Stereotypes and yoga

This entry was written by Christina Payne, LBBC's Marketing and Communications Intern:

Stereotypes are all around us. Yoga is an exercise that promotes physical and mental wellness for individuals of all races, religions and backgrounds; however, for the African-American community the practice of yoga is not always first choice of exercise even though yoga has healing benefits that have been proven to relieve stress. According to an article on clutch.com, Namaste: Yoga in the Black Community, African-Americans seem to associate the meaning and purpose behind yoga with negative views and opinions. This mindset leads to a culture that doesn’t take advantage of exploring and enjoying the benefits associated with this form of exercise.



High-profile celebrity Russell Simmons practices this form of exercise and has said “Yoga has really helped me feel more comfortable with the idea of being present, the simpliest idea of spirituality, the power of now.” And according to Beyonce, “Every time I take a yoga class, I want to cry. I don’t know if it’s because I’m relaxing, or if it’s that by the end of the class, your body can do things it couldn’t do in the beginning, so you feel accomplished and emotional. It’s therapeutic.”

Yoga on the Steps - 2009

In America, yoga is viewed as a predominately White form of fitness. It is believed that yoga is very expensive and individuals with high incomes can only afford the classes. Reports have shown that there is in fact discrimination among African-American yoga teachers and black attendees. There is a stigma in the African-American community in regards to understanding in fact what yoga really is. In 2009, Wake Forest University released study data supporting the positive impact of yoga on the emotional health of women affected by breast cancer. Yoga can be performed by people of any age or physical condition—no prior experience is necessary.

The lack of knowledge leads to confusion and pushes people away from an exercise that is very beneficial to one’s health. Claims such as “yoga is a religion” or yoga teachers of color being mistaken for assistants or receptionists are a few discrepancies that belittle what yoga is and who is associated with it.


Although the stereotypes and stigmas exist, there has been a movement of growth toward a positive perspective that defines the African-American role in yoga. For example, there are many health issues such as, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease that affect the African-American community and the use of yoga can be of great use when it comes to maintaining good health, relieving stress, and balancing physical and mental strength.

Have you ever tried yoga? Can you admit that you’ve associated the healing exercise with some of the stereotypes listed above? Living Beyond Breast Cancer challenges you to try yoga with over 1,000 breast cancer supporters on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Sunday, May 15. For more information, visit yogaonthesteps.org. The signature fundraising event encourages teams and individuals to raise money in support of LBBC’s educational programs for women and families affected by breast cancer. Register today!

Team Forever 25 Gives Hope

This entry was written by Colleen Kryka, one of the Team Captains of Forever 25: The White House Black Market Team:

After my breast cancer diagnosis, everything became possible. I got the mindset, “why not, what do I have to lose?” The timing was perfect because within days I received an email alert from LBBC that White House Black Market was holding a contest for 25 breast cancer survivors. What the heck, why not? So I wrote my essay, had my husband take a photo and “click,” off it went. Little did I know - that the click of the send button would really set my new path.


I was selected and joined 24 amazing women in New York City for a real-life glamorous photo shoot. We had the full “pit crew” working on us. We were treated like super models, not like mothers, daughters or sisters playing dress-up (even though we were!). We were all little girls again, with giant smiles. We were sexy, beautiful women…not sick, scared, and diagnosed patients. Our inner beauty came through the battered outer shells. Two days of this metamorphosis forever bonded 25 women who quite frankly never would have chosen this common bond, but amazingly found strength, comfort and POWER.

Collective energy can be quite healing. So for the next 4 months we emailed, facebooked, and chatted about our next gathering. So in October White House Black Market and LBBC gathered the 25 of us once again at the Butterfly Ball. We were long-lost sisters gabbing and admiring our beautiful selves all dressed up once again by WHBM. We all danced and laughed. What an evening it was. I never realized or even thought for a moment this would be the last time all of us would be able to gather and celebrate life!

Forever 25

Vivian Rivera was also selected to participate in the photo shoot. She sang a beautiful song during her WHBM interview and LBBC asked her to perform it at the Butterfly Ball. We gave her a standing ovation. Her self-written song, “Chosen” is the voice to all of us who are choosing to win during hard times. Within weeks we heard about Vivian’s illness. Lori Baur, who was also selected to participate in the photo shoot, rallied up all 24 of us to send support, and we did. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough. By January, Vivian, our gorgeous song bird, flew to heaven. She had left a mark, touched our hearts, but also challenged my thinking once again - THIS disease is real.

