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

A winter yoga class to benefit LBBC: 1st Annual Barefoot Ball

Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) is gearing up to host our 9th annual yoga event! We’re looking forward to seeing all of you there. You’re in for a surprise as LBBC is working tirelessly to restructure the familiar event and bring you yoga like you’ve never experienced it before! You’ve contributed to our success at last year’s Yoga Unites for Living Beyond Breast Cancer event and you’ve helped us raise over $200,000 for LBBC’s educational programs. LBBC feels empowered to know that dedicated people like you will help us deliver at next year’s re-modeled yoga event and help us further our mission.

To introduce LBBC’s yoga event like you’ve never seen it before, LBBC is hosting our first annual Barefoot Ball! Leave the gowns at home and grab your yoga mat for this interactive yoga class lead by JAI! Yoga’s very own instructor, Erica Taxin Blexnak. On Sunday, December 12, 2010 Ardmore Toyota will transform the car dealership into a yoga studio, lending space to LBBC from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for a yoga class that anyone of any skill level can participate in. Restore your balance, relax your body and rejuvenate your spirit as you are lead in song by singer, songwriter and kirtan artist, Yvette Pecoraro! Her live performance is the perfect accent to make this event as warm, compassionate and inspiring as it’s intended to be.

Attendees of the Barefoot Ball are encouraged to make a suggested donation of $25. All proceeds from the Barefoot Ball will go directly toward LBBC’s education and support programs for women and families affected by breast cancer.

Here’s a snapshot of how your contribution helps LBBC reach women affected by breast cancer. Last Saturday, LBBC hosted our annual fall conference, News You Can Use: Breast Cancer Updates for Living Well. Over 300 people attended the conference including women affected by breast cancer, caregivers, exhibitors, healthcare providers and guest speakers. Only 19% of this conference is paid for by registration fees leaving the rest of funding to come directly from fundraising events like the yoga event and other sponsor initiatives.

For more information on the Barefoot Ball or to purchase a yoga mat to aid your practice, refer to the links provided. Feel free to share this post! See you there!

YU4LBBC fundraiser highlighted in local newspaper for contribution to the yoga community

Beatrice Marx, along with her team the Wellness Warriors, raised $6,000 this year for Yoga Unites for Living Beyond Breast Cancer. Her committment to the yoga community has made her contribution to this annual event more inspiring with each year. Samantha Costa, local reporter for the Courier Post, highlighted Beatrice Marx and her endless contributions to the yoga community in "At Center Peace."

Click here to read the article.

Beatrice Marx (center) prepares to lead the largest yoga class in the city of Philadelphia.

Don't forget to pack some YOGA in your suitcase

Looking forward to a relaxing vacation this summer? With blazing 100-degree temperatures, who wouldn't want to make a trip to a beach resort, relax under a palm tree, and take modest sips of a delicious Bahama Mama? Well, while you're on your way to that well-deserved trip be sure to find a comfortable and shady spot to practice yoga. Adding a yoga routine to your get-a-way will make your vacation a life-changing and spiritual experience.

Take a look at The Ultimate Guide to Yoga Travel: 100 Essential Tips, Tools, & Links and find out why yoga will make your vacation a breathtaking experience! 

Jennifer’s Everyday Retreat

For all of you who thought that you’d have to wait until next year’s Yoga Unites for Living Beyond Breast Cancer to see master yoga instructor, Jennifer Schelter, in action…you thought wrong! Jennifer is ready to make her TV debut with a new television talk show, “Jennifer’s Everyday Retreat.” Could Jennifer Schelter be selected for the “Oprah’s Search for the Next TV Star” competition?


With your help, it’s possible to welcome a show that highlights and offers everyone a guide to practice the basics of health and well-being. Jennifer aims to inspire viewers and get them moving in a healthy direction today, tomorrow, and for years to come. The show entices you to try new things and be a beginner in the wonder of learning, expressing, thinking, feeling and communication. “Jennifer's Every Day Retreat” will support those who are looking to ease and relieve stress, anxiety, isolation, health-related issues and depression. It encourages balance, gratitude and fulfillment in your own skin while motivating others to share in the journey.

