Family Wellness Club (FWC) in Ipoh has been approached by an NGO which is affiliated with an international organisation that formulated the Peace Education Programme (PEP), to launch a 10-week programme which aims to help people in developing their inner resources and strength for achieving personal peace.
The club will evaluate the programme by having a test run for its members and friends before recommending it to others. The programme requires only an hour a week for a period of ten weeks. Each week, one module will be covered, such as hope, self awareness, clarity, love and peace. The presentation will be by video from the international body and facilitated by the local NGO.
According to Mangaleswary Ponnampalam, President of FWC, the club hopes to start the course in about a month’s time. It will be held either on Mondays or Wednesdays from 6pm-7pm at Banyan Spa, No. 40 Jalan Raja DiHilir, 30450 Ipoh. It will be free for members. For non-members, a one-time contribution of RM20 towards costs and overheads.
FWC is a multi-racial cum multi-religious non-governmental organisation dedicated to the wellbeing and welfare of the family and the community. It was formed in March 2014 by a group of committed individuals who were of the view that societal problems can be reduced by focusing on improving the family unit.
The main objective of the club is to empower the family unit through education, coaching, counselling and support-group sessions.
Last year it conducted health screening and empowerment programmes in partnership with various organisations, including Jabatan Pembangunan Wanita, Perak, Pantai Hospital Ipoh, Commerce International Merchant Bankers Berhad (CIMB) Foundation, Lembaga Penduduk dan Pembangunan Keluarga Negara (LPPKN) Perak and the Perak Society for the Promotion of Mental Health.
It organised an outreach programme at the Taiping Children’s Home conducting motivational and educational classes for about 40 children of the home. Most of the children are either from broken homes or poor families or have been abused.
This year it held a talk on “Mental Hygiene – The Missing Link between Body, Mind and Soul” by Paul Jambunathan, a clinical psychologist. The talk, attended by about 200 people, was held at the Royal Ipoh Club on Saturday, January 31.
The club also conducts yoga classes on Thursdays from 6pm to 7.15pm at Banyan Spa. The yoga taught is known as Simplified Kundalini Yoga (SKY) which is suitable for all ages, as it is not strenuous. Lessons consist of breathing and simple physical exercises, together with pressure point massage and self reflexology. This form of yoga, though simple, is very effective in maintaining good health and wellness. The classes are being conducted by Guru Sambasivam who learnt it from the Guru of SKY in India. The fee is RM30 per month for club members and RM50 per month for non-members.
The philosophy behind PEP is that before we can work towards world peace, we need to have personal peace. Readers keen to register for the yoga class or participate in the PEP programme call Ms Denis or Ms May at Banyan Spa at 05 242 6866 or 012 507 3866 between 10.30am to 7pm, any day of the week. Places are limited.
Nantini
