Category: Karma Yoga

Supporting the Amazon & Junglekeepers

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Each year the studios in the global Modo Yoga community band together in support on an environmental charity to help raise awareness as well as funds to help protect and sustain our natural world. We call this special time Grow Your Yoga as we take our yoga beyond the hot room and out into the world. This year we are partnering with Junglekeepers to protect one of the most biodiverse and pristine areas of the Peruvian Amazon: the Las Piedras river corridor, one of the last remaining untouched rainforests on earth.

This past year, many studios were part of global climate movements like the Global Climate Strike. Knowing the crisis our planet is facing, we are tasked with doing everything we can to help stem the changing climate. As climate leader Greta Thunberg reminds us, trees are a natural climate solution and an important tool in the fight against climate change.

Protecting and restoring the Amazon is more vital than ever, which is why we have once again partnered with Junglekeepers for this year’s Grow Your Yoga. By focusing our efforts on one single organization, we are also massively increasing our impact, as a community, and on the world.

Join us throughout March and April as we sweat to protect the Peruvian Amazon!

Our monthly charities are nominated by students like you to receive karma support. Do you have a charity you’d like to nominate, maybe even one you volunteer your time for? Let us know!

Supporting WIRES & Australian Wildlife

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Join us at Modo Yoga Seattle on Fridays at 7:30pm for karma yoga in support of WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service Inc.). Throughout February your $5-$10 donations will help sustain their efforts “to actively rehabilitate and preserve Australian wildlife and inspire others to do the same.” With catastrophic fires, the worst drought in history and record breaking high temperatures taking a tragic toll on native wildlife, your support is needed now more that ever.

With the worst Australian fire season on record, WIRES will be focusing on increasing their capacity to rescue and care for more individual animals and pursuing additional opportunities to help wildlife more broadly, including partnering on projects to improve long-term outcomes for native animals.

In the first week of January WIRES received over 7,800 calls and volunteers accepted over 1,000 rescues to assist sick, injured and orphaned native animals. As WIRES volunteers continue to rescue and care for animals, they are witnessing a tragedy unlike anything previously experienced in decades of work with Australian wildlife. In early January experts estimated over 1 billion animals have been effected and that number will only continue to rise. With the fires destroying unprecedented amounts of habitat, your karma donation will help more than ever before.

In addition to our regular karma classes each Friday night, Kendra and Kevin are leading a special 2-hour yoga/dance event on Saturday, February 8th at 7pm to raise more awareness and funds for the cause. Join us for Movement As Medicine with a suggested $10-$20 donation!

Supporting The Abari Collective & Rwandan Women

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Join us at Modo Yoga Seattle on Fridays at 7:30pm for karma yoga in support of The Abari Collective, working to “empower Rwandan women through access to skill development, entrepreneurial training, and leadership development.” Throughout January your $5-$10 donations will help sustain their efforts prioritizing “partnerships with organizations committed to sustainable economic development” with the full support of community elders.

The Abari Collective began in 2006 as a school sponsorship program called Richard’s Rwanda-IMPUHWE. The organization was founded by Modo Yoga Seattle student Jessica Markowitz when she was eleven years old to support educational opportunities for girls in Rwanda in the rural village of Nyamata. Jessica’s interest developed when a Rwandan man named Richard Kananga, a representative from the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission in Rwanda, stayed with her and her family here in the USA. Richard recounted the atrocities of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda that left many children, and young girls especially, orphaned and the heads of their households. Inspired by these stories, Jessica spearheaded the launch of Richard’s Rwanda-IMPUHWE to help empower young girls of Nyamata through educational opportunities (scholarships, uniform, school fees).

Her humble efforts have gone on to establish student chapters of Richard’s Rwanda – IMPUHWE in several middle and high schools across the United States. Since 2006, the organization has enabled primary and secondary school scholarships for over 100 girls. In 2017, the organization shifted into a new initiative called The Abari Collective supporting employment and skill-building opportunities for these young women upon finishing their secondary school education. With vocational training and supplementary educational programs, The Abari Collective advances the vision of Richard’s Rwanda-IMPUHWE by empowering young Rwandan women through economic independence and financial stability.

This charity was nominated to receive karma support by one of our members. Do you have a charity you’d like to nominate, maybe even one you volunteer your time for? Let us know!

