World Renowned Yoga Champion Rajashree Choudhury To Visit Camp Okizu

Contact:  Kathryn Keown 516/922-2484

Novato, California – July 21, 2003 –As the very first contributor to KarmaForKids in 2002, world-renowned Yoga Champion, Rajashree Choudhury will be visiting Camp Okizu in Northern California this summer.  Camp Okizu (‘oak-eye-zoo’) is a camp providing recreation, respite and peer support for children whose families are affected by childhood cancers, allowing children struggling with a life threatening illness to explore and enjoy a normal life experience.

The purpose of Rajashree’s visit is to bring more awareness to childhood cancer and the strength, hope, love, laughter and courage that is necessary for these children to overcome the disease.

“My visit to Camp Okizu will allow me to view the facilities and meet key staff members.  But more importantly, I hope to gain a better understanding of the needs of the children who attend the camp.  I want to bring the tremendous healing benefits of yoga to the little ones and their parents alike.  By doing so, I hope to help them remember how important life is, and that it is vital to keep the body active and their mind strong, especially when fighting this disease.” 

In 2002, in an unprecedented yoga event, KarmaForKids challenged the yoga community to raise money for Camp Okizu.  In the inaugural year, with the help of Rajashree, KarmaForKids’ raised nearly a quarter of a million dollars for Camp Okizu through the recruitment of new yoga practitioners, already consistent yoga students and those wanting to immerse themselves in yoga practice for a good cause.  Yogis pledged to take 30, 60 or 90 classes within 90 days and raise $1,000 through sponsorships from friends, family and co-workers.  Participants ranged in age from eleven to seventy years old.

“I exhort the yoga community to make a conscientious effort to be involved in Karma for Kids.  Every individual has in their control the power and the potential to do good things.  By sharing our yoga practice we can change lives and give these children a better chance at the unfair hand that life has dealt them.  Never underestimate the difference that one person can make in the life of another.” 

Rajashree began practicing yoga at age five. She holds a degree in hatha yoga therapy from Calcutta, India, and specializes in yoga therapy for persons with chronic diseases and disorders. She teaches with her husband, Bikram Choudhury, at Bikram's Yoga College of India in Los Angeles. Renowned especially for her deep understanding of women's health issues, Choudhury is the creator of Rajashree's Pregnancy Video, and is a guest lecturer worldwide./font>

The KarmaForKids program, which runs from September–December 2003, is pleased to announce that in addition to Camp Okizu, a New York pediatric oncology camp has been added to the beneficiaries of KarmaForKids.

Registration is now available.  For California registration, please call 415.382.9058.  For New York participants, please call 1.800.ACS.2345.   For more information, please go to www.karmaforkids.com.