Please support Yoga Unites for Living Beyond Breast Cancer's Jennifer Schelter as she follows her dream to get her own talk show. Vote today!

Jennifer Schelter leads over 1,000 people at the largest yoga class in Philadelphia. All proceeds benefit LBBC's education and support programs.

Thank you for helping us go BEYOND our $200,000 fundraising goal

Thank you for all those who helped to contribute to the lives of the 200,000 women who will be affected by breast cancer this year! Over 1,000 dedicated men, women and children followed prominent yoga instructor, Jennifer Schelter's lead and reached for the sun on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art on May 16. By then, LBBC was proud to announce that we raised over $170,000 for LBBC's education and support programs! To date, we are over our initial $200,000 goal and are estactic to announce that with the support of you, your generous donations, and our committed sponsors, we have raised over $219,000! What a success! Donations will continue to be collected until June 30th.

Help us continue to provide education and support at little to no cost by texting a small donation right from your mobile phone! Text “LBBC” to the number 20222, and a one-time donation of $10 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. Messaging and data rates apply; all charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Spread the word to your friends, family and via social networking sites.

Spread the word! Help LBBC get to $230,000! We can do it!

Team Dreams...in honor of my mom

This entry was written by 15-year-old Ari Shanon, the daughter of a breast cancer survivor:

Ari's Mom, Dorel, is a breast cancer survivor and attended this year's Yoga Unites for LBBC, alongside her daughter, Ari, team captain of 'Team Dreams.'

My mom brought me to my first Yoga Unites for LBBC when I was 7 years old. I'm 15 now. When I was looking for a service project for my bat mitzvah I thought of LBBC first. The reason I chose LBBC is because my mom had breast cancer when I was six, and it was a hard time. I remember cutting off her hair with my brother at a hair-cutting party before it fell out. Even though that's one of the only memories I have of that time, I know that LBBC was extremely helpful because my mom always talks about them. I'm really grateful to them for being there for my mom. So I decided to create a team for Yoga Unites for LBBC called Team Dreams and raise money for LBBC. Ever since, I've been creating a team filled with friends and family, and friends of friends. Even people I don't know support our team, and I'm so glad and honored that they join us on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum.

Team Dreams raised over $5,000 for LBBC's education and support programs.

I really enjoyed my experiences with Yoga Unites for LBBC because, first of all, it's really cool to see so many people doing yoga together while looking out over the beautiful skyline of Philadelphia. Second of all, I love my team and they're all really great people for supporting me and LBBC, and for coming out every year. A bunch of my friends come every year and they really enjoy it. We have such a great time together. Third, the yoga is amazing. I don't usually get to do yoga during the year, though I did take a class when I was in fourth grade. During and after the Yoga Unites class I feel so strong. And I look at Jennifer and she looks really strong, and it makes me look forward to next year.

Ari (left) and her mom, Dorel, feel strong together as they practice yoga on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum.

I mostly raise money for Team Dreams by emailing friends and family over and over, and asking them to email their friends and family. I also emailed my entire school this year. A few years ago our local paper did an article about Team Dreams and Yoga Unites for LBBC, which helped raise money. My grandmother is a huge help and emails all of her friends, and she usually comes and cheers us on along with my grandfather, my Dad and my brother. (They're the official Team Dreams photographers.) I'm really lucky to be surrounded by people who want to help this cause. Each year we've raised more money than the last. This year we raised more than $5,000, which was our goal. It feels really good to raise so much money for such a great organization.


One way LBBC can get more young people involved is by getting parents to bring their children and their children's friends to Yoga Unites for LBBC. Also by trying to get high schools to organize teams to raise money. A lot of young people have family members who've been affected by breast cancer, so this would be a good group to get involved. I think once they saw how much fun it is to be at Yoga Unites for LBBC and how easy it is to raise money, they'd want to do it every year.

Yoga Unites for LBBC is a fundraising activity that is open to everyone, even young high school students like Ari. You want to share your story? Email stacia@lbbc.org. It's not too late to donate!