Down Ward Dog… Happy Baby Pose… Warrior…
Yoga has become one of the hottest fitness crazes of the last ten years, stretching and strengthening the muscles, all while developing positive energy to use throughout daily life. Building on the concept of creating positive energy through each practice, yoga studios have started to translate this energy, giving back to the community with the introduction of karma classes.
There are a number of yoga studios throughout the city now offering karma classes, including Moksha Yoga Uptown, who introduced the karma class almost six years ago and newcomer Kula Annex, which opened in December of 2008, who incorporated the class right from the beginning.
The concept is simple: one day a week, usually a Friday evening, yoga studios hold a karma class where students are invited to partake in a yoga class for a $5 minimum donation with all proceeds going towards a specific charity in the community.
The benefit is two-fold, as Christi-an Slomka, Yoga Director at Kula Annex explains, “In our eyes this is such a positive experience, both for the students who may not otherwise access yoga classes due to financial constraints, but also because it raises awareness for a range of social issues, helping fundraise for extremely worthwhile causes and charitable organizations who really need it.”
If you’re wondering about the demographic and skill level of those that attend the karma class, it truly is for everyone. “It is a very mixed crowd of people representing all walks of life,” says Natalia Brajak, Yoga Director at Moksha Yoga Uptown. “All ages and skill, men and women, students and professionals.”
The greatest component about the karma class is that 100% of the proceeds are donated to a local charity.
Not only are yoga studios immersing themselves within the local community, but they are also working to create change. “We strive to support local initiatives, such as women’s shelters,” says Brajak of Moksha Yoga Uptown. “Occasionally a portion of the funds may go to something very current like the situation in Haiti.”
With the karma class allowing more people to become involved in their community, it has become a truly rewarding project for the yoga community as a whole.
“Karma classes are at the heart of our studio because they serve on so many levels,” says Slomka of Kula Annex. “We really like to support our students and their efforts, to make a difference off the mat. We see the karma class concept as an opportunity that we must seize upon for our entire community to reach out compassionately to one another.”
We couldn’t have said it any better.
This February, incorporate ways to give back to your community through exercise by trying a karma class. Not only will you receive a great workout, but you can also feel good about the difference you are making locally.
ExerciseToronto.Com Staff
