Frequently Asked Questions
In this section:  What Is the Mission of the Peace Project?
Why Did You Create the Heart of Yoga Peace Project?
Who is Behind the Heart of Yoga Peace Project?
What Will You Accomplish and How Will You Measure Success?
Does This Really Work?
Who is Funding This?
How Much of the Budget Goes to Funding vs. Overhead?
What Does it Mean to be a Sister Studio?
What is the Content of the Training Program?
Is there a Fee to Participate?
Can We Travel with the Peace Project?
What Is the Mission of the Peace Project?
The Peace Project is a 501(c) 3 organization dedicated to instituting and developing yoga communities in troubled areas around the world, to spread peace through the transformation of individual consciousness, and to enable cross-cultural understanding through one to one diplomacy. The project utilizes yoga as a common, non-religious unifying principle to bring together those affected by struggle and conflict in a neutral location where their full attention can be applied to basic yogic tenets such as non-violence and tolerance. The Peace Project will provide education and resources to current and aspiring yoga teachers so that they can bring the seeds of change back to their native lands.
Why Did You Create the Heart of Yoga Peace Project?
It was born of a deep desire to see peaceful change in our lifetime, and personal experience with how yoga works in the individual's heart to make this happen. The immeidate catalyst for how the program took shape occurred at a teacher training in New York, where two teachers- one from Tel Aviv and one from Lebanon met and began a dialogue for peace. From this experience, the Foundation was born. See our video accounting of the origins of the project on Youtube.
Who is Behind the Heart of Yoga Peace Project?
The Peace Project was born from The Heart of Yoga Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 organization founded by internationally known yogi, Mark Whitwell. Mark's expertise is teaching authentic yoga and training yoga teachers. A student of U.G. Krishnamurti, Krishnamacharya, and Srivatsa Ramaswami, the native New Zealander has been teaching yoga internationally since 1978. He was the editor and contributor to Deskarcahr's book, the Heart of Yoga.
What Will You Accomplish and How Will You Measure Success?
We will work to develop local teachers, and measure both the direct and indirect impact of those teachers in touching people around them. For example, we will work with 200 teachers in 2008, who in turn touch 50 students each directly, who in turn touch their families- that's 50,000 people through this method alone.
We will host regional dialogues and Practice for Peace session, and measure attendance, post event participation and press coverage on the activities. For example, in 2008, we will coordinate 4 regional events through sister studios.
We will provide and encourage an online community for Peace. We will measure partcipation, growth and impact of this community. This online community will go live in 2008.
Does This Really Work?
Yes. The once-esoteric practice of yoga has grown to having more than 10 million practitioners worldwide. There is also much scientific empirical evidence proving yoga's positive effects on mental and physical health and well being.
While most Westerners can enjoy these effects by simply finding their local studio, renting video or downloading classes on iPods, much of the world does not have that luxury. Basic health care in many countries of the world is not available, and access to yoga is often very far down on the list of immediate needs. It is a simple and accessible practice that can accelerate positive change in the world.
It is a practice most needed where the physical and mental conditions of the world are most harsh – in conflict zones, in times of battle and in times of grief.
In addition to Mark, the Peace Project advisors and directors are comprised of some of the most influential global yoga teachers and advocates for non-violent change in the world, as well as hundreds of individual teachers, studios and yogis around the world.
Additionally, many key centers for non-denominational spiritual study are involved such as Eselan and the Omega Institute. They bring professional, results driven thinking and proven methodologies to enhance the efforts at developing a more peaceful world.
Who is Funding This?
The founders and stewards have provided all the initial start up funds. Heart of Yoga is funded through individual donations, grants and operating programs. A primary goals is to create an interconnected community, so we prefer to have a lot of people a little bit invested in success!
How Much of the Budget Goes to Funding vs. Overhead?
86% of the budget is designated for programming.
What Does it Mean to be a Sister Studio?
The Peace Project matches studios and teachers around the world to create dialogue and support. Sister studios have direct exchange with one another, and work to support and educate each others membership about their experiences on and off the mat.
What is the Content of the Training Program?
There are four parts to the training:
Yoga
Conflict Resolution/Non-violent Communication
Cross Cultural Dialog
Practice Building
The heart of Yoga core principles are based on Desikachar's belief that there is a right yoga for every person, we do not teach how to guide students with a cookie cutter approach; instead we believe that there is one yoga that is right for the individual.
Some of the elements include how to:
Teach basic postures
Teach yogic breathing techniques to prepare & strengthen the body
Teach meditations and mental exercises to train the mind
Enhance the ability to be non-reactive in the face of conflict
Develop greater patience and resolve
Cultivate non-violence and compassion for the self & others
See past superficial & cultural differences
Develop an awareness of the interconnectedness of all beings
Conflict Resolution & Non-violent Communication Skills
Principles of Non-violent Communication
Role playing
Framework for Dialogs
Diplomatic Skills Development
Special topics include "Yogis as First Responders:
How to reach
those in acute need"
Sessions on how to build and nurture your yoga community
Develop an economic model for your yoga teaching
Intercultural Dialogue
Structured sessions for safe sharing and storytelling among
participants
Is there a Fee to Participate?
70% of applicants are expected to be on full scholarship.
Can We Travel with the Peace Project?
Maybe. Please let us know of your interest, what parts of the world you have experience traveling or working in, and we'll see if we can make a match. |
