Business & Tech
Yoga Students Hit the Mat to Raise Money For Japan Relief Efforts
Group meditation benefit held at Simplicity Yoga Studio aimed at raising money and mindfulness for earthquake stricken country.
Yoga enthusiasts gathered at on Sunday in a benefit to raise money for the people of earthquake-stricken Japan through the American Red Cross.
"If you're always just in it for yourself, you're missing most of what is important in life," said owner/instructor Roseanne Ferriaulol Sihler, who led the class.
This was only the latest benefit held at the studio. Sihler's studio has often been the site of Sunday benefit classes such as Hope for Robby, a charity set up to benefit Robby Letteri, a young boy who resides in Kings Park.
Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.
Attendees are typically asked to make a donation to a local charity, but Sihler believed she needed to do more this time. Due to the extreme suffering in Japan she decided to expand her charitable efforts to include a class where efforts were not focused just on raising money but promoting energy and wellness.
“We'll be doing a yoga class and meditation where we focus on channeling our energy to help the devastated people and resources of Japan. The whole idea is strength in numbers and unity -- group meditations are very powerful and hopefully we can raise some money to help out too."
Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.
Sihler also offers free classes for those suffering from Multiple Sclerosis through the MS Society.
One class member, Mary Kay Diehl of Northport, explained that yoga is a community. She mentioned international yoga instructor Seane Corn's mantra of "Off the mat, into the world."
Diehl, who practices yoga on a daily basis, said that although there are many personal benefits to practicing yoga, such as quieting the mind, releasing tension and negative energy in the body and learning to live with intent. This type of class is what yoga is all about.
"This is the essence of what yoga is," said Diehl.
Sihler says that she hopes the word will spread about the benefit classes and that residents and yoga enthusiasts will attend future events.