Yoga imparts peace, mindfulness for Sister Gus' Cafe kids: 50 years of Emmaus Ministries

In today's world, many of us are constantly connected. We are notified of events on our cell phones and our televisions. We use Google to effortlessly find the answers to anything that sparks our interest. With access to so much immediate gratification, and an abundance of knowledge and options, focus on oneself can often lead us to lose our deepest connections; to nature, to our community and to the present moment.

At Sister Gus' Kids Cafe, connection and community building are happening naturally each day as Emmaus staff and volunteers serve the children's basic needs of food and clothing while giving them affection and care. Sister Gus' Kids Cafe, a ministry of Emmaus, is an after-school program that provides a nourishing meal, homework assistance and supervised activities to approximately 60 children ages 6 through 17.

Sitting down for a hot meal is just one of the many activities taking place as children from different backgrounds and schools gather together to learn, experience, connect and play. Each week, a group of girls walk up the stairs of A Space to Create: The Studio at St. Mary's (formerly St. Mary's School) to practice the art of mindfulness and movement, finding peace in the present moment during yoga classes.

Teaching these students has become something I look forward to each week. I started working for Emmaus Ministries in December, shortly before opening Infinite Love Yoga, LLC. Eager to take action and cultivate meaningful change, one of the first goals of Infinite Love was to become more involved in the community surrounding the studio.

Compassion in action

Seva is an ethical principle of yoga, which loosely means service, or compassion in action. Living in a way that supports the well-being of others without concern for a reward and for the betterment of the world. In many yoga traditions, it often involves feeding others. What better place to practice Seva than at Emmaus, surrounded by those who have devoted their lives to selflessly serving for 50 years? The hospitality and service of Emmaus staff and volunteers are well known in our community as they feed Erie's least fortunate every week at Emmaus Soup Kitchen, provide groceries at Emmaus food pantry, and work in Emmaus Grove to grow fresh produce.

Using our own individual skills, whatever they are, to serve others, finding a need and fulfilling it,seems like such a simple thing to do to cultivate connection and improve our community. So, why aren't more of us doing it? Surely we all have something that we can offer to others, whether that gift is feeding or providing clothing to those who need it most, giving time to help a child with homework, or offering a service. We all have gifts and the fact that we each can contribute something unique to serve our community is a blessing.

Quiet power

When I began having classes for the children, I was told numerous stories of the meditation classes given to children over the years by the Benedictine Sisters, and that many of those original students, who are now adults, still remember those lessons fondly today. Some children have never experienced complete quiet or spent time away from the influences of technology. Bringing children into a quiet, peaceful space and requiring them to focus can be a challenge, but the girls are enjoying the process. Sometimes, they even fall asleep in deep relaxation.

The children are learning to focus their attention within and reflect while having fun and building community among themselves. Weekly yoga classes provide the creative outlet of growing branches with their arms in tree pose or bending backwards in wheel pose, with the discipline of standing still and silent in warrior pose. I enjoy seeing how each child approaches the practice creatively. I enjoy watching how they challenge each other and change a little each week. As I get to know each of them, I see myself being challenged and changing a little each week as well.

Some of the students are the children of Erie's new Americans, whom I have also had the opportunity to teach recently. Sitting at the front of a classroom with my large, refillable water bottle, I notice it receiving a few glances. Later, I reflect on how lucky I am to be able to quench my thirst at any time. I don't have to walk miles in the elements to get clean water to drink. I can simply turn on the tap or stop at the nearest store. I learn that some of the children from my classes have had to carry water for their families. With the world at our finger tips, still most of us don't truly know our neighbors.

More: Sister Mary Miller ran Emmaus Soup Kitchen for 42 years. How Erie honored her service

After we ended the first class, I thanked all the children for being there with me. They immediately asked, "Why are you thanking us, you're the one teaching us?" I explained that I was grateful they were there so that we could learn and practice together. I saw them begin to light up and each week there are now new questions. Many times, the children ask about the plants in the studio or the prisms of rainbow light coming from the windows. They understand that the studio is a special, sacred place. They appreciate beauty and the peacefulness of the space. I tell them, "Remember this peaceful feeling, and go out and share it with others in the world."

Amy VanScoter is the communications and development coordinator at Emmaus Ministries and the owner of Infinite Love Yoga, LLC, located inside The Studio at St. Mary's: Space to Create.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Yoga imparts peace, mindfulness for Sister Gus' Cafe kids: 50 years of Emmaus Ministries