International Service Work
Samantha first met Susan Seats (pictured in the photos above), in her Toastmasters club at the beginning of 2018, and the two became instant friends. Soon after, they were planning a trip to India to give back and Samantha was off to India to teach yoga to impoverished school children. The following recap is in her own words:
As I traveled through India, I experienced a beautiful lifestyle, traditions, and culture. The heightened vibrations of love and faith surrounded me and gave me the strength to teach yoga to the community, to the school teachers, and the schoolchildren. This journey to India was a privilege I will forever be grateful for.
Susan Seats, my mentor and friend, guided the trip through the regions of Northern India she had previously visited many times. I was beyond fortunate to experience the richness of the land and the love of the people. Susan and I met with many of her close friends, school administrators, and children along the way. We visited several small towns and traveled endlessly through large noisy cities to finally reach our destination, to serve and give back through our teachings. Susan taught the schoolchildren about feelings, social skills, and magic tricks; while I taught yoga, bodywork, and movement therapy.
Our First Stop
We arrived in New Delhi, India and took a few days to get settled in and caught up on sleep. Our first stop was Saikripa, an Orphanage in Noida, India. Noida is a small town about 45 minutes outside of the main city of New Delhi. On our arrival at the orphanage, I met Anjina or “ Mom,” her secretary Arun, and friends. We gathered together for an afternoon of greetings, reminiscing, and laughter. I met with Anjina’s children for playtime and instantly was met with their joyful energy and smiles. I am still in touch with Anjina and her secretaries and hope to visit them again soon.
Destination Rajasthan
Next, we boarded an overnight train and headed to the next region, Rajasthan India to Udaipur. We headed to meet with friends from the Children’s Peace Palace in Rajsamand, Rajasthan. Here, Susan and I presented our teachings to the children. Susan instilled the foundational principles of social interaction with an emphasis on kindness and compassion.
I taught yoga asana to the school children and dance therapy. During this time, we also visited nearby villages and taught to smaller groups of impoverished villagers. In addition, we visited several nearby English-Medium Academia Schools and taught to students and their faculty.
Saying Goodbye
Susan and I rendezvoused in Southern India in the city of Chennai. I was able to say my final goodbyes and well wishes, then boarded my flight back to the US. This was an eye-opening journey in many ways - seeing the land and culture, smell and taste of their food, touch, connection, happiness, joy in the simplest of ways. I cherish these memories and those I met along the way. Visiting India and all its beauty, was a remarkable journey that taught me about their culture and more about myself.
As a Yoga Therapist, I experience firsthand some of the hardships of introducing yoga into impoverished neighborhoods. I also learned to persevere through those obstacles and language barriers to communicate and teach through movement and dance. Visiting India changed me and shaped me into who I am today. It’s been my inspiration along the path toward furthering my education in Social Work.