Watch: Yoga instructor takes yoga to the township
The energetic instructor said her long term goal is to have a yoga studio.
Professional yoga instructor Andima Kula from Windmill Park has introduced yoga to over 50 young people as well as adults in the township to keep them mentally and physically proactive.
She has also extended her free services to police officers at Dawn Park SAPS where they practice yoga on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Kula, who is also a professional choreographer, has worked with the likes of local musicians such as Kelly Khumalo, Khabonina, Somizi and has done theatre work.
“As a performing artist, I used to travel the world up until 2013 when I fell pregnant. Due to not being able to do what I used to do with my body, I then got depressed.
“Due to postpartum depression I gained a lot of weight. In 2017 I met a friend who introduced me to the Africa Yoga Project Academy, which educates, empowers, elevates and expands employability with youth in Africa using the transformational practice of yoga.”
She then applied for a scholarship and was fortunate enough to be selected.
“I went to Kenya to study and I had to teach outreach classes in Kenya before I could be certified as a yoga instructor.”
When she came back home she was told that she had to do some community engagements and that’s when she decided that she will help train nurses and members of the police in yoga.
“The reason why I thought of them was that they go through a lot to serve the country. Yoga was the best sport I could offer them because it is a broader way of exercising and being centered within yourself.”
The 29-year-old highlighted that the type of yoga that she teaches is Baptiste yoga which is based on meditation, physical exercises and enquiry.
“Enquiry is when participants note down everything that’s going on in their lives which helps them take control. The physical exercises are best because they hold health benefits.
“With yoga I have noticed that it can even help cure painful injuries through yoga exercises. I had problems with my lower back and with my two-year experience with yoga I’ve seen a difference,” Kula said.
Kula said over the past two years of living in Windmill Park she has noticed that there is a high rate of alcohol abuse, physical and emotional abuse, teenage pregnancy and school dropouts.
“Bringing yoga to the township creates a platform for the youth and old people to be in one space and empower each other. In my classes, no one says I can’t because I always encourage them to have willpower,” she said.
Kula shared that her classes are free because most people in the area are unemployed.
“I want to have a community centre to incorporate dance and yoga in one space,” she said.
For extra cash she also gets called for private classes. Her yoga classes are open to anyone from the age of 14.
She conducts her classes from Monday to Thursday from 5pm to 6pm at Windmill Park Secondary School. Anyone who would like to join the classes or donate yoga mats may contact her on 078 338 3405.
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