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Yoga and arts therapy charity in Hong Kong dreams of own premises for well-being centre

Yama Foundation offers yoga classes and arts therapy to people with special needs. It hopes a fundraiser will end its need to rent premises

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Hong Kong charity Yama Foundation helps vulnerable communities through its yoga and arts therapy programmes. It hopes to open a permanent well-being centre in the city. Photo: Yama Foundation

For young Hongkonger Ip Man-lee, moving around is more challenging than it is for others of her age.

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The six-year-old has the muscle function of a two-year-old because of a genetic disease that causes global developmental delay, a term used when children are significantly delayed in two or more areas of development.

Like many children in Hong Kong, she is benefiting from the work of the Yama Foundation, a charity that helps vulnerable communities through its yoga and arts therapy programmes.

Before Yama’s yoga sessions, Man-lee had poor balance, and mobility issues. Now she can run fast and is starting to jump, says her mother, Leung Ka-yee.

“She is also using the breathing techniques that she learned at Yama to regulate her emotions and calm herself down,” says Leung.

Leung Ka-yee with her daughter Ip Man-lee. Before attending Yama Foundation’s yoga therapy sessions, Ip had poor balance and mobility issues. Now she can run and is starting to jump. Photo: Yama Foundation
Leung Ka-yee with her daughter Ip Man-lee. Before attending Yama Foundation’s yoga therapy sessions, Ip had poor balance and mobility issues. Now she can run and is starting to jump. Photo: Yama Foundation

Thirteen-year-old Tsang Chun-keung suffered a brain injury when he was six. He has also improved mentally and physically since taking Yama’s yoga classes.

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