Yoga on the scene of the disaster

Photo special collaboration, Caroline Lepage
More than 300 people, including Rolande Richard (mortise), met yesterday for a mégaséance of yoga in the red zone of the disaster in Lac-Mégantic.

Caroline Lepage

Saturday, 2 September 2017, 23:32

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Saturday, 2 September 2017, 23:32

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LAC-MÉGANTIC | Rolande Richard is still profoundly marked by the night in which the centre of the town of Lac-Mégantic has flamed in his eyes. Saturday, the lady of 80 years joined more than 300 other people for a session of yoga giant on the scene of the tragedy.

The night of 6 July 2013, the sky became all red, ” said Ms. Richard.

“I couldn’t stop crying,” she said.

The explosion of the 72 cars of oil was a real shock for the lady, but she did not dare to speak. She was isolated for two years, repeating that others had lived, surely much worse.

“I had still lost my city and my bearings “, she confides, however.

The octogenarian suffering from the disease of Parkinson’s and osteoarthritis has all the same made Saturday in the park Veterans, in the red zone, where 47 people were killed in the explosions.

“It touches me again, admits Ms. Richard who did his yoga exercises sitting on a chair. It brings me a sense of calm and serenity. “

She also practises yoga within a group each week.

This annual gathering was launched last year by Sonia Dumont and Sylvie Bilodeau. It aims to help people make peace with the tragedy that has destroyed, by returning to the scene of the disaster that occurred four years ago.

Photo special collaboration, Caroline Lepage

Rolande Richard

More serene

“Last year, people had a lot of emotions. They were being blocked. The tears flowed, “says Ms. Bilodeau, who always suggest to the followers of yoga “welcome”, what they are feeling.

This year, the atmosphere was more serene. Under the sun, the participants, mostly women, followed synchronism with the instructions of the four instructors who held a yoga workshop at the edge of the lake Mégantic.

The zen music accompanied the movements of the followers, mantras, breathing exercises, or relaxation, etc

People gathered in silence.

“Yoga is very powerful. It is a way to relax muscles and tensions. It is a way of healing, ” says Ms. Bilodeau.

Benefits

Many women have felt the benefits. This is particularly the case of Jacqueline Lamontagne, who discovered this discipline through Yoga-Mégantic last year.

“I floated for two days,” says the one who wanted to come back this year.

According to her, the fire that ravaged the city centre of the municipality of the Estrie region, had left a negative energy in this park.

This place collective has been transformed into a construction site during the long decontamination work.

“We wanted to give him good vibrations. This is a catastrophe of an unprecedented scale, ” says Ms. Dumont.

For this organizer, this tragedy offers an opportunity to rebuild themselves, individually and collectively.

Photo special collaboration, Caroline Lepage

Remember

“This was a tragedy, but now, we live in full of beautiful things with it,” says Stephanie Girardeau.

This day of yoga, to which she participates in with her friend Melanie Won, is a good example.

“It is interesting to reconsider our world. We are all together “, says dr. Girardeau.

The two Méganticoises have lost a good friend during this night of horror. It does not leave their thoughts, even if they have done their mourning, for the past four years.

“It would probably be with us today,” launch the two friends.