 Vivian Rivera leaves the crowd with a smile after performing "Chosen" at LBBC's Butterfly Ball 2010

Soon we stopped hearing as much from Lori. Although Vivian passed away from a rare brain cancer, her news was so real for Lori. Lori had been living with metastatic breast cancer for years. She and her husband went on their dream vacation to Hawaii. Very soon after their vacation, once again we got the devastating news that Lori’s breast cancer journey had come to an end.

 Lori Baur and her husband at LBBC's Butterfly Ball 2010

This disease sucks in so many ways, yet I have met and became friends with some of the most incredible women. How can something so bad bring such good? That question can’t be answered - it can only be lived. That’s when Denise, another WHBM babe, reached out to me about Yoga on the Steps. There would be no better way to honor Vivian and Lori than to move to action! So we formed Forever 25, The White House Black Market Team for this May’s Philadelphia Yoga on the Steps.


Boy! WHBM stepped up to the plate once again! They are matching our donations up to 10k, making us personalized t-shirts that we can sport day-of, and providing a never-ending supply of support! We can’t bring Lori and Vivian back, but we CAN keep their spirit and the energy of that magical WHBM campaign alive. We CAN give HOPE at the end of each day - HOPE that we will enjoy our son’s next baseball game, HOPE that we will feel beautiful and sexy, HOPE that we will do more than just…survive. HOPE that we will thrive, and just like Lori and Vivian, HOPE that we will touch others and make this journey a little easier for someone else.


See you at Yoga on the Steps.

Make a donation to the Forever 25: The White House Black Market Team! You can start fundraising today! Join a team, form a team or fundraise as an individual! If you have any questions, visit yogaonthesteps.org.

Yoga is more than a pose

This entry was written by Erica Bleznak of JAI! Yoga in Haverford, Pa. She lead LBBC’s first Barefoot Ball in December. Erica notes that Yoga is intertwined with many elements that encourage you to give more to your community. Start giving back to your community by participating in Yoga on the Steps!

A guiding principle of the yoga practice lays in the practice of Seva; the word Seva in Sanskrit means, “to be of service”. When people think of Yoga, they think of people stretching their bodies, or even of people standing on their heads; the posture practice of yoga, called Asana, is a very small part of the practice of Yoga. Much of the practice lays in other elements and one of those is in providing selfless service to to others. It was an honor to provide Seva in the form of leading a Barefoot Ball practice for LBBC at the Ardmore Toyota dealership last December. At our yoga studio JAI! in Haverford, we have taken the journey with many of our students who been diagnosed with breast cancer; we have traveled with them on their yoga mats from diagnosis, treatment, surgeries and recovery.

Our yoga community has been truly inspired by their tremendous courage, fortitude and strength. As Yogis we are expected that our practice moves beyond our yoga mats; we cultivate qualities of compassion so that we can move beyond our “selves” to share these gifts with others. Along with Seva, there is a behavioral code in Yoga known as the Niyamas. One of the Niyamas is Dana; Dana means to give without expecting anything in return. It is when we give without the need to be recognized or praised. You give without intentions to receive anything. In reality though, you receive the most! Know that with selfless service (Seva) and Dana (giving without the need for recognition) that you and your Yoga have broken the boundaries of just the physical practice and that now you are living your Yoga!

By participating in Yoga on the Steps, you too can perform these Yoga principles. Learn about Yoga on the Steps and register at yogaonthesteps.org.

Yoga on the Steps Website - A new way to stay connected

LBBC has officially launched our new website for our signature fundraising event, Yoga on the Steps (YOTS)! This site is the newest addition to the tools we have created to make your experience with our annual fundraiser easy, exciting and efficient.


Take some time to explore the site and take advantage of all that it has to offer.

Here are some of its key features!

Find A City

This year, YOTS will take place in two cities – in Philadelphia on May 15 and in our nation’s capital, Washington, DC on October 16. Under the Find A City tab, you’ll get up-to-the-minute information on each city’s event, including times, locations, directions and other tips to make your YOTS experience as enjoyable as possible.

Fundraising

This section has everything you need to maximize your fundraising efforts for YOTS and includes a Participant Guide, fundraising Tips and Tools, sample donation ‘ask’ and ‘thank you’ letters that you can edit and personalize and the incentive items LBBC has to reward our Yoga on the Steps Fundraising All-Stars. Every participant who raises a minimum of $75 will receive a commemorative YOTS t-shirt, but I’m confident that every participant will strive for a higher fundraising goal! Shoot for $250! We’ve got what you need to make that goal a reality!

