Charity : Surya Yoga Community Gives Back

“There is no exercise better for the heart 

than reaching down and lifting people up.” 

Every year, the Surya Yoga community gets together to help others in need. This year, our students donated funds to the Lotus Charity Care Centre Society Selangor & W.P. and Charis Youth Home Drug Rehabilitation Center.

A few of us loaded our cars with gift packages, boxes of daily household items and kind donations from our Surya Yoga students and made a trip to Semenyih, where the Lotus Charity Centre is located.

Regine, Billie, Josephine and Xiang spent their Sunday afternoon helping out.

We prepared bags of gifts for the children and old folks of the Lotus Charity Care Centre. Each bag were unique with personal messages and wishes from our caring students. Below are just a few examples. With donations from our students, over 20 gift bags were made.

We collected donations as well to provide the care centre with some everyday household goods to help the caregivers run the center with a little more ease. Food, shelter and even clothing is all provided by the care centre. Most times there isn't enough to go around. Not enough room in fact to go around as well. Everyone seemed uncomfortably squeezed in. 

Food donations and clothing is always appreciated by the kind people of the Lotus Charity Care Centre.

The home has 18 children and 17 senior citizens -very much overcrowded and uncomfortable for everyone at the home. The Lotus Charity Care Centre is a multi ethnic home providing assistance for those in need and do not have anyone to depend on. Many of the children have been abused and neglected by their parents. Some even rejected by society. Lotus Charity Care Centre is a safe haven for these children and abandoned seniors.

It was a surprise to see even toddlers being in the home. All the children, even the toddlers were very well behaved. There were no shouting, crying or screaming. No one was running around. The kind people running the care centre take care of everyone very well. Even the children that are old enough to attend school, when they have the funds, get to go for tuition classes.

Where does funding come from? Unfortunately, they do not get government funding. All funding are from occasional private donations. The care centre expresses their gratitude to our students for their time, effort and donations.

Overcrowding, as mentioned earlier is still a very difficult issue. More and more children and senior citizens need help and assistance, but the care center cannot provide enough room for them. 

When we arrived, a few were gathered outside to have lunch. The lady in blue (the caregiver in charge of the centre) handed out packets of food to everyone. All of us could see that everyone were taken care of with a lot of love. 

The senior citizens of the home ate lunch with the younger ones. It was eye and heart opening in a sense - the young and the old staying together in a home - caring for each other and creating their own family.

The care centre proudly displays artwork by the children. It's nice that despite circumstances, the children still manage to simply - be children. The kind people running the centre really put a lot of love, time, effort and care into giving everyone the best care and quality of life possible.

Josephine (Jo for short), filling up some donation forms.

The office had a few bookshelves filled with children activity books.

A few students made their own private donations to the center. The caregiver was all smiles accepting the generous donations given on behalf of the society. This is Jo, handing one of our student's private donation to the center. The care centre is always in need of funding and support from the public. They have plans to purchase a double storey bungalow house to accommodate the increasing number of children and senior citizens in need. (more details below)

Billie, having a look at certificates hung in the mini office.

Even little Eugene came along to lend support!

After getting to know some of the children, and letting everyone finish lunch. We passed around the gift bags. They care center rarely got holiday gift bags, so it was a pleasant surprise for them.

We managed to make everyone happy. It was really heart warming. Many of them were all smiles and excited to receive the gifts and attention. It is sad how many of the young and old get left behind and forgotten by society.

Jo, Regine and Billie handing out the gift packages.

The seniors in the care center were also given gift packages. The uncle in the white t-shirt (one of the 17 that squeezed in the little room provided) showed us around and helped us hand out the gifts.

Little Daniel excitedly opening his gift bag!

All the children were well mannered and helped us pass the gift packages to their other friends. They do not have much, but they share everything they have. It seems like those with the least are the most to give.

Daniel was pleasantly surprised to get some toys in his gift bag!

He couldn't wait to start playing with his new toys!

Another center the Surya Yoga community made donations to is the Charis Youth Home. The home has 40 members (from 13 to 50 years of age). This home in particular is a drug rehabilitation center and home for rebellious youth.

Families generally pay the center for the shelter and rehabilitation service they provide but many stop paying after one or two months and abandon their children. Charis Youth Home is always in need of donations from the public. They are also in need of everyday items to keep their centre running. They mentioned that their daily intake of rice alone is a little more than 1okg. Much support is needed. You can contact Chiew May 011 28094933 for more information on how you can show your support.

Both centers we visited do not get enough outside help. 

They struggle to stay afloat.

We urge you to lend a helping hand.

We hope that with our combined donations and effort, we could bring about more smiles, healthier living conditions and better quality of life for these forgotten members of society.

It's time we give back.

It's time to spread a little sunshine.

Real change won't happen without you.

Namaste,

Elirus

Lotus Charity Care Centre Society Selangor & WP

http://www.lotuscharity.com.my

No, 41 Jalan 3A Taman Hiew Piaw,

43500 Semenyih, Selangor

Bank in cheque or cash donations to

Hong Leong Bank

Lotus Charity Care Centre

039-00-30334-7

Current project requiring your donation and support

Please click on image

Carnival Event : 8 Hour Yogathon - read all about it!

Hey yogis, 

participating in 

our 8 Hour Yogathon? 

Don't forget to join our 8 Hour Yogathon (a special carnival event!). It's a free and easy, relaxed, zen-ed out yogathon. If you feel tired you can head out for a drink or rest. 

