The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

THE summer days are upon us, and while some are enjoying their vacation trips away, most young Bahamians are experiencing the excitement of summer camp.

Whether they are focused on music, arts, sports, dance, health or the culinary delights, most summer camps cater to fun areas of interest for kids.

On that list of amusing and beneficial summer camps is the Ḥāyâh Kemetic Yoga “Youth in Yoga - Kamp Kush” two-week programme. As a whole, Youth in Yoga is focused towards the holistic development of children and youths in distress, either physically and psychologically. The programme is offered to youth groups, schools, and various organisations, designed to meet their schedules.

Kicking off yesterday at the Columbus Primary School, and to be held from 9am to 1pm daily, Kamp Kush organisers said their programme aims “to restore the child, the family, the community and the Kushitic culture (or of African roots)”.

Students will also take part in two weeks of fun creative learning, field trips, as well as an awards ceremony and prize giveaways.

Daniel Cinqué, founder of Ḥāyâh Kemetic Yoga, said he has always enjoyed spiritual disciplines, and while yoga got his attention, he was ignorant about the practice. He said the postures and system seemed similar to exercises he once did while in school, and the idea of the value and breath of life was familiar to him because of teachings he received in the Church. He said yoga brought it all together for him on a higher level of understanding.

“Yoga is a word that expresses union, and as a spiritual discipline it relates the universal wind and the union to the breath. Breathing animates the body to life, the psyche, the soul and the spirit, all of which means to breathe. Awareness of the breath of life is yoga,” said Daniel.

Along with his wife Nebîy’âh Cinqué and brother Kohen Cecil Hall, they formed Ḥāyâh Kemetic Yoga, which includes community programmes that will reach out to anyone with interest in holistic health and aboriginal cultures. Through the practice of proper breathing and a series of yoga postures, they began on a journey of knowing their higher selves.

“Our goal is to revive the spirit of our planet by making yoga available to all,” he said.

When it comes to the health benefits of yoga, Daniel said whether a person is dealing with an ailment or an injury, the benefits are tremendous, especially when embraced at a young age. He said as people grow older, the body builds up tension. However, if proper breathing becomes a habit from a young age, a person can experience a more fulfilling life.

“The systems of postures are designed to master conscious breathing and control of the body, whereby one can be healed from physical diseases,” he said.

Daniel hopes the summer camp will grow to one day become a boot camp retreat, an alternative to incarcerating at-risk youths who are simply searching for their identity.

For more information, the Ḥāyâh Kemetic Yoga team can be contacted at 468-4701 or 455-3928, via e-mail at berevivedkemeticyoga@gmail.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BeRevivedKemeticYoga.