As seen in the December 2008 issue of Yoga Journal magazine!
Hatha yoga (the physical practice of yoga asanas) is only one branch of traditional yoga. Another equally important branch is that of Karma yoga,or the path of service. We practice karma yoga whenever we perform our work and live our lives in a selfless fashion and as a way to serve others. Volunteering is a prime example of selfless service associated with the karma yoga path.
In 2007, a handful of yoga teachers in Ann Arbor wanted to find a way to strengthen our local yoga community. We could think of no better way to do this than through Karma yoga, so we formed an organization called Yoga Serves! We are a group of local yoga teachers and practitioners who know that 'yoga serves' on many levels. We believe that practicing yoga improves our lives and can benefit our community. Our yoga "posses" go out on a variety of community service missions. We pledge to help, and to serve, with joy! We gather together throughout the year for vegetarian potlucks (hosted by a different yoga studio each time) where we plan our service strategies and share our endeavors with each other. We create community through the fun of serving others together.
Ann Arbor Yoga Serves Schedule of Events & Projects
New Coordinator Needed!
Delonis Center Homeless Shelter
We lost our coordinator and need someone to step up to help keep our monthly volunteer project of serving dinner for the homeless at the Delonis Center going! It's very simple: You just send out a reminder email each month to those interested and confirm those who can make it. Then you show up and serve! We have been serving dinner on the 1st Thursday of each month, but if you are willing to take over this project, you can coordinate it for whatever day/time works best for your schedule!
Contact Shannon Walter at swalter1972@hotmail.com if you are interested
in coordinating this monthly project.
Friday, February 24, 1-4pm
Food Gatherers Warehouse
Yoga Serves members will help out at the warehouse doing various tasks such as sorting cans, restocking the pantry, shelving products, salvaging products, repackaging bulk foods, packing food boxes, cleaning out coolers, and sorting produce.
Contact Lisa Barley at lbarley9@gmail.com for more information and to sign up.
Monday, March 26, 5-8pm
Gallery Project
In our ongoing effort to support the arts in Ann Arbor, Yoga Serves members will help Gallery Project--a non-profit organization at 215 S. 4th Avenue that hosts gallery shows by local artists--by doing some light cleaning and painting the baseboards in the gallery.
Contact Laurie Blakeney at ljblakeney@sbcglobal.net for more information
and to sign up.
Late April Date TBD
Annual Earth Day Project
Join us to celebrate Earth Day by helping spruce up the trails in one of Ann Arbor's local parks TBD!
Contact Christy DeBurton at info@christydeburton.com for more information and to sign up.
May Date TBD
The Education Project Book Packing & Distribution
The Education Project works to ensure Washtenaw County students in homeless and temporary living situations enroll, regularly attend and succeed in school. Every spring, before the end of the school year, they have a book collection to encourage summer reading. Yoga Serves members will help sort and pack up the books for distribution to the students.
Contact Christy DeBurton at info@christydeburton.com for more information and to sign up.
Sunday, June Date TBD, 5-7pm
Yoga Serves Community Potluck
Take your yoga practice off your mat and into the community! Bring a vegetarian dish to pass, and come ready to make new friends and sign up for a variety of community service projects throughout the coming months. We serve the hungry, the homeless, the environment, the elderly and other good causes that need our help.
Location: TBD
Bring: A vegetarian dish to pass (with ingredient list) and your own place setting
RSVP by: TBD