All who think cannot but see there is a sanction like that of religion which binds us in partnership in the serious work of the world. -Benjamin Franklin

According to UNICEF, 13% of children in Ethiopia, an estimated 4.6 million, are without one or both parents. Others report it closer to 6 million. Our friends at Beyond the Orphanage are assisting the most at-risk of these, orphaned children ages 10-18. Karma Yoga Project is performing an archival data review of BTO’s records in effort to determine the long-term effectiveness of BTO’s intervention in the lives of older orphans in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Read more about our work.

One of the instruments that we will be reviewing is the Revised Childrens Manifest Anxiety Scale: Second Addition by Cecil R. Reynolds, Ph.D., and Bert O. Richmond, Ed.D. which is a self-reporting resource that can help distinguish (as it is sometimes difficult to observe) anxiety in children. Designed in a yes-or-no format, the RCMAS-2 is appropriate for children ages 6-19 and measures anxiety levels in subjects like worry, defensiveness, physiological and social anxiety. Thanks to the work of Sinit D. Haile of Dzubow, Sarapu, & Pilcher PLLC, the RCMAS-2 has been translated into Ahmaric. Approved for use through KYP, it will provide a great deal of information regarding the social/emotional well-being of the BTO children over time.  A huge thank you to Sinit and Dzubow Sarapu & Pilcher PLLC, as well as the anonymous volunteer who aided in the back translation (confirms that the original translation was done so correctly) for this invaluable service!

As we are all partners in “the serious work of the world,” it is important to advocate the work of Dzubow, Sarapu, & Pilcher PLLC. Based out of Washington D.C., this firm specializes in Asylum, Citizenship, Deportation Defense, Business and Family Immigration law. Jason Dzubow has been featured in Legal Briefs on Immigration Reform: From the Top 25 Legal Minds in the Country, and has received a number of awards for his commitment to the cause of immigrant rights. Check out the firm’s website. For more information on issues regarding the Asylum system in the United States, visit Jason Dzubow’s blog.

You can read more about the RCMAS-2 on Western Psychological Services website.

All of this amazing work couldn’t be possible without your partnership. To contribute to our research and other projects, please donate or contact us.

Thank you!

Lauren Mislove

World Happy Day is Saturday, Feb. 11. What’s World Happy Day? It’s when people around the world will gather to watch a film, aptly title, “Happy,” for a perspective on how we can reach our own happiness.

Karma Yoga Project is excited to host a screening of the movie in Mesa, Arizona, as a sell-out fundraising event. We’re very pleased this event drew great interest from the community, and we look forward to hosting additional and exciting events throughout the year!

Can you imagine such a topic for a movie? The inspiration for the day is to help people increase the happiness in their own lives and in the world. More and more research today presents evidence that happy people are healthier, and live longer.

While there are many things individuals can do to be happy, one of the easiest and most impactful is to donate simply through kindness, generosity, compassion, volunteering, and financially. Again, research shows that altruism can boost happiness for the person that does the good deed. Consider the following:

• Through generosity, we find more compassion for others
• Through kindness we connect with others and build a sense of community
• Generosity begets a feeling of usefulness and a way for people to put their talents to good use
• Self-image is boosted, and somehow, a spark is started and a chain reaction of kindness and generosity begins to build among people around us

How inspiring! One thing to remember: if the spirit of generosity begins to feel like an obligation, a person can become overwhelmed and the sense of well-being can decline.

Generosity doesn’t necessarily equate to spending or donating money. There are many different ways to be generous. Volunteer for an organization you love. Smile and say hello to the people you cross paths with. Help a neighbor with a task.

If you like the idea of how altruism can positively affect others and build upon your own happiness, consider contributing to the Karma Yoga Project. Whether you contribute with your time and talents, make a financial donation or purchase a t-shirt or a set of mala beads from our site, your efforts will be greatly appreciated and put to good use.

A final thought: give with thoughtfulness, respect and humility. It can only make you happy!

