Radiant Blooming Energy
Our third day in Bangalore, and first full day all on our own, I must admit I was doubting my sanity when I decided to apply for and accept a placement through Global Fellows. In an effort to find the classroom where we would be assisting with yoga classes twice a week, Molly and I found ourselves lost and wandering around a mental hospital… Not exactly the place you want to be when you are still uncomfortable with the simplest life skill of crossing the street. Relying on the kindness of strangers for directions and phones to use, we eventually found the school. I felt a wave of joy and warmth overpower the discomfort of being lost when the children came in, and I was reminded of exactly why we are here. The smiles on their faces and excitement to meet us made my heart swell.
Their engagement and talent with the poses and songs continuously impresses me. As we’ve learned, it takes a long time for the benefits of yoga therapy to show with these special needs students, but for now we can happily witness the little triumphs in class. Be it a man in the vocational training class who usually just sits and watches, but one day does just one of the stretches, or a little girl who has affectionately taken to Molly and I saying the words “up and down” one class, when she is usually non-verbal, I am so grateful to see these steps forward. My favorite thing is when Molly or I stand up during class to take pictures or video tape and the students urgently motion us back to the mat to keep going. They are more so the teachers than we are!
Although basically everything about this experience is different than I could have imagined in terms of basic survival, at the organization all of my expectations are constantly exceeded. One of our projects involves interviewing teachers, students, and parents to gather quotes and stories and ultimately make a final video that captures the essence of the organization. In these interviews we have asked everyone to say, “Prafull Oorja is _______” (to explain my title, Prafull Oorja means Radiant Blooming Energy in Sanskrit). Sowmya perfectly sums everything up in her interview by saying “Prafull Oorja is home”. With such a small team, everyone is extremely close, and the organization thrives because of the kindness and dedication of the community it has created. Every new person we meet becomes an instant friend, and is so welcoming of Molly and I to the Prafull Oorja family.
This internship has yet to feel like “work” in the way I am accustomed to it, because everything is being done in the interest of something I am incredibly passionate about and want to be doing! I can’t imagine ever returning to a 9–5 office job for a company I don’t feel a deep connection with. What’s more, an “office” day involves group mediation, multiple chai tea and biscuit breaks, and potluck style lunch. When in a meeting I don’t feel a sense of competition or stress, but rather it feels like a group of close friends putting their hearts and heads together to improve the organization.
So much about the work environment seemed unconventional at first, but now I can’t imagine things running any other way. WhatsApp is the primary form of communication (huge difference coming from a society where email is life) and all information is sent to everyone in an all-inclusive “Office” group. Molly and I are given a lot of autonomy in our work, and I believe that is because everyone is viewed as equals at Prafull Oorja, and is therefore equally entrusted to positively represent the organization. As our projects progress and we continue attending classes, I am more grateful each day to have been placed with such a wonderful group of people.