Supporting EGH & Homeless Women in Greater Seattle

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Join us all month long at Modo Yoga Seattle on Fridays at 7:30pm for karma yoga in support of Elizabeth Gregory Home (EGH), serving “single homeless women in the greater Seattle area by providing transitional housing, a Day Center and case management services.” Throughout December your $5 donations will help support their mission to provide “a welcoming and respectful refuge where homeless and at-risk women have access to compassionate care.” Being homeless means that the women served at EGH lack many of the simple things we often take for granted each day – your donation can help!

Elizabeth Gregory Home does more than provide women in its care with a safe place to sleep, a hot meal, and a shower. Women have the opportunity to meet with EGH Care Managers for referrals, support and advocacy to obtain educational and vocational training, job skills, employment, medical care, mental health counseling, drug and alcohol support, and referrals to long-term housing. EGH also offers volunteer led classes that help build social skills, job skills and encourage healthy physical activity. Learn how to get involved with many volunteer opportunities by contacting Elizabeth Stevenson via email at estevenson@eghseattle.org.

To learn more about their focus to build a solid support structure in our community aimed at connecting homeless people to a number of invaluable resources. – and how you can help – be sure to visit their website!

This charity was nominated to receive karma support by one of our members. Do you have a charity you’d like to nominate, maybe even one you volunteer your time for? Let us know!

Supporting Treehouse & Youth in Foster Care

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Join us throughout the month of November at Modo Yoga Seattle on Fridays at 7:30pm for karma yoga in support of Treehouse, giving foster kids a childhood and a future. This month your $5 cash donations will help support their mission to create “a world where every child that has experienced foster care has the opportunities and support they need to pursue their dreams and launch successfully into adulthood.” Treehouse has become Washington’s leading organization addressing the academic and other essential supports of more than 7,000 youth in foster care.

Each morning, nearly 10,000 children in foster care in Washington state wake up to unfamiliar surroundings. In foster care, they are safe from physical harm and dangerous neglect, but they are far from out of the woods socially, emotionally and academically. Trauma and loss, changes in homes and schools and emotional upheaval cause them to perform worse than their peers on every academic measure. Volunteers are a critical part of how Treehouse supports youth in foster care. Whether sharing your time and talents as a skills-based volunteer, advocating for youth, hosting a drive for much need school supplies or warm weather gear, or offering seasonal support during the holidays, they have many opportunities to help support their mission to see every kid in care gets a childhood and a future. They even have opportunities for the whole family! Please reach out to Spencer Sheridan at spencer.sheridan@treehouseforkids.org to learn about getting involved.

Whether you come sweat with us on Fridays, set up a supply drive, or jump on one of their other opportunities to volunteer and make a difference, help Treehouse make the season brighter for all youth in foster care this year!

Want to learn more about how Treehouse has made a difference in kids’ lives? Check out just a couple of the amazing stories from the Treehouse Blog:

Misty Fearlessly Pursues Her Dreams

Johny Throws First Pitch at Mariners Game

Tayonna Launches Business in Late Brother’s Honor

Celebrity Chef Tom Douglas Mentors Treehouse Kids

Supporting Puget Sound Skills Center

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Join us at Modo Yoga Seattle this month on Fridays at 7:30pm for karma yoga in support of the Puget Sound Skills Center (PSSC). Throughout October your $5 cash donations will help support their mission to prepare their “students with skills and knowledge for success in college, career, and citizenship.” PSSC serves high school juniors and seniors interested in specialized career and technical learning. Students earn high school and college credits in a hands-on, workplace-oriented environment. PSSC students graduate with certifications and job-ready skills to jumpstart into further college and career training.

PSSC is one of 20 skills centers in Washington state, offering high-quality, tuition-free technical and professional training. Operated by Highline Public Schools, PSSC serves students from 22 partner high schools in Highline, Federal Way, Tukwila and Tahoma school districts with 18 different programs from aerospace manufacturing to animation to fashion design to certified nursing assistant and much more! Students spend half of their school day in their home high schools, and half the day at PSSC.

Our very own Katie Asare is part of the full time teaching faculty at PSSC as a Math & Science Instructor in the V.I.T.A.L. Program (Vocational Instruction through Applied Learning). “I feel so proud to work at Puget Sound Skills Center because I know that when a student graduates from our programs they move on to their future training or career with professional skills on their resume. I have the honor to work with our future translators, chefs, fashion designers, aerospace engineers, dental assistants, laboratory technicians, etc. Thank you for supporting our school!”

