Yoga brings solace amidst conflict in Ukraine's front-line city
Kramatorsk, a front-line city in Ukraine's Donetsk region, a group of individuals gathers in a basement three times a week. Their purpose? To find respite from the relentless shelling that reverberates through their lives, courtesy of Russian artillery.
The serene sounds of soothing music fill the humid air of this underground sanctuary.
According to an AP news report, Serhii Zaloznyi, a 52-year-old yoga instructor, leads these sessions with a gentle demeanor, helping participants attain a state of meditation. In his own words, «We let go of the external world,» offering solace in the midst of chaos.
Yet, the tranquility is occasionally disrupted by the rush of water through the building's pipes, a stark reminder that they practice yoga in a basement, hidden from the tumult above.
«For the participants, the 'external world' is life in a front-line city where sirens sound every few hours, and the noise of explosions disrupts their daily lives.»
Kramatorsk, merely 30 kilometers away from the battlefront, has endured some of the fiercest fighting in eastern Ukraine.
Late last July, a Russian missile struck one of the city's renowned restaurants, claiming 13 lives and leaving the community shaken.
But within this unassuming basement, residents of Kramatorsk seek safety and security through regular yoga sessions, adhered to despite the surrounding chaos.
«In the beginning, the war overwhelmed people, and right here is where they found peace in their hearts and souls, tranquility, and simply solid ground beneath their feet,» Zaloznyi affirmed.
Viktoria Omelchenko, 47, is one such attendee who discovered solace in yoga. Initially, she had left Kramatorsk but returned a few months later.
