Newport Yoga Instructor Raises Money for AIDS Orphans

To the rhythms of Van Morrison’s “Dancing in the Moonlight” and Mase’s “Breathe, Stretch, Shake,” 25 people hit the mats and stretched their way to a better world at the Innerlight Center for Yoga and Meditation’s “Rock N Sweat” class on Saturday in Middletown. 

Donations for the class benefited work to eradicate the AIDS crisis in Africa.

The donations assisted Courtnay Meletta of Newport, yoga teacher at Innerlight and graduate student of Salve Regina University, who will leave on Feb. 5 for an intensive 15-day trip to South Africa.  

The 90-minute, 90-degree class was led by Anne Marie Herndon. Meletta, who participated in the class, credited Herndon for the idea to hold the fundraiser.

First-timers and regular yoga enthusiasts left the heated class inside the studio in Middletown Commons red-faced and smiling.

Shannon Walker, of Newport and a regular at Innerlight, described the class as “awesome.”

“I really dig hot yoga,” Walker said. “I think Anne is a really rad teacher.”

The class brought in about 100 dollars in cash donations, as well as supplies that Meletta will bring with her to South Africa. Meletta said the cash donations were unexpected and she will use them to ship any additional supplies and luggage she can’t carry on the plane.

The event honored National Yoga Day by collecting donations for Global Seva Challenge through the organization Off the Mat, Into the World.  Off the Mat was founded by sacred activist and world-renowned yogi Seane Corn. The Global Seva Challenge began three years ago to challenge yoga practitioners to work towards social justice. Corn will be leading the trip.

According to Meletta, the service trip has been in the works for two years. Each day has been carefully planned out. 

 “We will be spending the most time in the most impoverished parts [of South Africa],” Meletta said.  

While there, Meletta and her group will work with the Christel House, a non-profit school in South Africa. They will also work with the South African Whole Grain Bread Project. Meletta said the project produces 60 loaves of bread every 25 minutes. Each loaf feeds ten people and full day of work can feed up to 10,000 people.  

“Whole grains are very important for making the antiretroviral vaccines effective,” Meletta said.

Meletta said they will also also work with the Earth Child Project, a South African organization that teaches sustainable farming to children.

“We will literally be farming and painting, while exploring the cultural pieces and also ending the days with intense yoga and processing,” Meletta said. “It will be the full spectrum.”

Meletta has already raised $23,000, exceeding the $20,000 requirement for participants. Together, more than  $600,000 has been raised for the service trip.

Aquidneck Island residents may continue to donate to the project. Drop boxes are located at People’s Café on Thames Street in Newport and  until Jan. 30. Donation needs include easy/first reader books, hygiene items, basic school supplies, socks, and shoes for the orphans.

For more information visit Courtnay Meletta's website at www.yoganewport.com.