YOGA AND NOISE!

Yoga fans who gathered at the Cloverdale Amphitheatre to chant and practice breathing exercises under the tutelage of a famous guru were so noisy they woke up some of the town's residents.

The five day 'yoga camp,' led by Swami Ramdev Maharaj, attracted thousands of people to the park, some who paid up to $500 to sit closest to the stage.

But the event, which included a breathing exercise called pranayam and chanting along with testimonials and cheering by the crowd, woke up some residents at dawn on Saturday.

Sylvia Evans says 'amplified East Indian voices' woke her up at 5:30 a.m.

'They had big amplifiers and we could hear them speak,' said Evans, who lives a couple of miles away from the park near Highway 10.

In an email to the Now, Dennis Furnell says residents on the west side of 176th Street were 'blasted out of bed at 5:30 a.m. by drums and loud speakers.'

Furnell wonders why the event was allowed to skate around the city's noise bylaw when construction work can't start before 7 a.m.

Evans called the Surrey RCMP to lodge a complaint and was told that 'several' people had already called complaining about the noise.

She also called city hall to complain.

Evans, a resident of Cloverdale for 28 years, concedes that residents who live in town have to tolerate some noise from the park, the city's main stage for major concerts and other events such as Canada Day celebrations. But there's a limit.

'Five thirty in the morning, that's a little bit much. They could be a bit more considerate.'

Parks manager Owen Croy said the mayor's office received 'a few' noise complaint calls and the city's special events department got about a dozen calls 'especially around early morning chanting.'

Owen said the city will review the event with its partner, the Cloverdale Rodeo and Exhibition Association which approves some events at the park, which borders the rodeo grounds.

Owen said the city strives to strike a balance between hosting large events at a venue located in the town centre with respect for nearby residents' right to peace and tranquility.

'We recognize that people deserve to have a peaceful morning or sleep at their home and we will be working with the Cloverdale Rodeo and Exhibition Association for any future events of this nature to ensure that sound levels are monitored and that sound levels are kept at a reasonable level,' he said.

Owen said staff routinely monitors noise levels in city parks during events.

By Marisa Babic

THE LATEST PRANAYAMA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA