Yoga Gives Back - E-Newsletter - March 2011



-Newsletter - March 2011
Yoga Gives Back
For the cost of one yoga class, you can change a life.



SUCCESS STORY, Chamarajanagar, Karnataka, India

Thanks to your support, YGB's direct funding project "Sister Aid" is providing funds for single mothers, their children and orphaned girls, supporting their education and economic independence.

Deenabandhu Green Home for GirlsLast November, we visited Deenabandhu, a home for destitute and orphaned children in the rural district of Chamarajanagar, Karnataka, South India. More than 45 boys and 22 girls live here, ranging from 3 to 19 years of age. Deenabandhu was founded in 1992 by a zoologist professor Dr. G.S. Jayadev as a small home for eight orphaned boys. In 2010, with the help of foreign donations, they built a home for orphaned girls. This environmentally friendly "Green Home for Girls" now accommodates orphaned girls as well as rescued single mothers with their children. They eventually hope to accommodate up to 40 girls.

Puttamma and RadhaToday, YGB sponsors two single mothers at Deenabandhu—Puttamma and Radha, and their children. Puttamma is a victim of domestic violence, and Radha is a widow whose husband died with HIV last year. Radha and her two children are HIV free. With the support of YGB, they have bought sewing machines and have started earning an income. Their children are all at school.

Deenabandhu Green Home for GirlsIn February, YGB Ambassador Sophie Herbert hosted two events and raised enough money to sponsor one orphan girl, Gayatri, 4 years old. An affectionate, happy and positive girl who used to live in an orphanage where personal care was absent, she is now in full swing at the Deenabandhu Children's home, studying hard with other children. An annual cost of $500 (Rs. 22,500) per child pays for all housing, food, education (school and tuition), clothing, extracurricular activities, and other entertainment (such as day and overnight trips and summer camp).

Please follow "Sister Aid" program updates on our web site and Facebook page. Also check out our new "Sister Aid" video on our YouTube Channel.


Exciting News!

Welcome two incredible YGB Ambassadors!!!

Aparna Khanolkar: Inviting the Ayurvedic community and more to YGB

Aparna Khanolkar"Yoga Gives Back is a cause that is dear to me as an Indian woman. To empower a woman with skills and loans to encourage sustainable financial independence is exciting for me as a single mother. To know that women in India can receive this level of support gives me a sense of satisfaction."

Aparna Khanolkar, also known as The Mistress of Spice, is a private chef and caterer in Santa Barbara. A former chef at the Chopra Center, Aparna is the author of "Happy Belly Happy Soul" a vegetarian cookbook. Aparna believes that cooking is a great act of self-nurturance and teaches cooking classes in Santa Barbara and L.A.


Hali Reid McQuillan: Bringing Canada and Costa Rica's yoga communities

Hali Reid McQuillan"An attitude for gratitude is what I have when I think of yoga. To be a part of the Yoga Gives Back global community, with the focus to empower and inspire women of India to beat poverty is a chance for me to give back to my practice which has given me so much. I am proud to be part of the YGB team and look forward to promoting and coordinating YGB fund raiser events both in Canada and on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica."

Hali has been a practitioner of yoga since she was 18. She obtained her Baptiste Certification – the first in Costa Rica, Second in Canada as well as Assistant Training, became certified as an SR® Counselor, Holistic Life Coach and Ayurveda Practitioner. Today, she and her husband offer Yoga Alliance Approved trainings, courses and retreats in Costa Rica and Canada.


Karma Warrrior Clothes is donating their sales proceeds to YGB!!

Karma Warrior Clothes"Our clothes are made with eco-friendly materials and are inspired by the idea that yoga should be lived, and not just practiced in the studio. With each purchase, we also donate 12% of the sale to charity. You can support their efforts by choosing to donate 12% of your Karma Warrior Clothes sale to YGB, one of our incredible Karma Causes."


YGB Donation Class Relay Update

The YGB virtual torches are passing through New York, Miami, Philadelphia, Nashville, Moline, Illinois, Boulder, Los Angeles, and Hawaii, connecting the global yoga community. Want to start a relay from your city? Check out the YGB Donation Class Relay page for more details.



Long Beach event flyer"Serve the World through Serving the Self"

Nicole Inglish, YGB Ambassador Aparna, and Sudama/Vince will host an amazing evening with asana, gourmet dinner, live music, and more!



SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 5:30-9:00PM

Source Yoga Studio


1911 De La Vina "G", Santa Barbara, CA 93103

Yoga VivaDonation Class at Yoga Viva Studio

with Myriam Baker, Aparna, and Thierry Prem Darshan



SATURDAY, APRIL 16


Yoga Viva Studio

124 Seeman Dr. Encinitas, CA 92024

Yoga WorksDonation Class at Yoga Works Tarzana

"Yoga Gives Back Night!" All level yoga with Chaz and music by the Cosmic Kirtan Connection. More information: www.yogawithchaz.com




SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 7:00-10:00PM

Yoga Works Tarzana

18700 Ventura Blvd., 2nd Fl., Tarzana, CA 91356

View updates and more upcoming events on our Facebook page and web site!


RECENT EVENTS AND APPRECIATION

JANUARY 28th @ KEY BISCAYNE COMMUNITY CENTER, KEY BISCAYNE, FL

Family Yoga Jam
with Kerstin Eskeli

From Kerstin: "Words can not say how great the event was…we had a great turn out. …And thank you to all the people who came out to support the cause of Yoga Gives Back!! Sat Nam."

Thank you Kerstin, Veronica, Mantra Grooves and the Key Biscayne community for your support!!

FEBRUARY 6th @ OM TIME YOGA, BOULDER, CO

Lila of Nyasa, The Sacred Root of Vinyasa, Placing Your Attention in The Meaningful Moments of the Flow of Nyasa
with Shannon Paige Schneider

Shannon is planning another event there to raise more funds for YGB. Thank you for your commitment.

FEBRUARY 19th & 26th @ YOGA SUTRA, NY

2 Special Community Classes
with Sophie Herbert and Kumiko Buckman

Sophie Herbert and Kumiko Buckman taught this special series to raise funds for Deenabandhu orphanage. Hari Nam Singh Khalsa supported this event with his meditation session. They raised $500 to sponsor one orphan girl from this series!!

MARCH 5th @ YOGA WORLD STUDIO, LONG BEACH, CA

Leading the Heart Toward the Seat of the Soul
with Ramona Tamulinas, Kim Wolff, and Michelle Libeu



Ramona Tamulinas, Kim Wolff, and Michelle Libeu taught a wonderfully soulful vinyasa class, accompanied by the most soothing Marti Walker's live music. Thank you to all who came or donated to YGB. We are also thankful for the generous lunch donated by Open Sesame Long Beach and sweets by Sconeage Bakery. Great raffle prizes were also donated by many and NISHTHA arts and crafts were sold. Truly an inspiring event by a most supportive community, who raised $1230!!

MARCH 6th @ HILO, HAWAII

Special Workshop "Inner Universe"
with Karl Straub

Thanks to Karl Straub for hosting this last minute workshop to support YGB. This was our debut in Hawaii. We hope to return there many more times!!

Thank you for these very successful events!!

View more event photos on our Facebook page!




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