Community Yoga Outreach Program (CYOP) benefits Michigan children

June 14, 2011 - PRLog -- Yoga 4 Peace (Y4P) announces its new Community Yoga Outreach Program (CYOP) as an extension of its mission, to provide yoga to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

The Y4P outreach program matches volunteer opportunities to qualified teachers making a positive difference in their community through the practice of karma yoga. "Yoga 4 Peace will provide teachers in two ways, explained Yoga 4 Peace Director Angela Barboza-Ryan.  “The first is through work exchange with our Teacher Training Program.  This Teacher Training session we have offers scholarships to two very worthy recipients who receive their training as a trade for volunteer hours at one of our outreach locations.  The second way we staff our outreach projects is with Volunteers.  We are always looking for qualified Yoga instructors to staff our many projects.  If you are a Yoga teacher, please consider donating a little of your time to help out one of our very worthy organizations. Yoga's ability to transform its practitioner is limitless... Imagine what we could do together."

Y4P is partnering with other organizations and groups that serve special populations (i.e. women’s shelters, Detroit area schools, hospitals, and the River Rouge Guidance Center).
The Community Yoga Outreach Project is led by an Outreach Advisory Committee (OAC) formed in June. Individuals with backgrounds in yoga, grant writing, social work, community service and experience with other outreach programs are welcome additions to the committee. Committee members include:

Nancy Kerr-Mueller
Heather Higdon
Colleen Burke
Mary Ivey-Suiter
Lindsey Vaclav
Jamie Schafer
Angela Barboza-Ryan

"There are few things more rewarding than to give children the tools to develop self esteem and confidence or to give a social service worker the right breathing skills to help cope with the stress of their job,” stressed Barboza-Ryan.  By starting this outreach program, it is our hope to make sure the massive benefits of yoga are available to everyone, not just the wealthy.”  

Y4P is starting a Yoga mat drive and are accepting donations anytime. Pick-up can be arranged. Contact angela@y4peace.org.  


About Yoga 4 Peace
The Mission of Downriver’s Yoga 4 Peace non-profit educational organization is to assist individuals in the creation of peace of mind, encourage peace between all living beings, and to learn to live sustainably at peace with the planet, all through the practice of yoga. For more information, visit www.y4peace.org.

For more information: Angela Barboza-Ryan, Director at 734-282-9642, www.y4peace.org or Tamiko Crowe-Walker at mikowalker@hotmail.com

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Yoga 4 Peace non-profit educational organization assists individuals in the creation of peace of mind, encourage peace between all living beings, and to learn to live sustainably at peace with the planet, all through the practice of yoga. www.y4peace.org.