This past year has been an exciting adventure in establishing YogaCare, a non-profit with a mission to spread the healing benefits of yoga to all communities.
As we enter the holiday season, I would like to share YogaCare’s newsletter and holiday wish list with you.

Dear YogaCare Friends,

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we would like to share our gratitude for your warmth, support, and commitment to the vision of yoga for all. Thank you especially to all who celebrated our incorporation as a new non-profit organization at our Launch Party last week! For more pictures of the event, please visit our website HERE.

We have provided over 1,800 student encounters to over 350 students since 2010. One student, Julia S. Butler, recently shared her experience of our classes at CommunityHealth. “I must commend Greg & Julia on the yoga classes they hold faithfully every week at a clinic in the middle of the Englewood neighborhood. This class is what we needed, those of us who would otherwise never step foot into a group session for exercise. I want to say that this is probably one of the best yoga classes in the city, and they deserve all of the support and accolades they receive.”

We provide a pay-what-you-can model, with a suggested donation of just $5 per class, and no one is turned away for lack of funds. These classes have shown to reduce stress and pain in students like Ms. Bulter, many of whom have chronic health conditions, chronic pain, and stress. YogaCare provides safe spaces for these students to grow, heal, and connect with a caring community.

How can YOU help? To spread the healing benefits of yoga on the South Side, YogaCare is establishing a scholarship fund to train committed students to become teachers themselves. We are launching this campaign on Giving Tuesday, and it will go through the end of the year.

YogaCare students Nubia Ptah and Roseann Chico from classes at Chicago Family Health Center in South Chicago with substitute yoga teacher Carmen Mendoza celebrate at the Launch Party 11/19/14

Each yoga teacher training costs $2,500. If just fifty of our generous friends and supporters DONATE $50, then YogaCare can train one teacher to teach hundreds of additional students. This can multiply peace while creating jobs on Chicago’s South Side. Together we will engage, educate and empower yoga students to promote healthy communities.

Wishing peace to you and your loved ones this holiday season.

Sincerely yours,

The YogaCare Team

Co-founders:
Greg Van Hyfte, CEO
Julia Pedersen, Chief Program Officer
Kohar Jones, Community Health Advisor

Board Members:
Sonia Oyola, President
Nubia Ptah, Vice President
Kevin Stephens, Secretary
Kristin Cho, Treasurer

Mailing address:
YogaCare
1808 W Chicago Ave #2R
Chicago, IL 60622

YogaCare is a non-profit corporation in Illinois and is fiscally sponsored by Goodcity, a 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law. Donations are accepted through Goodcity’s DONATE page, and donors should designate their donation to YogaCare in the website form, dedicating the gift to the YogaCare Teacher Scholarship Fund. Thank you!