TRACEY TONG/METRO OTTAWA
Yoga instructor Louise Mulvihill strikes a pose at Amnesty International’s Ottawa headquarters yesterday while Amnesty volunteers Stefanie Gescher, left, and Tamara Kalnins look on. The group is hosting a yoga marathon fundraiser tomorrow.
Three years ago, Louise Mulvihill decided to organize a fundraiser for her favourite cause, the best way she knew how — in a lotus.
“Ottawa has a very large yoga community,” said Mulvihill, a city yoga instructor. “I thought I’d blend my yoga experience with fundraising.”
The city’s most hardcore yogis will be practising to benefit Amnesty International tomorrow during the organization’s third annual 12-hour Yoga Marathon, at the Orleans Yoga Shala, starting at 6 a.m.
Ten teachers have volunteered to lead classes in Hatha yoga, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, yoga meets dance, partner yoga and yoga for your hips. There will also be a Kirtan — music and entertainment — after the marathon ends at 6 p.m.
A yoga instructor since 2002, Mulvihill started volunteering for Amnesty International more than four years ago. “A lot of stuff was going on in the news and I started to pay more attention,” she said.
The event, which raised more than $4,700 last year, is expected to bring in about $6,000, to benefit campaigns in Darfur and Burma.