Marketplace

A great way to support LBBC’s corporate partners is to visit the YOTS Marketplace. There, you’ll find some amazing items - from yoga mats to jewelry - and with every purchase a portion of the proceeds will be contributed back to LBBC, allowing us to empower all women affected by breast cancer.

Sponsors

Events with the size and scope of YOTS could not happen without the support of national, regional and local sponsors who help us underwrite the costs associated with YOTS and who provide refreshment and entertainment for our event participants and their family and friends. Please take a moment to review all of our incredible event partners and support them in your local communities.

Of course, if you haven’t already, register for Yoga on the Steps: Philadelphia. Create a team or join us as an event participant. Every dollar you raise will continue the mission of LBBC. Please note that registration for our Washington, DC event will be open on May 1, 2011.

Finally, please make sure to “like” “Yoga on the Steps” on Facebook to swap fundraising ideas, find out about other yoga events and to chat with YOTS / LBBC supporters. If you have any questions, please contact Kevin Gianotto or Jeanne Egan at (610) 645-4567 or at kevin@lbbc.org or jeanne@lbbc.org, respectively.

We look forward to seeing you at Yoga on the Steps: Philadelphia or Yoga on the Steps: Washington, DC!

Fundraising starts off as an idea, but you can make it a reality

This entry was written by Allison Wolf, member of Team Twisters. Team Twisters raised approximately $6,500 for LBBC's programs and services when they hosted a Barefoot Ball on February 13th:

The scene at the Mercedes Benz showroom in Fort Washington was not what one would typically expect to find. Upon entering a car dealership, there were no cars. Instead, yoga mats served as the mode of transportation for the day’s journey. You wouldn't find employees in suits. Instead, instructors in could be pointed out in their tutus and costume jewelry. Customers were long gone. Instead, you'd find none other than barefoot men, women and children mingling and all coming together to raise funds and awareness for Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) and their annual fundraising event, Yoga On the Steps (YOTS).



This Inaugural Barefoot Ball was the kickoff event for Team Twisters in their effort to raise $20,000, their fundraising goal for LBBC's annual Spring yoga event, Yoga on the Steps, taking place on May 15th this year. The event was a wonderful success, raising $6500! $2500 was donated by Mike Sloane, owner of Mercedes Benz Fort Washington and the remainder was donated by the 109 attendees!


It was truly an amazing sight to behold. There were dozens of caring individuals moving together in unison in a sea of multi-colored mats. Twisters’ staff of instructors was on hand for the event. Four instructors lead the hour-long class while the rest worked the room to offer adjustment and support when needed. The class culminated in a spectacular operatic performance by Natalie Levin, also an instructor at Twisters, dressed to the nines in a ball gown and full stage makeup (barefoot, of course). She performed a beautiful piece during shavasna, followed by an incredibly moving aria and then spiced things up at the end with a piece from Carmen.

The Barefoot Ball was pioneered and put together by Upper Dublin resident and yoga enthusiast Jill Miller. Jill attended a similar event, on a smaller scale, in Ardmore last year. Attending the event stirred in Jill a desire to do her part and get involved. She began by reaching out to the yoga instructors at Twisters who were more than happy to get involved. Jill was also able to seek out several sponsors: Mike Sloan of Mercedes Benz provided the venue, Dreshertown Shop and Bag provided light snacks and refreshments, Kay’s Chocolates donated sweet treats as well as Ingrid Carfagno who donated hand knit scarves to offer in exchange for cash donations, and last but not least a henna tattoo artist! Jill did have some help, the best kind, from her daughter and friends. Emily Miller, 15, organized a teen ambassador team comprised of her friends from Springside and Upper Dublin schools; they were instrumental in the day’s events, helping with registration, managing concessions and cash donations, ushering participants and setting up mats.


As mentioned earlier, this was a kickoff event; Team Twisters is still working hard to reach their goal of raising $20,000 by May 15th. May 15th marks the date of one of the world’s largest outdoor yoga classes, YOTS, where hundreds of people will gather together on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum to raise funds for LBBC’s education and support programs. Team Twisters has several fun and exciting team building events lined up as they work their way toward YOTS. Here’s a little sneak peek into the upcoming events:


• A bus painting party! The plan is to paint the entire bus pink! What better way to make an entrance than to arrive at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in a pink bus?!


• Team Twisters Evening in Ambler, a benefit event at an Ambler restaurant featuring raffles and prizes.


• An outdoor yoga class.


• A wine tasting.


