Papua New Guineans have been transformed by Yoga, says yoga instructor Fazilah Bazari.
Reflecting, Fazila says yoga in PNG had a humble beginning but now has great impact and success to communities and many in PNG.
Four years ago, Fazila brought yoga into the country to be introduced by the City Pharmacy Limited Group as one of their corporate social responsibility program.
“Over a period of time, we have trained a lot of Papua New Guineans who are now teaching Yoga in the communities.
“We are reaching out to under-privilege settlement communities to over 50,000 people in the various settlements of PNG and 15 classes per week,” Fazila said.
She is impressed that the practice has caught on to other centres including Manus, Goroka, Mt Hagen, Kokopo and Wewak.
The practice has been given a push through the Walk for Life and Yoga for Life initiative of the National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop.
But Fazila says the main issue at hand now is the lack of yoga teachers, especially in outside centers.
“Yoga is popular, many people know about yoga but obviously in PNG because of lack of teachers, we can’t reach out.”
The success of yoga in the country will be celebrated on Sunday June 19 to mark the 2nd international yoga day.
“It’s that one moment at that one time where we will not be identified with our tribes or with our status, who we are or what we are, we are just this embodiment of this light made of our physical body, mental body, emotional body, coming together, being connected by the breath.”
Picture from Fazilah Bazari’s Facebook account