Dear Supporters,

I am Vishnu Rao, a Milaap Open fellow from Bangalore. I visited Prafull Oorja a few months back and here is my update from the Visit. 

Yoga as a form of therapy to treat special needs children is looked upon mostly as an add-on that complements traditional forms of therapy. It is not seen as a primary form of treatment, hence not many people are willing to invest in it. Prafull Oorja is one such organisation that wants to change this notion by spreading awareness on this issue. “We work primarily with the special needs community; we realized that there is a need for more awareness  about the effect a sustained approach to yoga can have” said there head Sowmya. I learned that Yoga helps in improving motor skills, sensory perceptions and also in relaxation, and anxiety. Down’s syndrome, intellectual conditions, speech conditions, autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, attention deficit issues, hyperactivity- just the number of issues that the teachers at Prafull Oorja are equipped to deal with is inspiring. They work with close to 20 schools and therapy center's all over the city. 

I heard from the teachers of Prafull Oorja about stories of change that were incredible. A child that had balance issues, who could not even walk straight, was able to complete a 5K run after therapy with Prafull Oorja. Then there is the story of a child who could not speak a word prior to therapy, who then started talking full sentences after just six months of it. The therapy that they impart is very specialized. It varies from child to child depending on the condition or ailment that the child suffers from.