Sharing Laughter, Creating Friendship

By Kathryn Culver, MSc-GH student

The quote, “In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed,” by Kahlil Gibran perfectly reflects what I love about teaching kids yoga here in Haiti. Every morning is a new adventure full of imagination, friendship, and laughter. At the end of week 3, I reflect on the best moments thus far.

1. Greetings by children saying mwen (me)?! yoga (yoga)?! jodia (today)?! each morning upon arrival at the children’s home.
2. The beautiful walk to our yoga studio. We practice yoga in a schoolroom upon a hill that overlooks Lake Azuei; a vast lake outlined by a range of picturesque mountains. 
3. When a child volunteers to teach a yoga sequence using the poses of the day. It’s wonderful to see their courage and creative expression through yoga as they teach their peers.
4. When we all bark like dogs in pòz chen (downward dog pose), when we hiss like snakes in pòz koulev (snake pose), when we meow like cats (pòz chat) and moo like cows (pòz bèf), when we hum like bees in bee breath (souf myèl).
5. Observing the children help each other balance and work together to achieve stillness in partner yoga poses.
6. Pòz granmoun! When the children come to class with a new yoga pose that they have created themselves. Recently, the children have created pòz papyòn (butterfly pose), pòz flè (flower pose), and pòz granmoun (old person pose). Old person pose is the most unique yoga pose I have ever seen! It made us all laugh last Wednesday!
7. During relaxation at the end of class, when they are quietly lying on their mats and feeling peaceful within themselves and around their peers.

The life of a child at an orphanage with 74 other children can be stressful and unpredictable at times. The gift of yoga involves so much more than yoga poses, breath, and meditation. Kids yoga provides an opportunity for self-expression, mindfulness, laughter, teamwork, community solidarity, and restorative restfulness. More laughter and joy to come during the next 5 weeks of yoga classes at CAD children’s home!