Reaching out at Reachout Camp

Creating special memories on Hansa Maa's birthday

- Hashim Mirza

When I signed up for the Advanced Teacher's Training Course at The Yoga Institute, I learnt that I would not just be spending time in the classroom and on the mat but would also put some learnings into practice as well.

One of those ways was through Reachout camps, an outreach program combined with social service that has been going strong for nineteen years. The aim is to propagate yoga to sections of society that would not have access to it otherwise. It seemed a daunting task, especially when the first one I was selected for was a full-day camp for students with special needs, something I had not anticipated or ever experienced. Most of us would be assigned two students to take care of.

With a total of eighty children expected to attend, it was already house full.

The day dawned, but instead of being nervous, I felt a surge of excitement, looking forward to enjoying whatever came my way; a result of the yoga training kicking in. After breakfast, we were assigned our students, Yatharth and Komal, both into their late teens, but quite a contrast: the first full of energy, and the second shy and reserved.

To put them at ease, I broke out into my widest grin, telling them a little about myself in my broken Marathi, and asking a few questions too. Soon we assembled in the main hall, fashioning a simple yet pretty flower bracelet for our wards using just some cello tape and flowers.