For the last two years, I've managed the Yoga Activist mat donation program, which has been a wonderful opportunity to connect with yogis around the country who are bringing yoga to underserved communities. Many of them work in schools in low-income neighborhoods or in
Mission: Yoga Activist is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that offers by-donation trainings on trauma-sensitive and inclusive yoga and provides free guides on best practices in yoga outreach. This organization works between qualified yoga instructors, yoga studios, social service providers, government agencies and communities that have limited or no access to the science of yoga and its use as a self-empowerment tool. Yoga Activist educates yoga instructors on how to share yoga with diverse communities including but not limited to communities experiencing homelessness, trauma survivors, youth, incarcerated communities, and persons with drug and/or alcohol addictions, or mental and/or physical conditions. Finally, Yoga Activist donates mats to yoga outreach programs in need. As part of this mission, Yoga Activist also partners yoga teachers with social service organizations interested in offering yoga programming.
Results: Since 2010, Yoga Activist has impacted more than 2,000 individuals by supporting and coordinating hundreds of yoga outreach classes, training nearly 400 trauma sensitive yoga teachers, and donating over 700 yoga mats to yoga outreach programs around the world.
Target demographics: Communities experiencing homelessness, trauma survivors, youth, incarcerated communities, and persons with drug and/or alcohol addictions, or mental and/or physical conditions.
Geographic areas served: We work in communities that have limited or no access to the science of yoga and its use as a self-empowerment tool.
Programs: Trainings on trauma-sensitive and inclusive yoga, free guides on best practices in yoga outreach, and donates mats to yoga outreach programs in need.
For the last two years, I've managed the Yoga Activist mat donation program, which has been a wonderful opportunity to connect with yogis around the country who are bringing yoga to underserved communities. Many of them work in schools in low-income neighborhoods or in homeless shelters, with senior citizens looking to engage their minds and bodies and with recovering addicts, with prisoners and with victims of abuse. All are extremely grateful for the mats they receive, and those expressions of gratitude make all the efforts - the washing and folding of mats, the trips to the post office, the lugging of heavy boxes - worth it! - Julie , volunteer
hpydc2020
Professional with expertise in this field
10/30/2020
Rating: 5
10/30/2020
Yoga District provided an affordable safe space for me to practice yoga. In addition, when I spent some years practicing and was ready to take the next step and become a yoga teacher, I was provided with financial assistance and given a wonderful experience. Now a practicing Yoga teacher, Yoga District, gave me a well rounded experience and I wouldn’t be where I am without the opportunities they gave me.
Yoga Activist is more than just yoga. It's accessible and inclusive holistic healing. Because of Yoga Activist I was able to afford a yoga teacher training, something that has forever changed my life for the better. Through YA, I've gained access to self-help and empowerment tools that I use in every day life and also in dealing with my own personal trauma. I'm so grateful to YA for helping me find some peace of mind.
yogaijane
Professional with expertise in this field
10/28/2020
Rating: 5
10/28/2020
Yoga Activist is run by dedicated volunteers who work hard to get mats to yoga outreach programs around the world in addition to offering free trainings to individuals and social service organizations in how to share yoga, meditation and breathing practices in a trauma sensitive way. Amazing trainings!
