YOGA-RHYTHM The Rhythm of Nature: Returning to Nature with Yoga

This August we hosted the Erasmus+ Youth Exchange “The Rhythm of Nature – Returning to Nature with Yoga” in Legnica, Poland.
The project gathered young people from Poland, Türkiye, Italy, and Bulgaria to explore yoga, mindfulness, inclusion, and intercultural learning.

Through yoga sessions, workshops, creative activities, and cultural evenings, participants built friendships, resilience, and new perspectives. Together we created a safe, supportive, and joyful space for growth.

1. Getting to Know Each Other – The Beginning

Our journey started in Legnica with smiles, name games, and first conversations. Through activities like My Backpack, Tie Game, and Yoga Bodies, participants broke the ice, shared their expectations, and built trust. Each young person brought their unique story, and together we created a safe and inclusive circle of friendship.Following the energizers and team-building games, participants also joined an expert-led session that included the SCL-90-R symptom screening test, the Wheel of Awareness, and breathing techniques. These activities helped us reflect on mental health, build self-awareness, and prepare for the deeper journey of yoga and mindfulness ahead.

2. The Process – Learning, Sharing & Creating

As the days unfolded, our project became a journey of discovery, learning, and connection. Participants were introduced to different yoga styles — from gentle Yin Yoga in the park to playful partner yoga and symbolic exercises that turned movement into storytelling. Each practice was combined with mindfulness techniques, meditation, and reflections that encouraged participants to notice their emotions, listen to their bodies, and care for one another.

Alongside yoga, participants joined expert workshops on breathing, stress reduction, neuroplasticity, posture, and body awareness. These sessions provided practical tools for daily life strategies to handle stress, improve focus, and build resilience.

Creativity played a central role. We explored symbolic yoga, reflective circles, and even staged a community theater performance about stress and mental health. These moments allowed participants to express feelings in new ways and to see that art, play, and mindfulness can all support emotional well-being.

Cultural evenings hosted by Poland, Italy, Bulgaria, and Türkiye brought the group even closer. Music, food, dance, and traditions filled the evenings with joy and color, helping everyone experience the richness of each culture. Through laughter, storytelling, and shared meals, friendships grew stronger, and the spirit of inclusion became more visible every day.

3. The Conclusion – Reflections & Looking Ahead

As the exchange came to a close, we looked back at what had been created together: a week full of learning, creativity, and connection. Participants reflected on their growth, sharing how they felt calmer, more confident, and more resilient after the experience. For many, the project was not just about yoga or mindfulness, but about discovering new ways of supporting themselves and others.

The final days were dedicated to shaping the future — brainstorming new initiatives, building collaborations, and finding ways to bring the lessons of Legnica into everyday life. Although the week ended, the friendships, skills, and ideas born here continue to grow.

This project showed us that simple practices of movement, breath, and presence can build stronger communities and lasting connections. The story does not end in Legnica, it moves forward with every participant who carries these experiences into their lives

This project was made possible thanks to the collaboration of our partners: Düzce Alfa Gençlik Derneği (Türkiye), Alfa Edu (Italy), and Diabetes and Prediabetes Association (Bulgaria).