Supporting Team Hope & Huntington’s Disease Society of America

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Join us at Modo Yoga Seattle during the month of September for karma yoga on Fridays at 7:30pm in support of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA) and Team Hope. Throughout September your $5 cash donations will help support their mission to “improve the lives of everyone affected by Huntington’s disease (HD) and their families.” HD is a fatal inherited genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. It deteriorates a person’s physical and mental abilities usually during their prime and has no cure.

Celebrating over 50 years of service, the work of HDSA began in 1967 first under the moniker of the Committee to Combat Huntington’s Disease (CCHD) through the tireless efforts of Marjorie Guthrie.  She launched an all-out assault on the disease that would soon claim her husband, the legendary Woody Guthrie, and threatened their three children. Her extraordinary determination turned her into a global voice in the fight against Huntington’s disease, whose symptoms have been likened to the worst of those associated with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS simultaneously in effect.

The Team Hope Walk program is a grassroots fundraising campaign from HDSA designed to provide hope and support for those touched by this devastating disease. HDSA-WA, with the help of sponsorships, donations and community support, raises awareness and provides funds to support local individuals and families affected by HD as well as research right here in the PNW. Their efforts also support the HDSA Center of Excellence at the University of Washington.

This year’s walk was Sunday, September 8th and was attended by our own Kendra leading the walkers in a yoga warm-up as well as one of our beloved Energy Exchangers, Shah Dillon. Shah just so happens to also be President of the Board of the local Washington Chapter.  Affected by HD in her own family, we are honored to support her (and their!) work.

Supporting the Burn Foundation

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As we move deep into summer and the risk of wildfires increases, we’ve decided to feature the efforts of the Burn Foundation from the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters all month long. Throughout August your $5 cash donations each Friday for karma yoga at 7:30pm will help support their mission to “promote the education and prevention of burn injuries and improve the lives of burn survivors.” The Burn Foundation is run by professional fire fighters who volunteer their time giving back to their communities in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska.

One of the programs the Burn Foundation helps support is Camp Eyabsut here in Seattle’s Cascade Mountains. Eyabsut is an annual week-long summer camp offered at no cost for young burn survivors, ages 5-17 from across the Pacific Northwest region. The Camp can accommodate approximately 60 campers each July. The cost to send one child to camp is approx. $1,000 including travel, food, and lodging. All volunteers and camp counselors are adult burn survivors, returning campers, and/or fire fighters.

Learn more about the Burn Foundation as well as the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters on the Council’s website.

Yogis in the Woods: A Trail Work Party Adventure

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The day started early with sunshine so bright you’d hardly notice the hour. After a quick breakfast, I hopped into the adventure-mobile to pick-up Kendra and Bekah. With a loop around Green Lake, we headed north to Wallace Falls State Park for a trail work party lead by our friends at the Washington Trails Association.

LeeAnne, our fearless leader, met our trio and the fellow volunteers in the parking lot at the trailhead to the falls. Some were seasoned (one volunteer counted the day as trail work party number 35!) and others were brand new like us. What we didn’t have in experience we made up for with excitement and an eagerness do well by our group leaders.

After a crash course in tools and their proper use, we were off to the trail. Kendra built a rock wall, Bekah graded earth, I carried buckets, and we all made many new drainage routes to keep trails dry and mud puddle free. We worked through the day in teams and as individuals, one shovel and ditch at a time. But we did so much more than move some dirt around. We took care of something we love in order to ensure accessibility for others, both strangers and friends, so that they might love it too.

Feeling mighty yet humbled by our diverse band of merry mountain workers, we finished the day looking forward to planning our next trail work party. What a thrill to give energy back to our natural spaces! Plus, who doesn’t love getting dirty working hard alongside great friends with good karma?

Supporting Washington’s Trails

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Join us at Modo Yoga Seattle on Fridays at 7:30pm for karma yoga in support of the Washington Trails Association (WTA). Throughout June and July your $5 cash donations will help support their mission to “mobilize hikers and everyone who loves the outdoors to explore, steward and champion trails and public lands.”

From creating Washington’s largest volunteer trail maintenance program to reforming legislation that allocates trail funding, the WTA has been working hard since their founding in 1966 . Believing everyone deserves to have the opportunity to access the outdoors, they are committed to reducing the barriers to hiking trails and public lands.

In the immortal words of John Muir, naturalist and environmental philosopher, “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.”