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