Saturday, May 3, 2008

Water Yoga for People Living with HIV/AIDS


WATER YOGA FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS



Supported by:

AIDS PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROJECT - APAC
Chennai
Organised by:
INDIAN COMMUNITY WELFARE ORGANISATION - I.C.W.O.
&
KANCHEEPURAM NETWORK OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS - KNP+
AP -216, 18th Main Road, ‘I’ block, 6th Street,
Vallalar Colony, Anna Nagar West, Chennai- 600 040.
Phone: 044-26184392, 26180392, 65515742
Email:
fieldmaster@mail.com
Website:
www.icwoindia.org




INTRODUCTION

The first case of HIV positive was identified in 1986 at CMC, Vellore, and Tamil Nadu. This information was the first information about HIV/AIDS; there were no other information or very less information available to the public on HIV/AIDS. Soon, the Government Health Department produced materials that were made available to the general public. The pictorial representation was a skeletal skull showing a symbol of danger, which projected and promoted the fear concept on AIDS. This information was spread as an IEC material– Information, Education and Communication in the late 80s.

Way back in 1994, TNSACS was launched and many materials were developed by them in the field of prevention modes of STD / HIV / AIDS. In 1997 APAC initiated to bring Target Intervention to prevent the sexual mode of transmission among high-risk groups in Tamil Nadu. South Africa is a country which has experienced and has learnt from the consequences that the symbol of a skeletal skull has instilled only the fear concept about AIDS and no positive indicators of growth have been identified in the sphere of HIV / AIDS though APAC/TNSACS have produced more number of materials on STD / HIV / AIDS with specific focus on preventive messages.

Varieties of materials were made available by APAC, which has been accepted by other SACS. However, now all the agencies have started to focus on care and support. Since the preventive messages were produced more and quantitatively high, the concentration on care and support was comparatively lesser. There is an emerging trend that focuses on care and support for the benefit of PLWA. The target approach has resulted in preventing STD / HIV / AIDS to a considerable extent in Tamil Nadu. Different types of materials have been developed to bring about a behavior change, which includes the interpersonal communication i.e., One to one, one to Group & Counseling.

Various Communication aids have been developed and used for Interpersonal Communication process with the focus on STD / HIV / AIDS prevention. Though the focus remains the same, new trend has emerged concentrating on care and support. The materials developed (including printed, Audio-Visual, Booklets and so on as listed below) in the sphere of care and support has been less over the past years. To attain the sustainability of behavior change, the fear concept about AIDS must be reduced through progressive change in the mind of the PLWA.


ABOUT ICWO:

ICWO is a non-profitable organization working in the field of STD/HIV/AIDS prevention among high risk population for the past 14 years and provide care and support for the People living with HIV/AIDS. ICWO also works among children vulnerable to prevent them from being trafficked for sexual exploitation and bring in quality of life.

Indian Community Welfare Organization is actively involved in creative, innovative and replicatable model in the field of STD/HIV/AIDS Prevention. ICWO previous innovative efforts were successful and appreciated by large number of participations.

ROLE OF ICWO

As part of the innovative efforts ICWO organize a Yoga called Water Yoga for People living with HIV/AIDS in Chennai. We have contacted and obtained their support is keen in participating in this event and assured its full support and cooperation for the Water Yoga.

ROLE OF APAC- VHS, USAID

AIDS PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROJECT (APAC) has financially support the entire expenditure of the Water Yoga for and of People living with HIV/AIDS and participated in the event.

YOGA

Although it seems like a hot new trend, yoga actually began more than 3,000 years ago in India. The word yoga comes from Sanskrit, and it means to "yoke," or bring together the mind, body, and spirit.

Although yoga includes exercise, it is also a lifestyle for which exercise is just one component. Disciplining your mind and body as well as connecting with your spirituality are the main goals of the yoga lifestyle. Yoga has tons of benefits. It can improve flexibility, strength, balance, and stamina. In addition to the physical benefits, many people who practice yoga say that it reduces anxiety and stress and improves mental clarity.

