Brahmani Yoga aims to clean up Goa

It's high season again in Goa, and the rest of India - and just the time of year when yoga practitioners and teachers descend to escape at least part of the cold European winter.

So it's timely that Brahmani Yoga in Goa is about to launch a series of Karma Yoga days, aimed at cleaning up some of the plastic and rubbish littering the countryside and beaches.

Goa's long-standing problem is not only unsightly for tourists and locals - it's hugely dangerous to wildlife and animals.

In April 2000, the Lucknow Times of India reported that as many as 100 local cows were dying every day as a result of eating discarded plastic bags.

The Karma Yoga clean up days will involve three mornings during 'the season' for all Brahmani Yoga staff and teacher training students, as well as other volunteers keen to get involved.

As a thank you, any volunteer will receive breakfast and a free yoga lesson after each session at Brahamani Yoga. The dates will be: December 13 at Anjuna beach; January 17 at Vagator; and February 21 at a destination to be announced. All events will run from 8am to 10.30am.

All volunteers must sign up in advance for the event(s) - to register interest, contact inna@brahmaniyoga.com

Julie Martin, Director of Brahmani Yoga, says: 'Hopefully we can use these days to not only highlight the rubbish problem in Goa, but also to offer service and to give up a small amount of our time and do something for the community that has supported Brahmani for years.

Karma Yoga is a large part of yoga process and I think it is time we all got involved and set an example.'

By Lucia Cockcroft, editor