Tonight is service in action - extending our reach and our stretch! Several excellent Austin-based yoga teachers are coming together in volunteer support of fund-raising efforts that will be dedicated to the 2012 Global Seva Challenge - India.
I've personally accepted this challenge and am dedicating my efforts in this year to raising both funds and consciousnesses towards this goal: please check my Seva Challenge Page here.
In the early part of this year, I fulfilled a years-long goal of attending a week-long training with Off the Mat, Into the World - a dedicated group of yogis who have elected to use our privilege and position to become conscious activists. Conscious activists who can both offer service, as well as being able to create sustainable work in areas that have or are experiencing trauma, without internalizing the experience and causing personal burnout.
I've been fortunate to have had two great careers, both where I worked in a conscious industry aimed at empowering people and supporting them in their pursuit of lifelong health, at every level. And, I've been privileged to interact with, both as student and teacher, some fantastic individuals. I've also been blessed with a lot of opportunity, and the ability to lead, teach and inspire.
I feel that at this point in my life, it's an opportunity to give and serve, in complement to what I have been doing, but in 'another row of the garden'. Since the completion of my OTM training, I've made some major life shifts, bringing my values, actions and intentions into alignment, and working on moving into this new space of selfless service, or Seva.
Each year, Off the Mat (OTM) sponsors an international service project called the Global Seva Challenge. The Seva Challenge is a transformational journey that builds community, provokes awareness and action around global issues, and raises significant funds to support communities in crisis. Since 2007, the Seva Challenge has raised over two million dollars for projects in Cambodia, Uganda, South Africa and Haiti. In 2012 the Seva Challenge will be focused on the issue of sex trafficking in India and worldwide.
I've personally accepted this challenge and am dedicating my efforts in this year to raising both funds and consciousnesses towards this goal: please check my Seva Challenge Page here.
In the early part of this year, I fulfilled a years-long goal of attending a week-long training with Off the Mat, Into the World - a dedicated group of yogis who have elected to use our privilege and position to become conscious activists. Conscious activists who can both offer service, as well as being able to create sustainable work in areas that have or are experiencing trauma, without internalizing the experience and causing personal burnout.
I've been fortunate to have had two great careers, both where I worked in a conscious industry aimed at empowering people and supporting them in their pursuit of lifelong health, at every level. And, I've been privileged to interact with, both as student and teacher, some fantastic individuals. I've also been blessed with a lot of opportunity, and the ability to lead, teach and inspire.
I feel that at this point in my life, it's an opportunity to give and serve, in complement to what I have been doing, but in 'another row of the garden'. Since the completion of my OTM training, I've made some major life shifts, bringing my values, actions and intentions into alignment, and working on moving into this new space of selfless service, or Seva.
Each year, Off the Mat (OTM) sponsors an international service project called the Global Seva Challenge. The Seva Challenge is a transformational journey that builds community, provokes awareness and action around global issues, and raises significant funds to support communities in crisis. Since 2007, the Seva Challenge has raised over two million dollars for projects in Cambodia, Uganda, South Africa and Haiti. In 2012 the Seva Challenge will be focused on the issue of sex trafficking in India and worldwide.
Participants who take the Seva Challenge have up to one year to raise $20,000 through local outreach and community building. Tonight, at Yoga Yoga Westgate, the proceeds from the Third Friday Seva class will go towards several ATX based yoga teachers who are all Seva Challenge participants. Please come out if you can and support with your dollars and your flow - if you can't make it, please contribute however you can. If you are interested in more information, please contact me directly!
In 2013, OTM will lead a Bare Witness Tour to India which will include an immersion into the history and culture of India – the birthplace of yoga – as well as an examination of the environmental and socio-economic conditions that are the root causes of sex trafficking. OTM will partner with organizations that not only rescue victims of sex trafficking but are actively working to rehabilitate and provide a healing process for survivors.
In 2013, OTM will lead a Bare Witness Tour to India which will include an immersion into the history and culture of India – the birthplace of yoga – as well as an examination of the environmental and socio-economic conditions that are the root causes of sex trafficking. OTM will partner with organizations that not only rescue victims of sex trafficking but are actively working to rehabilitate and provide a healing process for survivors.
In addition, OTM will support organizations that are raising awareness and creating economic opportunities and empowerment for survivors. This year Off the Mat NYC launched the Yoga Freedom Project whose mission is to unite the yoga community around the issue of sex trafficking.
Please help me support this important cause, come to the event tonight, give directly on the OTM site, or link here to donate to OTM directly in my name.
Thanks and praise!
Please help me support this important cause, come to the event tonight, give directly on the OTM site, or link here to donate to OTM directly in my name.
Thanks and praise!