  • The different types of Yoga are
  • Dhadasanam
  • Arthasakrasanam
  • Padhahastasanam
  • Virutsasanam
  • Utkadasanam
  • Konasanam
  • Thirikonasanam
  • Adasasanam or Adayogam (Water Yoga)
  • Eye exercise
  • Neck exercise
  • Chin exercise
  • Breathe exercise
  • Deep sleep exercise

WATER YOGA

The fluid movements of yoga adapt naturally to the aquatic environment. Practice in the yoga tradition, with a focus on breathing and a light, loving heart.

Come explore a new environment for practicing yoga - one that assists, resists and supports your own movements. This is the wondrous world of water. Because of the unique properties of water people of all fitness levels can safely enjoy water yoga. Conditions such as arthritis, MS, obesity, and others can make traditional yoga practice on land extremely difficult. The force of gravity during standing poses (“asanas’) may also be too great for reconditioned individuals just beginning physical activity after illness or injury. But the buoyancy and hydrostatic pressure of the water support the body in all directions making most standing yoga poses easier. Over time practicing these poses in the water will lead to greater strength and stability. Often people move on to broaden their yoga practice on land after training in the water.











Having been very extremely active for years in group exercise, running, cycling, dance and yoga made me quite frustrated at the start. But practicing yoga in the water was like nothing else. It is a one on one experience with nature. The water’s energy suddenly becomes your own when you have none. You become excepting of this as you feel yourself slowly being restored. It is not a miracle. You have to “let go” relax and learn to be passive and receive a little at a time. Patience is the key to any successful recovery. Yoga teaches you to be kind to yourself and the water helps by making movements easier.
Water temperature and the time spent in the water is very important. If vinyasa work is practiced one will not feel the cold as much. Water temperature can be suitable between 82 and 86 degrees for no more than 45 minutes. If mostly floating and flexibility poses, breathing and meditation are practiced the water should be between 86 and 90 degrees. The duration of the session should be between 30 and 45 minutes.

WATER YOGA FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS

Indian Community Welfare Organization is actively involved in creative, innovative and replicatable model in the field of STD/HIV/AIDS Prevention and in providing care and support for the people living with HIV/AIDS. ICWO previous innovative efforts were successful and appreciated through out the world.













Water yoga techniques enhance flexibility, balance, and strength in a soothing series of moves that calm the mind of PLHA. With regular practice, the PLHAs mind-body spirit integration of water yoga can bring you relaxation, improved posture and breathing, and an enhanced sense of body awareness.

As part of the innovative efforts ICWO organized a Yoga called Water Yoga for PLHA in Chennai, Thiruvallur and Kancheepuram. ICWO have contacted and obtained their support is keen in participating in this event and assured its full support and cooperation for the Water Yoga
.


COLLABORATING AGENCY

ICWO in collaboration with Kancheepuram Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (KNP+) organized the water that the Water Yoga training which create an opportunity to discuss about stigma, discrimination, violence, marginalization, ill treatment, denial of treatment, privacy, quality of life, access to the ARV treatment and Nutrition for PLWHA .

THE OBJECTIVE OF WATER YOGA

1. To empower the energy level of the people living with HIV/AIDS
2. To reduce the stress of the people living with HIV/AIDS

3. To enhance the relaxation of the body and improve posture and breathing of the people living with HIV/AIDS
4. To demonstrate the normal health status & positive messages of PLHA to the general population through media of the training.

PARTICIPANTS OF WATER YOGA

The participants for the water yoga are PLHA’s from Chennai, Thiruvallur and Kancheepuram. Totally 75 PLHA’s participate in the water yoga.

