With experts asserting that good nutrition along with yoga or meditation can prolong life, a yoga teacher is trying to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV in the city.
To begin with, she has started weekly yoga classes for mentally challenged and HIV positive residents of two non-governmental organisations — Liza's Home for the Mentally Challenged and Little Infant Jesus Home.
Sowmya Ayyar, who has returned from the U.S., plans to impart lessons based on the special needs of the students, focusing on the restorative powers of yoga. Over 50 women and 50 children are expected to benefit from her training.
Started by Molly Abraham, Liza's Home for Mentally Challenged in Dodda Gubbi has provided shelter to 20 women. Little Infant Jesus Home is run by Catholic sisters, headed by Sister Pratibha, on Hennur Main Road in Kothanoor. It is a centre for women and children living with HIV, with space for 30 women and 100 children.
“I'm excited to begin this work. Yoga has been a gift in my life, and I have seen its transformative capacity among others. All over the world, people are beginning to turn to yoga for physical, mental, and emotional health issues. It is also being used strategically by NGOs for trauma relief,” said Ms. Ayyar.
“It is also being used in Rwanda where Project Air teaches yoga to survivors of genocide, most of whom are infected with HIV. So why not try it here too?” she said.
She can be contacted at sowmyaayyar@gmail.com
