The two main reasons I started OM Matters was to 1) help fund yoga for at-risk youth and 2) share the positive benefits of the 8 Limbs of Yoga with you. Having experienced the positive benefits of yoga in my own life, I know that this practice is an effective tool for at-risk youth. The challenge is that most underprivileged youth don’t have access to yoga.
LUCKILY, there is an organization that targets this problem head on: OG Yoga. Their mission is “to deliver trauma informed mindfulness based yoga through partnerships with non-profit organizations serving marginalized individuals to support healing, resilience, self-development and positive social change.”
THANKFULLY, I found this amazing organization to serve. I’m so excited about this group, not just because they provide mindfulness based yoga to San Diego’s most marginalized youth, adults and seniors, but because their programs are based in the 8 Limbs of Yoga---my two passions!
One of their programs that really resonated with me is their work with the Girls Rehabilitation Facility (GRF) in San Diego. GRF is a residential detention facility for the rehabilitation of girls ages 11 to 18. OG Yoga has trained their teachers to work within these at-risk populations so that they can provide the girls a specific yoga practice that helps them “strengthen the mind and body connection, helping to reduce over-stimulation and reactivity, and encourage relaxation.”
A recent study by Georgetown Law’s Center on Poverty and Inequality concluded that tailored forms of yoga and mindfulness programs can be effective in helping traumatized girls. The report states that these girls have shown improvement with:
- better coping skills,
- increased emotional regulation,
- improved neurological and physical health outcomes, and
- healthier parenting practices and relationships.
I felt compelled to support and promote this cause, SO…I just committed to sponsoring monthly yoga classes for these girls. If you are inspired to help out too, check out the various contribution options OG Yoga provides. Even if it’s just a one-time donation of $20 which pays for one yoga class, every small act of kindness makes a difference.
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