By Josie Armitage
Pudsey Ukraine Support Charity and Lemon Zest Yoga have co-organised their Fusion Flow Celebration Fundraiser at the United Reformed Church, School Street, Pudsey on Saturday 18 February from 3-5pm.
Eleanor, from Lemon Zest Yoga, will be leading guests in free dance, a gentle blend of Qigong and Yoga, followed by a nourishing Yoga Nidra, accompanied by Jan McGuire of Peaceful Body, Peaceful Mind and Michael Shutak of Your Time Yoga.
Jan and Michael will use the drums, gongs and singing bowls to create a texture of sound which will allow us to flow in the movement and deeply relax at the end.
They’ll also celebrate being together with traditional Ukrainian songs and poetry and you are invited to tea and cake afterwards.
The United Reform Church has kindly donated this welcoming space and every penny raised will be donated to Pudsey Ukraine Support Charity.
For Yoga Nidra, you will need a blanket and maybe a cushion so that you can lie down and relax. They have some mats available but you may wish to bring your own, and you can also lie down on rugs and blankets. The rest of the practice will be standing and accessible to all so there is no need for further equipment. No experience of yoga is needed and everyone is welcome.
Handicrafts will also be on sale, together with an exhibition on the work the charity has done so far. Cost £15 and all extra donations welcome.
Eleanor said: “I wanted to show my solidarity with Ukraine and support Ukrainians in our local community. I know that anything we do is just a drop in the ocean but feel it’s important to do what I can in the way I know how, by holding a yoga event.
“My idea was to bring communities together as I have quite a few students who practice with me locally and the United Reform Church is a wonderful venue to do that.
“I hold my classes there on a Monday evening and would like to thank minister Denise Webster for her support and kindness in offering the room free of charge so that more funds can go to the cause.
“We are looking forward to singing and poetry in Ukrainian and it is a chance to celebrate our common humanity. “
Gosia Madej Szlachetko, from Pudsey Ukraine Support Charity, said: “The outbreak of the war in Ukraine and the suffering of innocent people caused a real, selfless reaction, because it flowed from people’s hearts – the desire to help.
“I personally have many friends in Ukraine. I come from Poland. I studied with many people from Ukraine, Belarus and even Russia. I still keep in touch with them because they decided to stay in their homeland. They stayed in Ukraine and organise help for those who stayed, mostly the elderly, the sick and the poor.
“Currently, we have made contact with an extraordinary man, Paul Glover, who in December 2022 went with a large load of aid to Lviv. The money from the fundraiser will go towards Paul’s next planned trip in March with two full vans of aid. The cargo is intended for a hospital in Lviv and for soldiers on the front line.”
Message Eleanor to register your interest.
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