Diamondtaire Stars Ambassadors are individuals who make significant, continuing and selfless effort on our behalf. They believe in our mission and vision and in how we conduct ourselves. They have contributed in many ways, including fundraising and helping out with our programs, but most importantly they spread the word about our work beyond what we could possibly hope to do ourselves.

Prequisite For Fellowship On Yoga For Children:

1. Completed 52 lessons of Animal Yoga with Gems Of Yoga.
2. Completed 12 Workshop with Gems Of Yoga on Train the Trainer for Animal Yoga.
3. Available on Weekends to Teach As per the Syllabi taught.
4. Do Readings
5. Practise Yoga Art
6. Story Telling
7. Participate in Yoga Games
8. Demonstrate Asanas
9. Volunteer Time on Public holidays for Karma Yoga.

1. Yoga Training Group

This is the Diamondtaire Star Ambassador aspiring to fulfil the slogan of “yoga education for the children by the children”. The children in this category are thoroughly trained at Gems Of Yoga which follows Bihar School of Yoga methodology. The ladder of progress is as follows:

• Pradarshak (demonstrator) I and II – children trained
• Anudeshak (instructor) I and II – children trained
• Pracharak (propagator) I, II, III and IV – children trained

Demonstrators are trained to demonstrate yoga practices and conduct shanti path, while instructors are trained to conduct school assembly sessions and short classes. The training sessions are conducted at gems Of Yoga inspired by the teachings of Bihar School of Yoga for the local children of UAE and in selected schools for children in far flung areas.

Pracharak (propagator) classes are conducted only at Dubai. Only 50 children are selected for these classes and there are vacancies for new students for the next five years.

A child selected in a particular year becomes a demonstrator in the second year, an instructor in the third year and a propagator in the fourth year.

Pracharaks travel throughout the country at the invitation of organizers and with the permission of Gems of Yoga.

2. Yoga learning group

The yoga learning group is complementary to the yoga training group. An important feature is the (children’s introductory yoga course), which is conducted in Dubai every October. From this course children are selected for the yoga training group. This introductory course is also conducted in different parts of the UAE at the request of organizers and with the permission of Gems of Yoga. The children have to conduct yoga classes in schools.

The outstanding feature of the children’s introductory yoga course is the participation of maximum children at a time at the International Yoga Day. It is a special moment to see children practising yoga under the instructions of trained children. Gems Of Yoga Master Trainer is always present at these training sessions.

3. Personality development group

In order to ensure all round development of the children, the personality development group was formed to blend modern education with traditional values. Important associated activities are the Animal Yoga Club,

• chanting group,
• painting group,
• spoken English group and
• kirtan group.

Training of these groups is conducted on a weekly basis, every Friday. Other groups such as dramatics, dance and sports run on a project basis.

4. Research participation group

This group consists of students selected to conduct research. In coming years we plan to conduct a four month research project with more than 200 children to assess the efficacy of yoga practices on memory, creativity, self-esteem, self-discipline and self-confidence. The results will be forwarded to the IYTA.

5. Parent-teacher group

This group has two levels:

1. Practitioners’ council: an introductory program for parents is conducted in December to impart basic yoga training.
2. Promoters’ council: consists of parents from the practitioner council who assist in the coordinating and training process.

6. Testemonial from Promoter’s Council Parent

Over the year since the training, my eyes are more open as to how the deeper teachings of the yogic tradition often get lost in the glamour of doing difficult poses, or sweating through challenging athletic classes — not that there’s anything ‘wrong’ with that, just that I feel I am experiencing something deeper and much healthier for me on the whole. I love that with the wisdom I received, I get to really have a practice that works for me and keeps me in balance.

7. All these events are coordinated and facilitated by members of the governing body of Gems Of Yoga, who are all school students.