Supporting one another in times of crisis

These past few months have been challenging for all of us around the globe. COVID-19 has wreaked havoc and forced us to reconsider the way we live on this earth and use up it’s valuable resources. As a yoga association we are fully aware that we’ve benefited from India’s gift of yoga and we felt that we needed to offer India our support as COVID cases surged at an alarming rate.

A few weeks ago, board members of the B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga Association (Vancouver) decided to donate $500 to the India COVID-19 Response Appeal by the Canadian Red Cross Society. Money raised will enable the Red Cross to “support COVID-19 preparedness, response, and recovery activities in India, and may include resiliency activities for future pandemic and/or emergency events.”

Closer to home, this past week has brought more sorrow and pain as the remains of 215 First Nations children were found in a mass unmarked grave on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. The board has decided to support survivors of residential schools by donating $1000 to the Indian Residential School Survivor Society.

Members of the board have also made the decision to contribute to organizations such as this every year on June 21st. In Canada we recognize and celebrate both International Day of Yoga and National Indigenous Peoples Day on the same day.

It can be difficult to know what to do in situations like these and thus we encourage you to have a look at this fantastic list of resources compiled by IndigiNews and the Discourse.

If you have any other organizations who you would like us to consider or have comments or questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

“Giving does not impoverish us nor does withholding enrich us”
BKS Iyengar