Yoga is universally adaptable.
Just ask artist Robert Sturman who traveled to Kenya to document the work of the Africa Yoga Project. Africa Yoga Project is a nonprofit organization that conducts 300 free yoga classes for more than 5,000 locals in prisons and orphanages across the country.
Yogi speak may be a bit intimidating at first, but speaking the yoga language via movement has its benefits no matter where in the world you live. The “no pain, no gain” is not a yoga mantra. The act of yoga impacts us in 3 ways: physically, mentally and spiritually. It teaches you to be patient, feel good about yourself and grow a stronger body. As Sturman noted, yoga is a “poetic expression of the body” that everyone can not only feel, but understand in their own individual way.
Since yoga is so universal, there aren’t many differences on how a Kenya yoga class is run in comparison to that in the US. However, Sturman said that during a class the children would spontaneously break out into song and dance before getting right back into their yoga poses. We think this is a practice we would be thrilled to see in some of our classes here in New York City!
We were in awe of the beautiful photos of yoga in Africa taken by the talented Mr. Sturman. Here are some of our favorite shots.
Read more about Sturman’s Africa experience and view his additional photos here.
What do you think about Sturman’s art? Do you agree that yoga is a universal language?
Images via Robert Sturman from The New York Times