Team Twisters encourages you to get involved, too! There are several different ways you can help. Join a team! Encourage your teammate to plan fundraising events like the barefoot ball! You can even participate in YOTS by simply donating online to a team or as an individual.


If you are already part of a team working towards YOTS please know that the Barefoot Ball started out as an idea, which lead to a conversation, which turned into a tremendous day as well as a great fundraising success! The sky is limit; if you can think it, you can do it! See you at YOTS!

For more information and to learn about creative ways that your team can FUNdraise for Yoga on the Steps, please contact Jeanne Egan, LBBC's Special Events Manager at jeanne@lbbc.org.

A unique touch to Yoga on the Steps each year

This entry was written by Beatrice Marx, assistant yoga instructor for Yoga on the Steps:

On May 15, 2011, I will participate in Yoga on the Steps for the fourth year in a row. This May will be my fourth year as a yoga teacher, assisting Jennifer Schelter as she leads Yoga on the Steps. Every year I have been both humbled and truly amazed by the power that this outdoor yoga class gives me. Each year has had its own unique qualities as many people from all over join together as one for a common cause.

For just a few hours, everyone focuses on health and well-being for all. The event brings forth awareness because it doesn’t only cater to those affected by breast cancer, but it also creates a place for their loved ones to show support, honor and meaning. Husbands, daughters, sons and friends are all there looking on and joining the 1,200 or so other people on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum for this yoga class. I rejoice as my family and my friends bear witness to all of us taking this class together and inhaling the beautiful breath of life.

As a woman, a wife, and a mother living with breast cancer, this once-a-year event marks a measurement in my quest for peace and helps me to balance my so called “new normal” as I live day to day. I gather much needed peace as my body absorbs the sweet power of this yoga class. No one leaves untouched by this act of pure love. We all join together to stand hand-in-hand in support of one another. A sense of strength is evident as we move forward in our day to day lives.

Please join us in support in each other as we journey through life and grow as people living in peace. Om Shanti.


How will you support Yoga on the Steps? Think about creative ways to FUNdraise and register you and your team for this meaningful yoga class that supports and honors the nearly 200,000 women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

New Year - New Name - Same Time - Same Place

This entry was written by Lauren Ainsworth, Special Events Manger for Living Beyond Breast Cancer. Lauren is excited to introduce the launch of and discuss the changes to our annual yoga event scheduled for May 15, 2011.

“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” – Ben Franklin

I think our friend Ben Franklin could not have said it better.  With regard to Living Beyond Breast Cancer’s annual yoga fundraising event on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art – we are constantly striving to improve, achieve and succeed.  I feel so lucky to be leading the team that brings this amazing event to Philadelphia each spring and I always look forward to January when we launch our yoga fundraising campaign. So as we welcome the new year, I have a couple of changes to tell you about.

First of all, I am excited to introduce our new name: Yoga on the Steps for Living Beyond Breast Cancer.  Aside from the name change, everything else about the event will remain the same.  This will still be the same event with the same purpose, mission and format.  Hopefully you will hardly notice the difference as we will have a similar logo with similar printed materials and we are looking forward to a seamless rebrand.  And I am guessing that many of you who are familiar with the event refer to it as “that yoga event on the steps” anyway. 

It is important to mention that Jennifer Schelter will continue to lead the yoga class on the art museum steps this coming May.  In addition to being the owner of Yoga Schelter in East Falls, Jennifer is also the founder of Yoga Unites®, a separate non-profit organization with a separate mission from LBBC’s.  Jennifer remains an integral part of the history of this event and we are already counting down the days to practice yoga with her for the 9^th year in a row on May 15^th, 2011.  Please save the date and register today: yogaonthesteps.org

Our springtime yoga event is not only a fundraiser; it is an awareness event as well.  We want the world to know about what we do to help empower women affected by breast cancer.  As we grow to other cities nationwide, it is important for this event to be a vehicle for LBBC to spread the word about our programs and services and not be confused with a different organization. 

This leads me to my second exciting announcement! We are replicating this amazing event in Washington D.C. on October 16^th, 2011.  On June 1st of this year, we will kick off our first ever Yoga on the Steps campaign in our nation’s capital and I think you’ll be seeing a lot more of Yoga on the Steps in other parts of the country over the next several years.

I hope you will help us to spread the word about this incredible event in both Philadelphia and Washington D.C. and welcome Yoga on the Steps for LBBC with open arms.  If you have any questions, or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me at Yoga@lbbc.org.

Wishing you all a happy, healthy new year.

Namaste