There are notable benefits that come with practicing yoga. For Stella Guto, since she attended her first yoga class as a beginner in 2014, she has seen evident physical and mental transformations. From her endurance to her breathing to her decision making: how she goes about life, how she acknowledges and carries her emotions, as well as how she deals with stress.
She’d been invited by a friend from her neighbourhood in Kangemi to attend a community yoga class taking place in one of the community halls in the area. Not knowing what to expect, she was particularly keen on the fitness aspect tied to yoga. The class not only left her thrilled but interested in knowing more about the practice and numerous yoga poses. She went home with with questions: how could she learn to move on her own? How could she become a yoga instructor? how would she be able to influence others in Kangemi to join in this wellness practice?
The following year, another invite for a community class was extended to her. This time she and her friend would be going to a yoga studio in Parklands. Shine Centre is where the non-profit organization Africa Yoga Project (AYP) holds daily hour long community classes over lunch on weekdays and two hour classes on Saturdays. This time, Stella was determined to become a yoga instructor. Her target for her community classes would be those in Kangemi who wanted to maintain a healthy and fit lifestyle but couldn’t afford.
Coincidentally AYP had a scholarship-based program running. It was targeted at Kenyan residents who were interested in advancing to instructors who would then offer community classes within their areas of residence. It was a two year program that included classes on entrepreneurship skills. In the third year, each student-turned-instructor was required to set up yoga classes for their community. Stella applied and was accepted into the program in 2017.
Since then, Stella has been an active advocate for yoga in Kangemi, facilitating community classes often. During this time, most classes under AYP are now online but not everyone is able to access online platforms for lengthy periods.
As March came to an end, the AYP team put together well-being kits for the instructors and selected members within different communities in Nairobi. Each kit consisted of a 20L jerrycan, soap, sanitizer and an assortment of dry foods. These kits would then be distributed by the AYP yoga instructors – such as Stella – to the neediest within their communities. Stella identified fifteen individuals with families in need and distribution took place on the last week of March.
Her community work has gone beyond that first distribution. Stella has gone a step further to help some families in Kangemi with more than three children get access to food each week.
She shows us the value of community and the attribute of selflessness. Thank you Stella, and we wish you the best as you continue this good work.
