I am inspired by individuals who want to be of service and make this world a better place. I met 26 of them this weekend at our URY training!

Colleen Mooney talked to us about neighborhood empowerment, Bea Yorker on ACE (Adverse Childhood Experience) and D'Lita Miller about human trafficking.  Betsy Ha talked about secondary trauma and meditation, and the indomitable De Jur talked to us about yoga therapy and self care. 

The URY teachers infused their wisdom into the discussions about posture sequences and how to teach a trauma sensitive yoga class.  We role played teaching scenarios with rewards of chocolate bars for the most...ahem..."enthusiastic" students.  And I was so pleased to have our newest teachers, Rubi and Ursula, share their insights and passion (thank you Lady Yoga!)

This training was packed with insightful information and new material, growing with depth and meaning. Through all of the weighty discussions and exchanges, I felt a yogic spirit of curiosity and deep compassion permeate the room.   

I learned so much from each of our trainees, and I hope they were as enriched by the experience as I was. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  Namaste.
Love, Jill

This amazing group of County of Los Angeles Probation Department did some yoga at their staff appreciation BBQ picnic in the park today! This is the department responsible for aftercare with our youth in juvenile hall. They are dedicated and care about the kids we serve. It was so much fun and truly incredible to share the yoga love with my comrades.
Our yoga classes are successful because the counselors appreciate us, encourage the youth and join in support the best that they can. Sometimes we show up and the mats are layer out and the lights are dim. Thank you for shifting the culture towards healing and care. Namaste.

This 4th of July was an awesome explosion of yoga students celebrating freedom for a cause. Donna Antonelli, the owner of Bikram Yoga Huntington Beach, hosted a fundraiser to support yoga for incarcerated youth and underserved communities. Craig Villani, master yoga teacher and wellness faciltator of Villani Health http://villanihealth.com/?attachment_id=59 led a fun and awesome class! The energy was hugh and vibrant, packed with about 50 students! Kristie from http://www.yogabela.com helped to beautify folks with  fabulous patterns by yogabela who donated 15% of all proceeds to UpRising Yoga!

Thank you to the wonderful community of Huntington Beach who has been such a big supporter of UpRising Yoga from the very start. We are grateful for all of your heart, sweat and tears. You raised close to $1,000! 

I always like to say: when you come to yoga, you think it's just for you, but you end up helping the world. 
Thank you for sharing your yoga.

Namaste, Jill Ippolito

Grateful to Road Trip Nation, the show from PBS http://roadtripnation.com/watch/public-television/why-not-us Thank you for the opportunity to meet and share yoga and powerful life stories that enriched what I've been doing with UpRising Yoga.

We had 30 yoga students and ran out of mats! There were maybe 8 brand new first timers to the yoga experience and I hope you continue the journey with us. It's always especially meaningful to hear what came up for you in class, in your bodies and what triggers memories from movement. This is the start of healing trauma, which we all have encountered in one way or another.

Special thanks to Summer for Spanish translation during yoga class, Ryan for asking me to sign his baby's jumper and Michael for asking me what it's like to be a hero. I'm happy to follow your stories and journey and can't wait until you contact me letting me know how yoga heals your life and any unique path you find on the longest journey ever- from your head to your heart. 

You are love,

Jill