James Mattatall Memorial Karma Class
We had the Karma class on the last Sunday of January to celebrate the life of James Mattatall. James Mattatall was killed in early December 2011 outside a bar in Halifax.
Elaine Mattatall is the mother of James and a long time member of Sunrise Yoga. She asked me shortly after James died to hold a Karma class for James. I quickly and wholeheartedly agreed. We were raising funds for the NSCC Foundation creating a scholarship in James’ name.
How did we do
We had planned to hold two simultaneous classes, one gentle yoga and the other vigorous, since we have two practice spaces. Once everyone had arrived it was obvious that would have to use our overflow room.
As people were coming in the door they were emptying their purses and wallets into the Karma Bear with their donation to the NSCC foundation. I ended up with some strange foreign coins in addition to a very large pile of Canadian coins and bills.
The more than 20 people that were doing the gentle yoga moved to the overflow space and the slightly less than 20 people that were doing the vigorous yoga moved to the larger practice space. Now we had enough room to practice yoga.
We had over 40 people come to the Karma class and we raised just over $800 for the NSCC Foundation in the memory of James Mattatall.
You guys absolutely rocked. This is the largest Karma class that we have ever had.
Elaine sent me an email a couple of days after the Karma class that she asked me to share with you.
Elaine’s email of Thanks and appreciation
Elaine Mattatall
Dear Jack and Sarah
I am writing today to thank you and all of the yoga teachers and everyone who participated in the Karma Class in James’s memory yesterday (Sunday Jan. 29th).
It is difficult to see through the tears streaming down my face right now, but I want to express on behalf of my family how much having the karma class and the Love and Kindness meditation meant. You are very special Sarah , you did a beautiful job.
It has been just over six weeks since James was killed. Our hearts are torn into pieces, the wounds are very deep and raw, and a part of our soul is missing. It has been said that the only way to deal with grief and trauma is to travel through it to the other side. Yesterday’s class was a step on that journey, made with the support of many friends.
It is particularly poignant to me that each of the qualities mentioned in the Love and Kindness meditation prayer are qualities James possessed and exhibited as part of his everyday life here on this earth. Perhaps collectively we have made a difference to him in his next life, in addition to bringing comfort to our family.
To the approximately 40 people who participated, including my sister Brenda, the many friends from other walks of life, and James’s friends… I appreciate the time you took from your busy lives and own precious family time to remember James. I know there were people out of the country unable to attend who held us in their thoughts during that time too.
Over $800 was placed in the “Karma Bear” jar to be added to the James Mattatall Memorial Fund at the NSCC . This fund now exceeds $8000 thanks to the generous donations of over 94 individuals and businesses intent on keeping James’s memory alive, and it continues to grow.
The administrators of this fund have invited our family to participate in the decision making process on its disbursement to potential students. There would seem potential for it to become an annual award to student(s) in James’s memory.
From the bottom of my heart, thank-you to all.
Elaine Mattatall
