Yoga fever in Brazil: Dozens gather in Rio slum to train; free program targets low-income communities

Dozens of yoga enthusiasts gathered in Rio de Janeiro’s Rocinha favela (slum) for the first class of a free program that will train local residents to become certified yoga teachers, AP reported.

The session featured a visit from Krishna Das , a renowned American singer born Jeffrey Kagel, who is known for his performances of Hindu devotional music. Attendees chanted, sang and danced during the event, which was attended by around 150 people.

“It felt like I was in another world,” said Luciene Costa Gonzaga de Andrade, who attended the class. “The mantras lift the spirit and turn sadness into joy. It was magical.”

Costa Gonzaga de Andrade, 54, is a hairdresser from Rocinha, Brazil’s largest favela. She is one of 20 local residents enrolled in the free training program offered by Yoganaya International School and the company Mude.

She began practicing yoga to relieve severe lower back pain. Standing all day in the salon is challenging and she was happy to learn she could become a yoga teacher.

“It's a course that would be very expensive for people who, like me, have a low income,” she said. “Who knows, maybe in the future I'll quit the salon and just teach classes.”

The 14-month project aims to train around 180 new teachers from favelas in Rio and Sao Paulo, who will then carry out paid internships in their communities. Participants receive uniforms, yoga mats, speakers and microphones, as well as stipends and support when entering the job market.

Renata Mozzini, founder of Yoganaya International School, said the project was designed to break the “bubble of elitism” around yoga.

“People here often feel like yoga isn’t for them. They think it’s only for people with money or an easy life. But the truth is it’s for everyone,” she said.

Organizers learned Krishna Das was on a South American tour and invited him to lead the first class in Rocinha, which was open to the public.