SHRI is Inspiring!

SHRI *Support Honor Respect Inspire*

There is so much humility, unconditional love, and truthfulness in these words and in this organization. For the past year, SHRI has been an essential part of my life. It is a community of simple and powerful individuals who truly care and give their time and compassion to contribute in this world. Some say that it is useless to “try and change the world”. However, I completely disagree with this statement. We can all sit down and wait or we can at least find the missing pieces of the puzzle to transform the world.

“Founded in 2010, SHRI is the only yoga outreach organization of its kind in Rhode Island, serving adults and children with developmental and intellectual disabilities, veterans, children in schools, hospitals and shelters, incarcerated youth, men and women in recovery, in clinics - and more. With our unique S-H-R-I curriculum, which combines an innovative approach to movement-based yoga classes with community building, mindfulness and character education components built in…”

SHRI has given me the confidence and trust that I needed to go out there and do my best within my community. Sometimes we wait for the little push and we tend to have excuses. I have experienced, through SHRI, once you find a TRUE meaning and you believe in it, the rest just flows.

Alison Bologna, who is the founder of SHRI, has given me the opportunity to bring their curriculum overseas. Ever since I met her and the entire SHRI family they have only shown me love, support, encouragement, and trust.

A few weeks ago, I guided students for the first time overseas at a school in Dugadda, India. It is an all-girls school and these young ladies can benefit a great deal from a little women empowerment.

I got to the school with Mannu and Chinmaya, the Camp Advait owners, who were kind enough to come with me and help me with translating. It was important that they understood who SHRI was and why we had decided to come to their school. After a little while of exchanging words in Hindi, they said in English to me “Okay, we can come back in an hour to give the class”. Before I had time to think and doubt “Wait, what, an hour? I was not expecting to do it today…” the words “YEEEEEES, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!” came out instead.

We drove back to camp so I could change into my SHRI shirt and grabbed Mitch and Morgane, the beautiful French girl who was volunteering with us. Having their support was definitely reassuring. Mannu, Chinmaya, Morgane, Mitch and I hopped in the car. I see Bullet, the camp’s dog, in the distance running across the river towards us. All of a sudden, Mannu started backing up for what it seemed to be an eternity along the nice big cliff where you cannot see who is coming from the other way. One of those times when you have no idea what’s going on. My only thought was to arrive safely to the school and on time. In these moments if you detach yourself from the situation, you are able to remain calm avoiding any interference with your peaceful energy.

What an incredible experience to guide this class! We were in a tight space and that helped bring us close together. You could sense how they were feeling shy at the beginning yet full of curiosity and excitement. In India, there is noise and chaos everywhere and women are not welcome to express themselves. Being with a group of 27 seventeen-year-old students, I mentioned how this would be the time to express ourselves, have fun, find some quietness, and take time to just BREATHE and BE. I followed the SHRI curriculum which is filled with creative and mindful ideas to work with different kind of populations. Seeing these girls allowing themselves to be present and completely follow everything with so much attention and INTENTION has been one of the best experiences of my life, extremely fulfilling. They were following incredibly, so curious, appreciative, respectful, brave, and loving. When you put yourself out there for selfless service, opportunities and spiritual rewards come your way.

I am beyond grateful for the SHRI family and for all of those who help and contribute to make it possible.

Below is the link to their page if you wish to explore more, contact them, or donate to such an extremely inspiring cause:

Shri Service Corps is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

All donations are tax-deductible.

http://shriyoga.org/index.html

THANK YOU and Namaste!