ken atchity door to door: Yoga Gives Back

Yoga Gives Back - February E Letter

For the cost of one yoga class, you can change a life.

February E-News Letter: YGB starts 2013 with incredible progress in India and around the world!!

SUCCESS STORY: YGB's direct funding program "Sister Aid" is providing a real solution and hope in India!!!

We were all shocked by the gang rape tragedy in Delhi last month. The world is now paying close attention to the deep-rooted gender discrimination in India. 50 million girls are missing because of infanticide, the killing of baby girls. Yet, our work continues! Here are some inspiring stories of our fund recipients who are trying hard to provide their daughters with better life opportunities.

NISHTHA: Tripuranagar Village, West Bengal

This is one of the three groups YGB is funding in the remote rural village of West Bengal. Eleven mothers and eleven daughters are receiving funds administered by our local partner NISHTHA.

Sipra Biswas received a micro loan of 2000 rupees last year. She started a mud ornament business right away, as she knew this craft. She has been able to hire other women as well returning 200 rupees every month since last August, and hopes to get another loan this year. Her younger daughter Swarnali (12 yrs) is also funded by YGB for her education. When she was born, everybody urged Sipra to give this baby girl away. Sipra's dream is to provide both daughters higher education so that they can build their own lives, and stand on their own feet. All the mothers in the group are saving 50 Rupees every month for their daughter's higher education, as required by NISHTHA.
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We were saddened to learn that this beautiful mother Ranu Biswas passed away after we visited her in November. Our partner, NISHTHA Director Mina Das, reported this tragedy saying that there has been no clear explanation of her death. She died as she gave birth to her baby boy at the hospital. YGB has decided to continue our support for her daughter Jayeeta (8 years old) so that she may remain in school, as well as receive good nutrition and medical care. Unfortunately, a young girl like Jayeeta is not wanted much by her family now that her only guardian is gone. However, other mothers of this fund group have also come foreward to help this child.

This was a learning experience for Yoga Gives Back. We needed to be flexible to be able to deal with a tragedy like this, while working to find a positive solution. Because of your continued support, we were able to respond to situation and will continue to help women and children achieve prosperity in India!!!

Check out Jill Lawson's poignant article on this topic published on Huffington Post.com: "Yoga Gives back Fights Poverty In India, One Woman at a Time" (January 30/2013)

Exciting News:
Welcome YGB Ambassadors and Local Representatives

Kim Wolff of Chrysalis Yoga in Los Angeles, California. Kim is the lead organizer for "Thank You Mother India 2013-Los Angeles Special Day" this fall.

Jill Lawson A yoga studio owner, teacher and a writer in Dolores, Colorado. Jill just posted a very poignant article on Huffington Post, "Yoga Gives Back Alleviates Poverty in India, One Woman at a Time".

Local Representatives

Rosa Tafliafierro joins us as a local representative from Milan, Italy. A photographer and passionate yoga practitioner, visit her website here. Rosa is organizing fundraiser with a photo exhibit and yoga class on March 1st, see below.

Meet Lynette Braun of San Diego, California. An avid Ashtanga Yoga practitioner, business owner and a single mom, who appreciates an unique and valuable YGB campaign!

Become a Sponsor for YGB Films!
Sophie Herbert and kids

In 2013, we invite you to sponsor YGB's new inspiring video series filmed in India last fall. This short film series will be viewed at our global events, as well as You Tube, our website, and on social media outlets.

Your name or band will be credited, as follows:

In one of the films for $500
In all the films of this new series for $1000

To see an example of one of our eye opening films click here.

Dutch Donation Relay Classes Kicks Off!!!
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YGB Netherlands successfully kikcs off "Donation Class Relay" with three great events!! Check the special Dutch website created by De Yoga Studio. Check the special Dutch website created by De Yoga Studio.

YGB exclusive Tanks and T-shirts for sale.
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YGB teams up with Jala Clothing.com to make popular Tanks and T-shirts available worldwide. Your purchase will help our programs in India!

