Practicing peace in the face of war

Yoga instructor turns to her craft while homeland is under siege

Susan Schell

of the Gateway

Yoga is an exercise in peace and tranquility designed to unite the mind, body and spirit. But while instructor Luara Kipiani was teaching her craft at the YMCA in Gig Harbor, what was happening in her native country, the Republic of Georgia, was anything but peaceful.

In August, Kipiani received a late-night phone call from her brother in Georgia.

“He said there is a war — it was all over the news,” she said.

While her brother wasn’t in immediate danger, Russia was bombing the city of Gori. Russian troops invaded when Georgia launched a crackdown against Russian-supported separatist fighters in South Ossetia, which broke from Georgia in the early 1990s.

President Bush was quoted on CNN saying the attacks against Georgia had “substantially damaged Russia’s standing in the world.”

“They broke international law and invaded a civilian country,” Kipiani said. “This is something that nobody had a right to do.”

Kipiani came to the United States 10 years ago with her husband and daughters. She is now a U.S. citizen.

Georgia, an ancient, mountainous country located between Europe and Asia, is separated from Russia by the Caucasus Mountains. The culture is rich in architecture and literature. Famous Russian writers Leo Tolstoy and Boris Pasternak once lived there, Kipiani said. Alexander Griboedov, a Russian writer, poet and diplomat, is buried in Tbilisi.

“It is a unique country with a very old culture,” Kipiani said. “We have our own language with our own alphabet. The world has only 14 alphabets, and Georgian is one of them. It carried on into the 21st century and survived so much pressure. Now people in our country are butchering each other, and it’s so horrible. This is very painful.”

A former educator, Kipiani grappled with the horrifying stories of her beloved homeland as they bombarded her household through news reports, phone calls and e-mails. She was deeply disturbed by the fact that Georgia’s values, history and culture could so easily be tossed aside by those caught up in the mires of war.

Kipiani’s best friend, Tamela Meltaure, was trapped in her home for days with the dead bodies of family members.

“My best friend’s father and uncle were killed in their own house,” Kipiani said. “They came in their home and killed them. Then they made her live there and wouldn’t let her out.

“For five days, Tamela was sitting with these two dead bodies. It was August and very hot.”

The two brothers eventually were buried in the family’s yard.

Kipiani’s friend survived the ordeal, but she’s one of many who continue to face a constant threat to their security.

“I was worried about everybody,” Kipiani said. “It’s not just about my family, it’s about my country.

“I went almost a week with no sleep,” she added. “I was always sitting in front of the computer. It was a very hard time.”

Throughout the turmoil, Kipiani found solace in yoga and her American students.

“During that terrible month, yoga kept me alive,” she said. “It gave me the opportunity to control my emotions. It’s hard to explain how it feels when you’re sitting here and these terrible things are happening to people you love. You feel so powerless.”

The teacher’s students rallied around her and offered her a little bit of light in the darkness.

“All of my students in America were so supportive,” she said. “Many people have sent me checks. I send about 60 percent of what I make to the people back home in need. My goal is to help as many people as I can.

“I’m not rich, but this is my duty.”

Three months later, Kipiani is picking up the pieces and moving forward in her adopted country. She appreciates this nation and what it offers.

“You can accomplish things in your life here, if you’re not lazy and you want to work,” she said. “This country gives you that.”

Kipiani is expanding the practice and trade that helped her through hard times, and her students appreciate the dedication she puts into her work.

“She’s an excellent yoga teacher,” said student Yoko Rondon, who takes a class at the YMCA. “She not only shows you the moves but teaches how to hold it and breathe. Yoga is like time to yourself. You need peace, and she gives that to you. Her class is always full.”

Yoga also helped Kipiani overcome asthma.

“Nothing else helped me,” she said. “Breathing exercises are most important, and I want to bring my experience to others and help them. I cured myself of this problem with yoga.”

Kipiani is offering a retreat to yoga enthusiasts every third Saturday at Long Lake near Port Orchard. For more information, call 360-620-1734.

Reach Lifestyles Coordinator and reporter Susan Schell at 253-853-9240 or by e-mail at susan.schell@gateline.com.