UP in Melville Forest on a Saturday morning, you can find Sim and Nikhil Mulay doing meditative yoga alongside a gathering of locals in the township hall.

 If you were to follow them back home, you would be quickly introduced to their family of rescued cows, dogs, cats and lambs.

The free yoga practice they facilitate and the animal sanctuary they run is part of a lifestyle of karmic positivity, part of their Vedic culture.

Their endeavour is called Karma Stories and is part of a movement of like-minded individuals across Victoria helping their communities grow and heal by connecting to Vedic thought.

“Being a part of the Vedic philosophy and culture it is our duty to give back to the creation, what we have received from the creation,” Ms Mulay said.

Mr and Ms Mulay are both film professionals - Sim has worked extensively in Bollywood films, wildlife documentaries and video commercials, while Nikhil is a sound engineer and a lecturer in TAFE, Adelaide.

He has worked on some of the highest selling A list concerts for artists like Kiss, Bon Jovi, Leo Sayer, Indian Ocean, and Kailash Kher.

But their property out near Melville Forest has given them the opportunity they really want; to give back to nature, and help people overcome negative thoughts through connecting with themselves.

“Melville forest provides a beautiful place for an animal sanctuary,” Ms Mulay said.

“We are blessed with a wonderful community and neighbours who are very sensible and understanding people. Karma is a very essential part of our journey.

“It all started a few years ago when we found an abandoned dog on Cavendish-Coleraine Road in early 2018. After multiple attempts to contact the owner failed, the SGSC pound gave the ownership of the dog to us, who now lives happily with us.

“As word spread, kind farmers would bring sick, orphan or injured lambs who we gave the medical care they needed and today they have made Karma Stories their forever home.”

Mr and Ms Mulay spent $50,000 of their own savings to buy cows and bulls to save them from slaughter – the animals are revered in Vedic tradition, and now their cows are not just part of the family, but crucial to the process of connection and self-healing they help others go through.

They have had rescue organisations and farmers leave animals with them for care.

“The volunteers at Karma Stories are from all walks of life,” Ms Mulay said.

“Primarily they are kind neighbours and locals who have been very helpful, like Pete Crosbie, a nurse by profession, who has been very active in giving us his old cows to nurture. Now he is aging, not able to look after them, but he still comes at odd hours to help us and contributes as well.”

They said they see the concept of karma at work in all religions, from Catholicism to Hinduism – though yoga is not about any particular religion, rather for understanding creation, getting over one’s emotions and attachment to life to prepare for death without fear.

“Many locals who are attending the yoga classes have been healed of their negative emotions,” Ms Mulay said.

“They have experienced an improvement in not just their physical health but mental and emotional stability as well.

“When you see and care for living beings around you, those who cannot defend themselves and when you see some of them die in front of you, you learn how to get over the emotional feelings and attachments in life and are equipped for the next journey.

Ms Mulay said yoga involves body postures, breathing and meditation, as well as ancient spiritual sciences like tantra, clairvoyance, healing, spiritual healing and Vedic martial arts.

“Through the community yoga classes and animal welfare we find relief that we are able to discharge our social responsibilities and commitment towards the society, and feel we are doing our duty towards society,” Ms Mulay said.

“Australia welcomed us and all the neighbours supported us, this is our way of giving back to this beautiful country.”

Free weekly yoga classes take place at the Melville Forest Community Hall every Saturday at 9am.