DATE & DURATION:

The training was organized during 26th to 29th March 2008.The 75 participants were trained in 2 batches. Each batch under went two day training at Shenoy Nagar Swimming Pool, Shenoy Nagar, Chennai

VENUE :

Prior permission was obtained for Dr. M. Rajendran. I.A.S., Member Secretary, Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu to utilize the Shenoy Nagar swimming pool, Shenoy Nagar, for water yoga for People living with HIV/AIDS form 26th to 29th March 2008.

DETAILS OF THE WATER YOGA:

Batch I : Date 26th & 27th March 2008 , 44 Participants
Batch II: Date 28th & 29th March 2008, 31 Participants

TRAINER OF WATER YOGA FOR PLHA

ICWO identified well experiences trainer Dr. Baskaran, General Secretary, Tamil Manila Sidha Vaidhiya, Chennai, Mr.V.Manivannan, and S. Jayachandra Prakash – a well known specialized yoga masters conducted the water yoga training programme.

Theoretical class was first conducted. An introduction of what yoga is and how special water yoga is was explained in detail. The benefits of water yoga were explained to the participant in detail.

Followed by the theoretical classes the trainer trained them on different types of yoga in water. The participants went inside the swimming pool and learnt and demonstrated the yoga that they learned.

Each participant was given a track suite, shower cap and towel. The participant had to change into their track suite and wear their shower cap when they entered the swimming pool.

All the participants learn the Water Yoga with great enthusiasm and interest. While they were learning the water yoga the benefits of each asanam was explained similetanacy.

The benefits of learning and practicing water yoga for the People living with HIV/AIDS are :
It increases longevity
  • It promotes memory
  • It makes the mind satwic,
  • It gives vitality
  • It promotes health
  • It makes the body beautiful
  • It cures all diseases
  • It is antidote to laziness and lethargy
  • It gives peace of mind
  • It invigorates all the organs of the body
  • It maintains the youth appearance of the body
  • It invigorates heart and circulatory system
  • It prevents obesity
  • It strengthen the body
  • It increases brain power and facial look
  • It regulates blood circulation
  • It makes one active
  • It promotes balanced outlook and reduce anger
  • It helps one to forget worries
  • It promotes thinking power
  • It promotes intelligence to succeed in life
  • It increases in during capacity to work hard
  • It increases one’s Immunity, and
  • It Invigorates the nervous system
  • On the fourth day of the water yoga training ICWO had organized a Demonstration and certificated distribution function for the Water Yoga for the People living with HIV/AIDS.

    Demonstration & Certificate distribution function

    Date : 29th March 2008
    Time : 12.30pm to 01.30pm (Noon)
    Venue : Shenoy Nagar Swimming Pool
    Shenoy Nagar, Chennai

    Dr. Bimal Charles, Project Director, AIDS Prevention And Control Project – APAC along with Ms. Anjana Modi, Vice Consul, Consulate General of the United States of America jointly were the chief guest for the water yoga valedictory and participate in the water yoga demonstration function by the PLHA.

    Mr. A.J. Hariharan, Founder Secretary, ICWO delivered the welcome address and an introduction about the program.

    Dr. M.Baskaran, General Secretary, Tamil Manila Sidha Vaidhiya Sangam and President of Indian Community Welfare Organisation briefed about the benefits of Water Yoga.

    The special address on the occasion was shared by Dr.Bimal Charles, Project Director, AIDS Prevention And Control Project – APAC. Speaking on the occasion Dr. Bimal Charles shared that ICWO is famous for conducting many innovative activities. Yoga though started in India it was exported to other countries and it has again come to India and that Yoga is one of the best methods of exercise is to keep us mentally and physically fit. People living with HIV/AIDS are also like normal people only. The got to have regular check on their CD4 counts, and keep a track of it and need to take ART when requires. As the CD4 decreases they get many OIs.













    This water yoga will certainly help them to improve their health status. People with HIV/AIDS can avail the services from agencies like TNSACS & APAC where government has allotted funds to support PLHA. This innovative initiate of water yoga is too encouraged and I appreciate and congratulate for the step taken by ICWO.

