By Lanier Laney

Shelly Lowther, along with Erin Dean and the members of Dancing Dogs Yoga, organized a major fundraiser this past weekend for the Yoga Aid for Africa Yoga Project (AYP) as part of a worldwide simultaneous event held in 30 countries. Yoga groups from Savannah to Charleston participated in the Waterfront Park event. Money raised will be used in Kenya to provide job training for 52 teachers and also to build much-needed schools and orphanages, as well as providing HIV education.
Shelly will be traveling to Kenya in early 2013 with fellow AYP Ambassador Kate Taylor of Savannah Power Yoga, who co-taught the event with her and Beth Thomas of Charleston Power Yoga. AYP teaches 250 free yoga classes per week in Kenya, empowering more than 5,000 people in relaxation and centering techniques. Shelly said, “Yoga Aid for AYP set an intention to come from a place of ‘we are connected.’ By coming together and channeling our energy to a common cause of community, we connect with ourselves, and with others. There is an African proverb,  ‘Ubuntu,’ that means ‘I am because you are.’ Together we are one.” The event raised more than $8,500 in Beaufort alone. “We say thank you to all our sponsors and to all the people that came and attended the event,” said Shelly. Here are some pics for you:

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<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/IMG_0364.jpg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-8044" title="IMG_0364" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/IMG_0364-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a><a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/IMG_0357.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-8045" title="IMG_0357" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/IMG_0357-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>