UPCOMING EVENTS
Ashtanga Yoga Confluence
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28th
March 3rd@San Diego, California

The Ashtanga Yoga Confluence organizers have chosen YGB as a non profit beneficiary of this event and will donate 1% of its annual sales to Yoga Gives Back!!! We are truly honored and grateful for this opportunity from the global support of the Ashtanga community, which has been crucial for our campaign and its growth. THANK YOU!! The Confluence will be held February 28 and March 3, 2013 in San Diego with senior western students of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois: Nancy Gilgoff, Dena Kingsberg,Tim Miller, David Swenson and Eddie Stern. YGB Presentation will be at 1:30pm, March 3rd.
"HOPE, Health , Optimism, Peace and Energy" by Lorraine Fletcher
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FRIDAY, MARCH 1st 7:30-8:30PM
@Malton Community Center, Ontario, Canada

"Yogascapes Photo Exhibit + Yoga Class" by Rosa Tagliafierro and Alessandra di Prampero

SATURDAY, MARCH 2nd 3-7PM
@Sattva Studio, Milano, Italy

"Let it Rain Retreat" byChad Russ
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FRIDAY, MARCH 8th
SUNDAY, MARCH 10th
@Ojai, California

"Kirtan Night" with Clayton Horton

FEBRUARY 22nd 6:30-8:00PM
@Yogaplace Maastricht

PAST EVENTS
Daina Lewis

Yoga Fit Mind Body Fitness @ Hilton Long Beach Executive Meeting Center

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26th, 6:30PM
Beth Shaw and Yoga Fit Conference invited YGB to share our campaign, video+talk, silent auction & refreshments. Proceeds will be donated for YGB and Blankets of Love, a local animal rescue center.

De Yoga Studio, Netherlands

SUNDAY, JANUARY 27th, 12:00-3:30PM
Netherlands kicks off YGB Donation Relay Classes with 3.5 hour Jivamukti Workshop by Francis Van Graafeijland at DeYoga Studio Eindhoven. 100% donated for YGB and De Yoga is matching 100%!!

Ashtanga Intro@Yoga Studio, Yogania, Zwaaag

JANUARY 25th, 4-6PM
Netherlands kicks off YGB Donation Relay Classes with 3.5 hour Jivamukti Workshop by Francis Van Graafeijland at DeYoga Studio Eindhoven. 100% donated for YGB and De Yoga is matching 100%!!

Weekly Donation Classes!!

Swanand Yoga in New York, visit their website. Weekly donation class for YGB on Saturdays, taught by Christie Roe.

Urban Om in Stockholm, Sweden Community Donation Class for YGB, every Thursday 14:30-16:30. Visit their website.

Open Air Yoga started by Stanley Norris, operated now by Sandy, is donating their January proceeds for YGB. Thanks for our new member Melody Naghmeh Manshadi to reach out new communities in Dubai and beyond!!!!

PRESS
"Yoga Gives back Fights Poverty In India, One Woman at a Time"
January 30, 2013 by Jill Lawson
Read the story here.
"Yoga Gives Back: Yogis Making a Difference in the Life of Women"
January 20, 2013 By Julia Sparkman, myInsens
Read the story here.
"The Girls Stolen from Streets of India"
Jan 8, 2013 By Natalia Antelava, BBC World Service, Delhi
Read the story here.

Thank you for all the past events, making a real difference one class at a time!!

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Yoga Gives Back

Written by Kayoko Mitsumatsu

From Posture To Power: Microcredit Changes Lives On Both Sides of the Ocean

We can talk about making change. But affecting real change in the world comes from impacting the lives of individuals. It comes from empowering people to be independent and able to make a living on their own while at the same time being fully integrated in our interdependent global community. Sometimes it takes something that seems to be radical to make this change, but these shifts can be deceptively small. They can be even as small (or as large) as the cost of a Los Angeles Yoga class.