    Followed by this Ms. Anjana Modi, Vice Consul, Consulate General of the United States of America shared that she really feels happy and proud to be a part of this program and Out of 3.3million infected with HIV/AIDS all around world, she has got a chance to meet their representatives. She stressed that the PLHA should practice this every day and improve your health and also share this exercise with their children, relatives and friends. She express that they would have had a great fun time to you. The water yoga for the PLHA would surely eradicate stigma and discrimination that ten years back there was no such awareness or knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS but the trend has changed.















    Followed by this mementos were distributed to chief guest and the other participants. Each participant of the water yoga was distributed with a certificate and an hand out about yoga and water yoga.












    Speaking at the occasion A J Hariharan, Founder Secretary ICWO, said that the challenge was to reach out aggressively with HIV prevention messages to marginalized communities and back them with adequate services. “When each one of us becomes aware on how to protect himself/herself from the virus and has the freedom and access to services then we can be confident that we have started to overcome the epidemic. Till that time our work continues,” he said. He added that the need of the day was to forge a multi-sectoral approach to deal with the issue. Every community should mainstream the day-to-day concerns of the marginal communities, he said.

    “We should remember those who have been infected with the virus. The quality of life for affected people has to improve. It is necessary to ensure that those who have been infected have access to health care and are able to receive anti –retroviral drugs when necessary,

    The participant demonstrated the water yoga they learnt. The demonstration was appreciated by all the members present there.

    OUTCOME OF THE WATER YOGA :
    Practice of Yoga would increase their quality of life and the benefits of water yoga are .It increases longevity, .It promotes memory, .It makes the mind satwic, ,It gives vitality, It promotes health, It makes the body beautiful, It cures all diseases, It is antidote to laziness and lethargy, It gives peace of mind , It invigorates all the organs of the body, It maintains the youth appearance of the body, It invigorates heart and circulatory system, It prevents obesity, It strengthen the body , It increases brain power and facial look , It regulates blood circulation , It makes one active, It promotes balanced outlook and reduce anger, It helps one to forget worries, It promotes thinking power, It promotes intelligence to succeed in life , It increases in during capacity to work hard , It increases one’s Immunity, and It Invigorates the nervous system

    A platform has been created for People Living with HIV/AIDS to increase their energy level and to reduce their stress through water yoga .A Positive messages has be disseminated through the Media about People Living with HIV/AIDS.
    FEEDBACKS FROM THE PARTICIPANTS:
    “Water yoga is a good breathing exercise to get relieved from stress” – A.Mallika

    “yoga and water yoga was long time desire for me, it was impossible due to my poverty. I thank ICWO for having given us a good opportunity to fulfill my desire and dream” – D.Soundarajan
    “I am a IDU . After learning and practicing this yoga for the past four days started doing this yoga I feel relieved from my body pain and I have stopped my drug for the past two days, I didn’t get the feeling of taking it” – J.Moorthy
    “Masters who trained us were very good and we feel they are a special gift of god” – J.Jennifer

    “We will surely take it to other PLHA for they should also enjoy this gift and get this opportunity. If possible we will invite the masters to our place to train our community” – M.Radha
    MEDIA COVERAGE:

    ICWO took every effort to reach out to the local print and live media. It has reached a lot of readers and viewers. Positive messages were disseminated through the Media about PLHAs and the benefits of water yoga. Around 10 representatives came from different leading media’s to take part in the Water Yoga of People living with HIV/AIDS.
    CONCLUSION:
    Weeks of planning and networking with the PLHAs had made The Water yoga a resounding success. Bringing the PLHAs from different districts together as a group made them recognize more of their value. PLHAs have felt that water yoga was of great help to increase the quality of live and proud of being a part of the team.

    As a group the PLHAs were happy about getting an opportunity to learn water yoga and a platform to create for PLHA to exhibit their skills and talents.

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