VEDA WELLNESS

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY

Who we surround ourselves with is key to our creativity and happiness. Transference from one to another is knowledge.

Acknowledgment of our interdependence with others and earth itself can help us to discover our greatest human potential.

The Breath of Hope Foundation, Inc. (BOH), is a not-for-profit international organisation that fosters the empowerment and transformation of at-risk children and communities through a therapeutic intervention of yoga. In collaboration with educators and medical researchers BOH advances knowledge of the benefits of yoga in disaster situations and promotes integrative healing and resiliency for trauma-affected children and other populations.is designed to rekindle hope and peace in at-risk children through school/community based yoga programs that stimulate a ripple effect from the child to the family, school and beyond. 

It's educational and training curriculum is designed to rekindle hope and peace in at-risk children through school/ community-based yoga programs that create a ripple effect from child to family, school and beyond. BOH has conducted extensive research in Indonesia Sri Lanka and Thailand with victims of the 2004 tsunami, generating scientific evidence of the benefits of yoga to children and communities.

The studies established that as self-awareness of the mind- body connection is heightened, overall physical and mental health improves, circulation and blood chemistry are boosted, and the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems recover their equilibrium. Benefits to the psychological development of children include increased concentration and creativity. Their enhanced social development is reflected in a greater receptivity, sense of gratitude and generosity, and a new willingness to trust.

BOH is the seed from which Satyagraha Ashram for children was born. “Satyagraha” is a synthesis of the Sanskrit words “Satya” (truth) and “Agraha” (holding firm), and it was characterised by Mahatma Gandhi in his peace movement. Satyagraha is culturally sensitive, we continuously research within the culture to see how we can serve in the best possible way.

Satyagraha Ashram’s vision is to provide children with tools, offering them a view into healthy and self-sustaining lifestyles, manifesting love and respect for the planet. At Satyagraha we are equally committed to humanity and nature. This remarkable school for organic living is nestled within the village of Nyuh Kuning, Ubud, Bali. Surrounded by beautiful old Blanggog trees, rivers run through the grounds and the serenity of the landscape insulates Satyagraha from the bustle of traffic and tourism in nearby Ubud.

The Ashram garden contains an organic vegetable plot to provide the children with hands-on experience of how to manifest pesticide-free nourishment, as well as an herbal “apotek” (pharmacy). A large composting area recycles organic waste, and the Ashram’s three happy cows do their own recycling by mowing the grass, which they transform into milk, and into dung for fertiliser.

Satyagraha has donated two pieces of land to the village for growing flowers that are used by the local women for temple offerings, to support traditional Balinese culture. In serving one another the villagers help care for our gardens at Satyagraha. A beautiful yogashala made of bamboo provides a platform for yoga practice, in which people of all ages from nearby areas participate.

The Satyagraha yoga program is designed to offer the children therapeutic benefits of the practices through the educating of yoga, philosophy, values, meditation, breathing techniques and chanting, all in playful loving ways. The program curriculum provides life tools to the children, which strengthen them from within, giving them clarity of direction and concentration.