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We are so excited to get to return to the Elephant Conservatory in January for our yoga retreat, and we can’t wait to let some of the participants get their hands dirty, in a fun way.

This video clip shows a Sister & her little Brother playing in their “bathtub” while their mom looks on. About 1 minute in to the video is when their sibling playfulness really shows.

e: Have you worked corporately or globally, and how do you compare that job with a locally owned business?
KCG: We offer Kunga Journeys yoga service retreats, where we volunteer with children in developing countries. We will be returning for our third group trip to the Home of Hope Orphanage India in December 2010, and it’s absolutely the best job in the world. Nothing corporate about it; no downfalls at all. We love fusing our global travels with our local business, and work hard to bring new projects and ideas back to Wilmington from our travels.

e: What products does your store offer that stand above others in town?
KC: The Wilmington Yoga Center offers a variety of yoga and wellness-based products and clothing that are not carried anywhere else in Wilmington.

e:Tell us a customer-related story that sums up your service to Wilmingtonians?
KCG: This January we hosted a two-day Yoga-thon to celebrate our 10-year anniversary. The event provided 100s of Wilmingtonians a chance to experience yoga for free. It also doubled as a fund-raiser for the Home of Hope Orphanage in India. We are hosting another Yoga Day on June 19th to give back to the community, as well as raise funds for the orphanage.

e:What has been the funniest moment to happen in your current business??
KCG: We held a fund-raiser for the Mizero Orphans of Rwanda (children who lost their parents in the genocide), and they joined us for our public yoga classes. Without being able to speak/understand English, they kept right up with us, and laughed and giggled the entire class, falling over in yoga postures, making fun of each other in their language the entire time—they had no idea it was somewhat of a meditative, quiet experience

e:How are you staying relevant, fresh and top of mind when stacked up against your competitors?
Wilmington Yoga Center is driven to broaden the scope of the Yoga community here in Wilmington. Whether it be through our outreach programs, with local under-served populations, Pay-What-You-Can donation classes at the center or our internationally renowned workshop presenters, we do everything we can to meet the needs and expand the minds of our community.

e:What’s next on your agenda in evolving your store/product line?
KCG: We are currently forming a non-profit for all Kunga service projects. Our goal is to raise $100,000 by 2012 for the orphans we work with. We are also placing 40-plus new Kunga Yoga certified teachers into the Wilmington community this year, to offer free yoga to under-served populations.

e:Your extra-curricular activities consist of what?
KCG: I believe in philanthropy and love working with orphanages and under-served populations around the world, as well as local outreach programs, working with organizations like the Boys & Girls Club of Wilmington, St. Judes Hospital, Costco Wellness Program, Girls Inc—the list goes on and on. We also offer corporate yoga programming, off-site yoga, private parties, concerts at the center and holistic workshops in ayurveda, meditation, nutrition, dance and more!

e:Your favorite place in Wilmington to visit is where, and why?
Our incredible, beautiful, clean, relaxing beach. Easy Question

LEFT TO RIGHT:(left to right) Loren Gulak, Owner, Heather Lilly, General Manager, Carly Richard, Assistant Manager, Kristin Cooper-Gulak, Owner

These clips were filmed & edited by our Kunga Yoga participant, John McIntyre, during an amazing journey from the orphanage to the home of Kaliyani’s mother located in the rural slums outside of Cochin along a river bank.

(Just a side note about school buses in India… unlike U.S. school buses where windows could rarely be opened without some sort of knuckle-busting feat of strength and assigned seating prevailed, Indian schools buses have no windows, or rather, no glass in the windows, with very relaxed seating plans. They are open-air rides with children sitting or standing wherever they could… in the isles, on the steps to the door, in Americans’ laps, etc. The relief from hyper-safety concerns and excitement from the girls going on a field trip made for a truly joyful experience)

Before unloading at the park, Sister Sophie laid down the rules or the afternoon (she was the one with The Whistle around her neck). The Buddy system was in effect… the each older girl was responsible for one of the younger girls on arrival & departure. And when the whistle is blown, it is time to come back to the bus.

The park was filled with tons of Indian families enjoying a Sunday afternoon together. And as a group of Westerners palling around with nuns with little Indian girls dragging us around by the hand from swing-set to jungle gym, we did get some curious looks and questions from the locals.

The afternoon was filled with playing & laughing and swinging & sliding. There was also an international exchange of group hand games (i.e. Miss Mary Mack, Tip-Top and some sort of Eye-Spy game). Some of the girls enjoyed a change to grab some of our cameras and play photographer for the afternoon as well.