Meet the 2016 International Day of Yoga Grant Winners

Published: June 1, 2016

Yogis and yoginis, we're proud to present our ten International Day of Yoga grant winners! Each of these events serves and strengthens their local communities through yoga. This year, our winners come from the United States, Ireland, Canada, and even the United Kingdom.

This year, we received over 250 applications—more than double the applications received in 2015—so selecting just ten events was a challenge. We're very proud of the ten event organizers and their commitment to spreading the practice of yoga throughout their neighborhoods and communities. If you live near any of these events, we encourage you to mark your calendar and check them out!

Yoga in the Park, Presented by Youth Yoga

Grant Winner: Diana Diaz
Where: Hazard Park (in Boyle Heights, East LA)
2230 Norfolk St.
Los Angeles, California
When: June 4, 2016 — 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Website

Teens, families, principals, teachers and staff and other community members are welcome to join us for yoga in the park. We have a kids' zone with music where we’ll play “musical mats,” and color drawings of yoga poses! We’ll be providing about 60 mats on the grass, and an hour-long practice begins at 10:45. We’ll also have water bottles and granola bars for participants.

Be the Change You Wish to See: Teen Yoga to Raise Mental Health Awareness

Grant Winner: Dr. Grace Tsai, Ph.D.
Where: Sterling, Virginia
When: June 9, 2016
Website: N/A (private event)

Students, staff and faculty will be coming together at a Northern Virginia high school to learn yoga poses and breathing techniques to help deal with the stressors of school, work and family life. Participants will learn the fundamentals of a yoga practice and the mental, physical and spiritual benefits of yoga.

Yoga for the People

Grant Winner: Susan Lovett
Where: Boston Public Library branches: Connolly Library, Egleston Library, Grove Hall Library, Hyde Park Library, Lower Mills Library, Mattapan Library, Mission Hill Library, South Boston Library
When: June 18, 2016 — 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Website

Free yoga classes for all-ages will be offered at eight Boston Public Library branches in low-income neighborhoods on Saturday, June 18. In addition to the yoga classes, each library will develop and distribute health and wellness resource and referral information along with a book and DVD display focused on yoga, health and nutrition.

Honolulu's International Day of Yoga

Grant Winner: Emily Badillo
Where: 530 S. King St., Honolulu, Hawaii
When: June 18, 2016 — 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Facebook Event

Honolulu's first ever community-based day of yoga - free and open to everyone on the island of Oahu, with a Keiki Corner for families and children of all-ages. Complete beginners through advanced practitioners alike are invited to join us for an incredible day of yoga in downtown Honolulu.

Be the Change You Wish to See: Teen Yoga to Raise Mental Health Awareness

Grant Winner: Nancy Dundatscheck RYT 200
Where: Ringwood, NJ
When: June 18 and June 26, 2016
Website

Join us to raise awareness about mental health with two days of empowering and accessible yoga classes, guided meditation and chanting all surrounded by nature! On June 18, enjoy a discussion about the Yoga of Resistance at the famous purple Quonset hut of Sandra Ramos, historical leader of the women's shelter movement of New Jersey.

Love Conquers Fear

Grant Winner: Sinead McKiernan
Where: Spiddal Village & Galway City, Galway, Ireland
When: June 19, 2016
Facebook Event

The day will begin with Sunrise Meditation on the beach & a pot luck picnic. A gentle Hatha workshop `Open your heart` suitable for all levels in the studio, followed by a Mandala Art class for adults & children for mindfulness& fun. The day will finish with a relaxing candlelit restorative Yoga & Meditation class. All proceeds will go to the Collateral Repair Project to bring Yoga to the refugee community in Jordan.

International Day of Yoga Celebrations!

Grant Winner: Annu Gaidhu
Where: Ryerson University in The Quad (courtyard enclosed by Kerr Hall)
40 Gould Street, M5B 2K3. Toronto, Ontario Canada
When: June 25, 2016 — 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Website: N/A

Join us as we celebrate the second International Day of Yoga in the heart of Toronto! Drop by for a fun-filled morning as yogis, students, studios, schools, workplaces, and community centers nationwide roll out yoga mats for one common purpose: to celebrate this ancient art! Whether you practice yoga already or you would like to come and try yoga for the first time, we are catering to all levels of experience for this special community day event!

#Stretch4Syria Vegan Yoga Picnic

Grant Winner: Maysa Marques
Where: The Bandstand, Queens Park, London, United Kingdom
When: June 25, 2016 — 2:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Website

International Day of Yoga #Stretch4Syria Vegan Picnic is a charity yoga event dedicated to raising money for refugees affected by the Syrian conflict. Join us on Saturday 25th June 2016, whilst Hero Yoga lead you through 2 Hours of breathing, mediation, Yoga and Yoga Nidra, followed by a summertime ‘Bring Your Own’ Vegan Picnic to raise money to help Syrian refugees. Coconut water and snacks provided. Bring picnic food to share!

Yoga for All

Grant Winner: Kerri Hanlon
Where: 424 East Elm Street, Suite 100, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
When: June 25, 2016 2:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Website

Yoga for All is an afternoon of Free yoga classes for special populations. Using adaptive yoga techniques and props, we’ll provide safe and comfortable access to the practice of yoga. Specialty classes include: Yoga for Kids on the Spectrum, Adaptive Yoga for those with physical limitations, Chair Yoga, and Yoga for Caregivers.

Ivory Perry Park Concert Series

Grant Winner: Elle Potter
Where: Ivory Perry Park, St. Louis, Missouri
When: June 26, 2016 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Arrive early to enjoy a FREE all-levels, hour-long yoga class at the park with local instructors. After the class, yoga teachers will host a booth with information about yoga and mindfulness, offer 1:1 yoga sessions, meditation and breathing sessions, and answer any questions about yoga. During the concert, children will have an opportunity to attend their own kids yoga experience.

Meet the 2016 International Day of Yoga Grant Winners

Yoga in the Park, Presented by Youth Yoga