How could this be? In the practice of microcredit, lending seemingly small amounts of money to small-scale entrepreneurs allows them to succeed and change their circumstances. This is the fundamental basis of microcredit’s transformative power; it’s a revolutionary concept in finance. This practice shifts the emphasis from financial transactions being focused only about large loans and large scale businesses, which are out of reach of many one-person operations, institutions and organizations – to lending practices that actually make a positive difference in a person’s life. Microcredit practices based on social justice and empowerment operate through a combination of small-scale loans based on trust and community support, with structured repayment plans and programs that encourage savings. In these situations, people actually have the opportunity to solidify long-term change in their lives.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus and the Yoga Gives Back Team: Joel Bender, Leslie Hendry, Dr. Muhammad Yunus and Kayoko Mitsumatsu (left-right)

In 2006, economist Dr. Muhammad Yunus and the institution he founded, the Grameen Bank, were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. This award was in recognition of their revolutionary efforts to create this micro-credit model, support sustainable economic practices, and provide an alternative to what were exploitive norms. When a person is caught in a cycle of poverty, they may become trapped in the system, particularly since large banking institutions have historically ignored people without assets or credit histories, who are just starting out and who may not have already proven themselves. Most banks prefer to lend large sums of money that represent a greater profit margin and are set up only for large loans in order to make a profit themselves. And even making it more challenging, people at the bottom of the economic scale worldwide have had to rely on moneylenders charging usurious terms and interest rates to obtain funds to plant the next crop, buy inventory of new equipment, or upgrade a business in any way. Institutions such as the Grameen Bank and their affiliates are offering another approach. It’s one that has significantly impacted millions of people.

As Dr. Yunus described in an exclusive interview with Yoga Gives Back in May, 2009, “We started in 1976, and today within Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, eight million people borrow micro loans, ninety-seven percent of them women.” This represents an enormous potential for change and empowerment that just did not exist on a large scale in this form prior to 1976.

There is a social cycle in economics, and Dr. Yunus explained this: “Poverty is not inside the person. Poverty is forced from outside. Poor people are as capable [a] human being as anybody else. They have the same power and energy, same potential. But they are denied such facilities. They cannot express themselves. Money is one of the most important items missing in their lives. You need a dollar to catch a dollar. You cannot catch a dollar with an empty hand. So, that first dollar, nobody has given to her. So she remains dependent on someone else. She has to be hired, to slave; she has to work to make food available on the table. What we have done, we have put that first dollar into her hands as a banking proposition. Conventional banks never come to the poor people. They go to rich people to make more money. The person who does not have a dollar – she cannot get it. So we did it. We did it in a way that is affordable to her. Because we do not insist on collateral. There is no collateral.”

While that may seem like a radical concept, the Grameen Bank has proven that their success is much more than ideological. Dr Yunus cited statistics for us, “The repayment rate is almost 100%, without collateral or anything. This is the strength of microcredit which is now spread all over the world. There are by now at least 150 million borrowers in the world today. Bu it is still very small comparing to the need. We need more microcredit organizations in the world so that more people can be reached.”

Yoga Gives Back is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization begun in LA, with the goal to provide a way for Western Yoga practitioners to give back to India, the birthplace of Yoga, which has given us so much. We’re heeding Dr. Yunus’ call to reach more people through expanded opportunities for and awareness of microcredit and have targeted India and Indian families, women, and would-be entrepreneurs, who would be otherwise stuck in the cycle of poverty that Dr. Yunus described. Yoga Gives Back supports microfinancing operations in India, through the Grameen Foundation, headquartered in Washington, DC. Donations go directly to Grameen Koota, Bangalore, South India and our YGB awareness campaign focuses on the real stories of how poor women are changing their lives with small loans from Grameen Koota.

