Rest & Respite: Yoga for Equity, Healing, and Community Action

Health Care Access

Expand existing project, program, or initiative

One in five U.S. adults are struggling with mental illness and ? of all deaths are from preventable chronic health conditions. Many Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities don't see themselves represented in mainstream yoga spaces and are unaware of its benefits in preventing stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic health conditions. South Central Los Angeles has been left out of being a "hot spot" for yoga studios and services in LA and our community has a pressing need for a safe and life affirming space for gaining habits of mindful living that have been proven to both lessen, manage, and prevent mental-physical-emotional distress and imbalance. Our community - which includes immigrants, Spanish speakers, system-impacted youth, formerly incarcerated individuals, and seniors - has challenges in accessing health services, especially holistic options that many insurance providers do not cover but that can have less harmful side effects and be more deeply impactful.

The Tree Yoga Cooperative pioneers the use of yoga for promoting racial health equity, healing justice, and community cohesion. Our mission is to deliver high-quality, trauma-informed, and inclusive yoga services facilitated by BIPOC-certified instructors. We aim to extend our outreach program to organizations grappling with staff burnout and individuals they serve, granting them free access to yoga and mindfulness services. Our Rest and Respite Program comprises several components: Wellness and Yoga Retreat Days for 10 local community organizations, studio class packages for their staff, 4 weekly on-site sessions for community members (e.g. youth, immigrants, seniors, and formerly incarcerated individuals), and a monthly free community class at our studio (12 sessions in total). By supporting local organizations that directly serve vulnerable populations, including frontline workers, educators, social workers, community organizers, advocates for system-impacted youth, formerly incarcerated individuals, the homeless, seniors, and those facing mental, emotional, and physical health challenges, we fulfill our collective responsibility. The Rest and Respite program centers on making evidence-based yoga and mindfulness practices accessible, culturally relevant, and trauma-informed, fostering a safe space. This approach enables participants to establish a sustainable practice that supports and enhances their mental and physical well-being.

Successful implementation of our work in LA County will result in: 1. Health Equity & Equitable access to holistic health options: Create access for communities that have been left out, by removing financial barriers and increasing awareness of services. 2. Prioritized staff well-being: Support organizations in mitigating staff burnout and enhancing their ability to serve their communities effectively. 3. Community Self-Care: Help participants reduce stress, anxiety, improve mental health outcomes, increased resilience, and a decrease in preventable chronic health conditions. 4. Inclusive & Safe Spaces supporting mental, emotional, and physical well-being: Contribute to community cohesion and social connection by fostering a sense of belonging, empowerment and ensuring different communities feel seen, heard, and valued. 5. Long-Term: Inspire and encourage the integration of trauma-informed and inclusive yoga and mindfulness practices into various community settings.

We provide diverse programming to organizations' staff and constituents, tailored to their goals and budget capacities. The requests we receive reflect the pressing need for support with anxiety, stress, burnout, and mental/physical health. Evidence of success includes: (a) quarterly self-reported surveys, (b) testimonials from long-term partners, (c) pre/post assessments for grant programs, and (d) high client acquisition through referrals. To assess the impact, we will gather data on target demographics, experiences, self-reported health impact, and track engagement up to 12 months. Our comprehensive approach combines quantitative and qualitative data, testimonials, tracking, and partnerships to measure the impact and refine our program for effectiveness in addressing the identified problem. Testimonial: "This program was life changing. The teachers and the space are incredible and I have learned more in the last few months than I have in what feels like my entire life.