Seva Safari: Musical Roots 2017
June 29 - July 8, 2017
The June 2017 Seva Safari will be hosted by Small World Yoga Founder, Liz Veyhl and Shakti Power Yoga Owners, Kelly Carter and Lauren Farina from Nashville! Liz, Kelly, and Lauren are excited and pumped up to bring Nashville to Nairobi! This amazing team of leaders have created an itinerary that will allow you to explore the musical roots of Africa, while bringing some of Nashville’s own unique musical notes to Kenya!
You will dive into and experience AYP’s work first-hand through outreach visits to their communities in Nairobi. In addition, you will get to take classes from several AYP teachers and attend two of their phenomenal Saturday community classes, in which members from the Nairobi community come to practice at the Shine Center - imagine 200 yogis moving and breathing together for 2 hours!
After getting your hands dirty while working on a 3-day service project for a community in Nairobi, you’ll head to Amboseli National Park, where you’ll witness Kenya’s wildlife at an arm’s reach. You will also have a visit to a Maasai village to learn about their community and their way of life! This is a Seva not to be missed!
Itinerary
Thursday, June 29:
Jambo! Welcome to Nairobi! All participants will arrive in Nairobi by 4 pm. on Thursday. We will arrange to have you picked up at Nairobi 's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and then take you to the hotel to relax and settle in. You will meet the rest of the group at orientation, which begins at 6:00 pm sharp. Orientation will be followed by our first group dinner! If you arrive a day early we can help organize a visit to one of Nairobi's sites such as the Elephant Orphanage and the Giraffe Center.
Friday, June 30:
Today is your first morning in Nairobi! This morning we will jump on our mats with a welcoming practice led by your rafikis! Afterwards, we will head into the city to experience the impact of the Africa Yoga Project in the community. We will have the opportunity to work together on a community project based on the current community’s needs. In the evening we will have a restorative practice, followed by a group dinner and the night to yourself- turn in early if you’re still powering through jetlag or stay up visiting with your new friends!
Saturday July 1:
Today, we’ll practice alongside 200 locals at the Shine Center, Africa Yoga Project’s home base. Every Saturday, the Shine Center provides yoga and a warm meal to the local community. This is a powerful, transformative practice. Plan to sweat and cheer and SHINE alongside their dedicated teachers and yogis. After lunch, we’ll invite our new friends to bring an instrument for an afternoon, Nashville meets Nairobi, jam session! Take the afternoon to enjoy the local market followed by dinner together.
Sunday, July 2:
This morning you’ll wake up and enjoy a powerful yoga practice led by Irene, then enjoy a nice breakfast at your hotel. After breakfast, you’ll set out into Nairobi for your first day of service work! The service project will be determined closer to your trip date and will be based on the communities needs at that time.
Monday, July 3:
Day 2 of your service project starts out with morning yoga led by your trip leaders, Liz Kelly and Lauren, followed by an energizing breakfast. After breakfast you’ll head out to the service project where you will continue your work from day 1.
Tuesday, July 4:
This is your third and final day of service project. You’ll use the morning and afternoon finishing up! After the service project is complete, you’ll head to the Shine Center for a powerful yoga class with an AYP teacher.
Wednesday, July 5:
Safari Time! You’ll caravan to Amboseli, stopping for lunch along the way. Once settled into camp, you will gather at dusk for a group practice, with Kilimanjaro off in the distance and the sights and sounds of being in our new safari landscape. To follow practice we'll have a team meeting and dinner. Then it's off to bed for some rest before your first game drive.
Thursday, July 6:
It’s Safari Day! We’ll head out early for a game drive in Amboseli National Park, known for it’s free-ranging elephant population. You’ll also have the opportunity to see cape buffalo, impala, lion, cheetah, spotted hyena, giraffe, zebra and wildebeest. Bring your binoculars! We’ll enjoy the adventure of the game drive, practice in the park with views overlooking the savannah and nearby Mt. Kilamanjaro. This is sure to be a highlight of your time in Kenya.
Friday, July 7:
Up early for a sunrise practice followed by a visit into the village! A special Masai village tour is planned for today. You will hear the songs of the tribe and see the impact of the efforts that AYP has had over the past 7 years and the contribution the Masai yoga teachers are making. You will enjoy a traditional lunch in the Masai village. After lunch, we’ll head out and back to Nairobi.
Saturday, July 8:
It’s time for our final practice at the Shine Center. Enjoy another morning full of yoga, community, and sweat with the powerful teachers and yogis of Africa Yoga Project. Hear from Paige Elenson as she shares about the heart and mission of AYP, and learn a little more about what they’re up to and what your fundraising dollars support in the local communities of Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, and everywhere AYP is active. Come evening, you will begin departures towards your journey home. Safari Njema!
Help them fundraise!
Each member of this Seva Team has committed to fundraising $4,000 to conduct a Service project in Kenya and support Africa Yoga Project. Donate to their campaigns at the links below.
Rachael Bell
Lauren Farina and Kelly Carter
Marcia Schaller
Amy Kaczynski