Ms. Vinatha M Reddy

Grameen Koota was started by visionary teacher and philanthropist, Ms. Vinatha M Reddy (pictured, above) in 1999, who learned about Nobel Peace Recipient Dr Muhammad Yunus’ microfinancing and immediately began exploring ways of replicating his work in her hometown. In 2000, she started providing small microcredit loans, averaging $25.00 a month, to fifty local women. Today, Grameen Koota’s work is reaching out to over 280,000 women in Bangalore, Mysore and many areas of Karnataka state, in South India, making real impact on these women’s lives as well as on the local economy.

Yoga Gives Back

The Los Angeles-based Yoga Gives Back has a worldwide reach and began out of the inspiration and dedication of my Yoga mentor Joel Bender and me. Our group has suddenly started growing almost daily and our mission is shared by a quickly expanding and loving Yoga community.

When I was growing up in Japan, which is a very middle-class society, I had never experienced or seen any real poverty, especially growing up in Tokyo in 1960s and 1970s, when Japan's post-war economic miracle was taking place. Then, I had a chance to live in Brazil in the late 1970s for two years, where as a teenager, I saw the divide between poverty and wealth, the reality of the real slums, kids on the streets begging every time you stopped the car at the traffic light, all very much like India. Social injustice hit me hard.

Once I started Yoga practice and feeling my life being so enriched by it , I felt a need to use my resources to help others. I was producing a documentary on Social Entrepreneurship and learned about microfinancing. I shared this information with Joel [featured in the teacher profile in this month’s issue of LA YOGA] who had been looking for the way he could give back to India since his first visit there – so we teamed up.

When I think about the growth of Yoga Gives Back thus far, I give a lot of credit to the entrepreneurship and volunteer spirit of Americans, willing to embrace and support a new grass roots campaign like ours.

Kayoko Mitsumatsu, co-founder of Yoga Gives Back, is a documentary filmmaker whose films deal with social justice issues, including First They Killed My Father a memoir of a Cambodia’s Killing Fields’ survivor.

A Life Changing Story of Microcredit: Jayashree

Jayashree

Jayashree lives in the suburbs of Bangalore and is married and the mother of two children. We visited her at her humble dirt floor one room home for the first time in 2007. We were touched by her warm smile and most generous hospitality, serving us hot tea and cookies.

Jayashree was born into a very poor family in Bangalore. When she was a child, her family’s financial situation became so severe that she had to drop out of school and work at a garment factory. She toiled throughout her childhood and after she got married at fifteen, her meager earnings had to support her ailing in-laws. She had two children. Her husband’s rickshaw business was not enough to pay her sons’ education or secure food for the family.

In 2007, Jayashree learned from her neighbors about Grameen Koota’s microcredit program and applied for her first loan. She was granted a first loan of 7,000 rupees ($175), and immediately bought her husband’s auto rickshaw. Owning their own rickshaw business increased their income significantly.

Jayashree was able to pay back her entire loan in one year and became eligible for her second loan in 2008. Having proven her diligence, her second loan amount doubled to 15,000 rupees ($375). This time, she bought a sewing machine and started stitching bags. The family’s earnings have now tripled and she is earning 150 rupees ($3.75) a day. In addition, she opened a small shop next to her house to sell her products which is earning her an additional 100 rupees ($2.50) a day.

She is sending her elder son to a medical school. Her son dreams of becoming a doctor and thanks his mother’s business for providing his education, their own home and daily food.

To participate in a Yoga practice where the proceeds support Yoga Gives Back and directly impact the transformation of not only your own life, but that of someone in India, start your Thanksgiving week at Yogaglo, Sunday, November 22, 10:00 A.M. - 12 noon. Some of the teachers include John Sahakian, Felicia Tomasko, Alexandra Aiken and Ally Hamilton; more to be announced. Yogaglo.com; yogagivesback.com.

For more information on Yoga Gives Back or to host a Yoga Gives Back class at your own studio or location, visit: yogagivesback.org or contact yogagivesback@earthlink.net.