Off the Mat into the World

Mattresses. Something you probably don’t think of much, yet if you didn’t have one it might be the only thing on your mind. It’s one of those very simple basic household items that we take completely for granted.

What if you didn’t have a mattress to sleep on? Or what if your mattress was made of hay and didn’t have any sheets? That is what it’s like for thousands of children in sub-saharan Africa. Many of them sleep without mattresses, and the few who are lucky enough to slumber above the dirt floor are often on mattresses soaked in urine and made of hay. Not exactly a Posturpedic dream. 

When I heard this story last weekend at a yoga workshop in Denver with renown yogini and activist Seane Corn my heart cried. It’s so easy to forget how much we have, and how little others around the world have, when it’s not in your face every day. Seane told many stories like the mattress story, all having to do with the current living conditions for children in Uganda. While much of it was heart breaking, there was an uplifting side; we can help, and it doesn’t take much to make life changing differences.

Off the Mat and Into the World was started by Seane Corn along with Hala Khouri and Suzanne Sterling with the intention that one could take all the strength, energy, and love cultivated on our yoga mats out into the world to help make a difference where change is needed. Last year Seane and a group of leaders from the yoga community travelled to Cambodia to work with the Cambodian Children’s Fund. Their efforts there drastically and positively changed the lives of many children.

This year, OTM is traveling to Uganda to build schools, sustainable farms, birthing centers, and water supply systems. OTM has extended a challenge to anyone who wishes to join and support their cause; raise $20K by November 15th, 2009, then join the OTM team on a two week journey to Uganda in February of 2010 to do hands on work in the community and put the money to work. 

Having always been passionate about travel, yoga, and giving back to the world, I knew this was right up my alley the moment I heard the words come out of Sean’s mouth. I immediately wrote down in my journal, “New goal for 2009, raise the money and travel to Uganda,” with a huge smily face and thumbs up adorning the space next to the letters. Once I signed the pledge to join OTM on the Uganda trip, I was given a pack of matterials that would help me on my journey to raise the money. Included in that pack was a series of photographs from Seane’s most recent trip to Uganda. The joy, energy, and raw excitement for life that decorated each adorable face the kids made my heart sing. $20K is a lot of money, and it’s going to be an even greater challenge to raise the money in harsh economic times, but I’m certain those faces and smiling, shiney eyes will give me every ounce of energy I need to acomplish the task. 

Over the next few months as I work on raising money for this incredible cause, I will be blogging about the process and sharing stories. Feel free to check in and experience this incredible journey with me!

For more on this project, to donate, or to get involved, please view my Activism page. Together, we can achieve greatness!