Patricia Conte

image: annais

I was immediately intrigued and focused my attention, drawn in by the similarities mentioned in the story and my own hectic lifestyle. What I was lucky to catch was a fascinating perspective; how improving self-awareness and relaxation can in turn benefit mental clarity, emotional well-being, and create stress reduction. The show featured a mini-meditation session with Williams, which (pulling over to the side of the road, of course) was a delightfully refreshing leap from mundane morning monotony. On January 20, what would normally be another day unnoticed, turned out to be an inspiring moment of slowing down and checking in; something I aspire to do more often.

Listen to “Be Here Now: Meditation for the Body and Brain.”

Lauren Mislove

Sending you love and hugs from the country with 13 months of sunshine (when it’s not rainy season!)

Donna

Hi Everyone,

Well, it’s been a long journey, but we’ve finally arrived. Just before I left for Mexico, I received a letter from the federal government indicating that the Karma Yoga Project has been determined to be a public charity with an effective exemption date of April 16, 2008. What does that mean? Your donations to the Karma Yoga Project are now tax deductible!

So many of you have helped us along the way through your purchases of our products, participation in our yoga workshops, and by making donations–even without the benefit of a tax deduction. And your support over the past couple of years has been greatly appreciated. I know that the world is a different place today–so many people are struggling to make it–even right here in the United States due to the economic challenges we are facing as a country and a planet. There are many wonderful charities out there for you to choose from that are doing amazing things. We are humbled that you have trusted us with your donations in the past and hope that you will continue to support our efforts to make the world a better place for all beings.

I will be returning to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the 4th time on July 14th. I’m looking forward to seeing the kids again, making home visits, and reviewing Beyond the Orphanages’ records to see how each child/adolescent is progressing in school. We do our best to keep our expenses low and I’m so grateful for Brenda and Doug Lyons–a wonderful couple that I met during my 2008 visit to Addis–who are allowing me to once again stay in their home. Their gift will save the Karma Yoga Project about $1,000. So, the total cost of our trip this time will be about $2,200 in airfare and $300-500 in food and taxi expenses during the two week stay.

If you’d like to help us with our expenses for this trip, please click on the donation link. And if you’re interested in helping us through your volunteer efforts, we could really use someone who would be willing to keep us up-to-date with blog and newsletter posts. If you have any other talents that you think might be helpful, just send us an email (donna@practicekindness.com). We’d love to hear from you!

Thanks for sharing our journey with us…

Donna

I hope that you’re all well and happy! I just returned from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia this past Wednesday and am still soaring from the beautiful energy of the children I visited while there.

This past Sunday, I taught a yoga class to the kids whom I work with who are a part of Beyond the Orphanage and some children from Kiddane Mehret Children’s Home. I think that there were about 55 kids who participated and we practice outside in the beautiful Ethiopian sunshine. March is definitely the time of year to visit Ethiopia. Flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, people are smiling.

A few of our BTO kids had experienced a very limited yoga practice with me in July of 2008…the rest of the kids had never tried or even heard of yoga before and were very open to the experience. Hewan, BTO social worker, helped with translating for me at the beginning so that I could tell the kids a little bit about yoga–being in the present moment, breathing in and out through the nose, and not worrying about what you can and can’t do. After that, we just practiced–sharing the beauty of movement, breath, and sunshine together. Since we didn’t have mats, I had to modify our practice a bit–but yoga does transcend all barriers and it was a fun, fulfilling practice I believe for all of us. The kids were smiling and laughing and I think that I enjoyed teaching this class more than any other class I’ve taught over the past seven or eight years.

Take a look at the beautiful pictures and I think that you will see that our practice transcended all and united the beauty of our souls as One.