If you feel like you can't handle the full stretch, don't fret! It's okay to join one or two sessions as well. No hard fixed rules. Those that complete 8 hours of the yogathon will receive a little something from us at Surya Yoga.

Join us!

FREE for existing members

a small fee of RM50 for non members

Participants of ALL levels are welcomed to join

Poses will be modified according to the different levels

Below is a detailed itinerary of the 8 hour Yogathon.
Read about each yoga session and what it's all about.

Do have a look *smiles*

Lily 

9am - 11am 

Breathing and Meditation

Starting our yoga practice with the right frame of mind.

Meditation is all about re-centering our awareness. Our breath is interconnected with the body, our emotions and mind. When the body is calm, our breath is calm. When our emotions are calm, our breath is calm and so it is for the mind as well. Sitting with eyes closed letting the mind absorb in observing and experiencing the movement of breath we will enter a state of consciousness and peace. Lily will lead us in this beautiful peaceful practice preparing ourselves to undergo the 8 hour yogathon.

Selina

10am -11am 
Standing

Good for strength, balance and focus. 

These energetic poses provide a straight line to shaping our best body.

Standing balances require leg strength, upper body flexibility and at times the ability to balance on one leg. Selina's sequence will challenge you to move from one pose to another with grace and balance. You will build strength as you use your standing leg to keep you grounded. You will notice your core muscles building up as well. Perfect for all yoga levels and fitness levels. Poses will be modified accordingly. Selina believes in doing yoga with a graceful flow, having an extensive dance background, her yoga techniques are strong and precise.

Junko 

11am - 12noon  

Hips Opening

Junko will create a breath and movement sequence combining both dynamic asanas with more passive held stretches focusing on the hips and hamstrings. This will allow for greater freedom of movement of the lumbar region of the spine. Participants will feel energized after a class with Junko with her natural sense of humour.

Jenny 

12noon - 1pm 

Arm Balance

These yoga poses are good for strength, 

body awareness and focus, providing some fun challenges for every body.

Jenny will provide detailed instructions on arm balance poses such as handstands, fore arm balance, crow pose and many more. Jenny will teach us how to approach these poses safely, with proper alignment and strong intention. She is a natural yogi, and is very concise with her instructions. She often gives thorough demonstrations beforehand allowing students to have a closer and detailed look at her yoga technique.

_________________________

1pm - 2pm 

Lunch, Jenny's Yoga Performance 

and light refreshments

_________________________

Ken 

2pm - 3pm 

Back Bends

Opening up in the spine and chest feels great 

and strengthens our connection to intuition.

Ken will focus on safe and effective ways to prepare the body for back bending. Back bending helps provide internal warmth and openness without any strain. Ken has a gentle assuring aura about him. You will feel comfortable in his class helping you further enhance your back bending skills.

James 

3pm - 4pm 

Inversions

Good for balance and concentration, as well as circulation.

Turn your world upside down for awhile to improve your spinal strength and upper body. Inversions takes out all the pent up stress you might have been keeping and it builds emotional courage. James will teach us how to safely practice inversions with proper alignment with modifications for each level of yoga. Armed with knowledge in pilates therapy, James's classes are very informative and interesting. He will help you get in touch with body awareness.

Regine 

4pm - 5pm 

Sitting Restorative

These yoga poses are great for winding down and connecting to our breath.

After hours of pushing yourself, after all the endorphin rush - what better way to end the yogathon with a nice sitting restorative session with Regine? It's time to slow down, breathe and sink into the mat. Restorative yoga is a very gentle form of yoga that uses props (such as pillows, blankets, bolsters) to help you to hold poses for a much longer time. Regine will teach us poses enabling us to move in all directions. All that needs to be done, is to arrange props to give the proper alignment - then it's simply rest, relax, breathe and just 'let go'. Not a bad way to end a yogathon huh? Regine is very detailed in her instructions making it easy for students to follow and understand. She's one pocket rocket!

Will You Be My Yoga Partner? : Regine and Xiang's Story

Xiang and Regine

It all started with an innocent partner yoga session. A few simple warm up poses slowly escalated to deeper more intimate poses. A headstand and a lift into titibasana (firefly pose) sealed the deal! Sparks flew, the skies parted, and there was just something in the air that very moment. It was chemistry.

When describing partner yoga, Regine says rather cheekily, "It's a kind of happiness!". Partners that practice yoga together she says, will know each other better. They will have a stronger relationship and have a deeper understanding for each other. Life between the sheets became more interesting as well!

For Xiang and Regine, their physical bond through partner yoga slowly became a strong emotional bond. There was a greater appreciation for each other. Their two sons, Tiesto and Eugene are constantly around loving yogi parents. They both often tag along to yoga classes and watch their parents in action.

Yoga not only brought two individuals together, but it made a strong, caring, vibrant family that cares at a deeper level for one another.

Regine is one of Surya Yoga's vibrant yoga instructors

Xiang was actually Regine's yoga instructor at first. In fact, it was only for a class or two. They never had much thought of each other back then, they were just acquaintances. 

As life unfolded, Regine became a qualified yoga instructor herself. They met again at a YSynergy yoga session in Ara Damansara, and the rest as they say is Yuanfen (缘分).

Xiang and Regine are conducting Surya Yoga's couples workshop this year. Get to know them, learn a trick or two and watch them in partner yoga action!