In January of 2005 Krassi got an opportunity to teach yoga to visually impaired and blind students. The class was conceived by Antonia Kao, a yoga teacher and filmmaker from the Bay Area. Antonia contacted Bonnie Rupel, who at the time was the Community Relations Coordinator at the Peninsula Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Palo Alto and who also happened to be a regular in one of Krassi’s yoga classes. Bonnie is visually impaired and through working with her over a six-month period, Krassi developed the ability to lead a group yoga class without relying on visual cues. Instead she honed her ability to verbalize instructions in a clear and succinct manner. This informal “training”, together with the coaching by a PCBVI Orientation and Mobility Instructor, allowed Krassi to lead two consecutive six-week sessions for blind, visually impaired and blindfolded sighted students. She was assisted by Antonia Kao and JC Nolan. The class was made possible with the support and sponsorship of the PCBVI and Avalon Art and Yoga Center.

The intention of the class was to give blind and visually impaired individuals a basic understanding of yoga. There was a lot of emphasis on breathing and stress relief, as well as on balance and coordination - all important skills that could be very beneficial when applied to life outside a yoga class. In a safe and supportive environment students were encouraged to explore different, non-habitual ways of moving and relating to the body.

By inviting sighted students to participate using a blindfold, the team was hoping to give them an opportunity to explore moving without relying on their vision. Most sighted students were related to a blind or visually impaired person, so through this experience they gained a glimpse of the challenges their loved ones might be experiencing as they navigate life. In the class sighted and visually impaired students were able to go through the same activity while relying on the same senses, which offers them a different and new way to relate and connect.

Click here to read an article about the class: "Visually Impaired Get a Lift from Yoga" (San Jose Mercury News 3/10/05).