Wishing you love and sunshine…

Donna

If I could be in Haiti right now assisting in the volunteer efforts I would be. But since I’m here, I will be joining some Anusara friends for an evening of fundraising and heart opening for our brothers and sisters in Haiti. The Hearts for Haiti yoga practice is this Thursday in Carefree, Arizona. It’s only about 20 minutes or so from the Scottsdale and Shea area so please don’t think it’s too far.  Here’s the schedule and how your support will help those suffering in Haiti:

How you can help: Your donation will help supply food for an orphanage in Haiti or funds to the Red Cross. Craig Juntunen, author of “Both Ends Burning,” resides in Pinnacle Peak and operates an orphanage in Haiti. He and his wife have adopted 3 Haitian children. He reports that there is only a week’s supply of food left for the children who live in his orphanage. Through this event, we can help send food to these children or assist the Red Cross with their efforts in Haiti.

When: Thursday, January 21st 5:00-8:30 pm

Where: Spirit in the Desert – 7415 East Elbow Bend Rd., Carefree, AZ 85377 480-488-5218

How you can help: Come join in by collectively sending loving and healing energy to Haiti. Bring your mat if you are doing yoga. Some mats will be available. *Make a donation by check to Chances for Children or the Red Cross.

Schedule of Events:

5-6pm – Anusara Yoga – Denise Hatch, Debbie Payne, and Carolyn Pelletier will lead a heart opening one hour Anusara yoga class to connect to the hearts of Haiti and to send healing heart energy.

5-6pm – Kids Yoga – Bobbi Hamilton and Andia Pizzato will teach a one hour kids yoga class for children to connect heart-to-heart

6-6:20pm – Meditation – A 20 minute meditation to send strength, peace and healing to Haiti

6:30-7pm – The Hearts Way – Free presentation by Dr. Sharon Lamm-Hartman, author of “Discovering Your Passionate Calling in 9 Weeks.”

6:30-8:30pm – Wine Tasting and Cheese Platters

If you can’t make the practice, please text 90999 to make a $10 donation to the Red Cross. All you have to do is text the word Haiti. They will require that you reply to their text with a Yes and your cell phone bill will be charged $10.00. It can’t get any easier than that. And no matter how difficult your life is, you can afford $10 and it will save a life.

Please comment on this post and let us know how your sharing love and compassion with our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

Sending you love and blessings for your love and compassion,

Donna

Have you ever noticed that every day and every moment, you’re surrounded by the Divine? OK, don’t freak out! You can replace “Divine” with whatever feels comfortable for you! But for me, the Divine is the Universal Spark of Illumination in absolutely everything–you, me, your cat or dog, your best friend or biggest challenge, the mountains, a flower, water, air. I could keep going and going.

I hope that today, you will take a moment first with yourself–and then with someone or something else–and realize how you are supported and loved–and even taught challenging lessons by the Universal spark of Illumination in your life.  Here’s an example: the other day, my friend Greg, told me that he had just planted 49 fruit trees (http://yourguidetogreen.com/TheUrbanFarm/). I was so excited…what a great example of the Divine he is! He just helped bring fruit and oxygen into our community. And then I think of my friend Ethan’s cat, who greets me at my door every morning with a purr. And all of my Goddess girlfriends who listen when I need to talk and who make me laugh when I’m too serious. I’ve been having difficulty with insomnia and the other day, Alicia, who’s also having some trouble with sleeplessness, posted on my FB wall that she was taking a sleep break and wondered if I was up too! Instead of feeling frustrated about not sleeping, I was laughing at her interpretation of insomnia.

I’m also seeing the Divine in all of the people trying so hard to help the people in Haiti–yoga workshops to raise money and send healing thoughts–organizations going there and doing their best to rescue people from collapsed buildings, providing medical treatment for the injured, and providing water, food and hope. Please send some love to all beings in Haiti…the helpers and those who need help. And if you can, please send some money through UNICEF (http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/haiti_52480.html) or the Red Cross (http://redcross.org). They will do amazing things–even with just a few dollars!

Gratitude is flowing from my heart to all of you as I think of how you’re making the world a better place every day–as I think about how we can be perfect in our imperfection when we let that Spark of Illumination shine through us.

With love and gratitude for all of our perfect imperfection…Shine On!

Donna

I hope that you will be inspired by future posts and that you will join us in making our world a better place for all beings. May your path be filled with flowers,

Donna