set aside over soft, colorful yoga mats and Indian food shared in paper plates.
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Even a young girl is taught how to meditate.
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INHALE, EXHALE. Demonstration of breathing techniques.
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COOL DOWN. Yoga encourages everyone to be in their most comfortable position.
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HUDDLE UP. The hodge podge of participants in Yoga for Peace.
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ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL. A rewarding smile from everyone who made it all happen
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BEACON OF HOPE. Ripples-turned-waves effort for conflict-ridden Mindanao
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For inquiries and further information about Art of Living’s upcoming workshops and activities, visit their website at www.artofliving.org or contact 09178400049 / 09178484898 or (02) 622-2566.
Article and photos by Arvee Gomez
