Meet Sarah Gardner- The Founder of Yoga Reaches Out!

We are thrilled to feature the wonderful Sarah Gardner on our blog today.  Sarah is the founder of Yoga Reaches Out, an amazing company that raises money for organizations that impact the health, education and well-being of children.  You can find Yoga Reaches out here in New England and also in the California Bay Area! DanceFIT Studio is so honored to be a part of the upcoming Kids' Yogathon on November 2nd in Newton, MA.  Read all about Sarah, her work and family below and consider getting involved with Yoga Reaches Out! 

Please tell us some fun facts about you and your family.  

My family loves to spend time together on Cape Cod. It's the simple things like looking for shells, a barbecue, a family tennis match or watching the sunset over the bay. Family definitely

comes first for us and we cherish the times the four of us are together. Fun facts: my husband Geoff is an amazing chef and enjoys creating healthy options for our family, Will turns 13 on October 14! He was born 10 weeks premature weighing 3 pounds so we celebrate every day like it's his birthday! Emma (10) makes us all laugh. She has a spirit that always brings a smile to your face. She has broken two bones in her 10 years but still enjoys spending more time upside down than right side up.

How and why did you start Yoga Reaches Out?

 I started Yoga Reaches Out in 2010 after developing a deep love for yoga and doing a lot of work with an organization called Landmark (http://www.landmarkworldwide.com). I say it took me 40 years, but I finally discovered that "it's" not about me. "It" is about making a difference in the lives of others. I remember finishing the Advanced Course at Landmark and I was driving down Route 128 and I said to myself, "I want to have a Yogathon at Gillette Stadium!" I shared the idea with my family and a few close friends who encouraged me to pursue. A few people said to me, "Why don't you start in a small yoga studio?". No way! I am all about creating possibilities and letting go of fear. Yoga Reaches Out (YRO) was born from a love for yoga, a passion to give back and help children in need, but then its growth came from a community that embraced the mission and wanted to be a part of it. Once you discover the joy of helping others, your life becomes so filled with purpose. YRO is about helping children in need but it is also about empowering others that they truly can make a difference. We all have something to offer. Discover that, nurture that and then give it away. 

How can children get involved in YRO? We absolutely love that little yogis are encouraged to participate!

We are planning our second Yoga Reaches Out Kids' Yogathon on Saturday, November 2 at the West Suburban YMCA in Newton. It is for children of all abilities between the ages of 3-12. I love the Kids' Yogathon because it teaches our children the joy of helping others. The afternoon is a super fun way to introduce our children not only to yoga but to what we call "seva" which means selfless service. Children and families can register at www.yogareachesout.kintera.org/kidsyogathon2013

As a fantastic yoga teacher yourself,  what is your favorite yoga pose? 

My favorite pose is triangle. I love the way the front of your heart and the back of your heart can shine. I also love how you let the ground beneath you support you, but you let the lightness above you keep things not too serious. 

Are there other forms of exercise you enjoy besides yoga? 

I have had an in-home personal training business for 14 years. I absolutely love running (especially on the beach) and DVD workouts like Insanity and T25!

We keep telling our young dancers how important cross training is and how yoga has so many benefits that will help them in ballet and LIFE. What would you tell a young dancer who is considering a yoga class? 

Such a beautiful question. First I would start with the physical. For a young dancer, yoga will be an incredible offering to help strengthen and lengthen the body. Yoga will help with their body alignment and core strength. But most importantly, I would tell a young dancer that yoga will help teach them that what you look like is not nearly as important as how you feel on the inside. Through the breath, through letting go of perfection (we call yoga a practice for a reason) a young dancer can experience the gift of being completely present and nonjudgemental. I suffered from anorexia when I was in college and I know first hand the sadness that comes from being completely obsessed with your outer being. Teaching our children to appreciate all that they have, live a healthy life, create possibility in them and share their gift with others - believe it or not can all be discovered on a yoga mat.

We heard about YRO events in California! We have virtual clients all over the US and would love to tell them about events on the West Coast. 

We are thrilled that Yoga Reaches Out has a Bay Area Chapter in California! We are planning our second YRO Yogathon on the west coast which is scheduled for March 15, 2014! We are also planning our fourth New England YRO Yogathon at Gillette Stadium's Field House on April 27, 2014. We have raised over one million dollars for children's charities including Boston Children's Hospital, Home for Little Wanders, Horizons for Homeless Children, Children's Tumor Foundation, Africa Yoga Project, Yoga for Single Moms and Dads and Children's Hospital Oakland. It is the vision of YRO to have chapters throughout the country and help raise funds for various children's charities.

In addition to DanceFIT's involvement at the Kid's Yogathon, I am so excited my husband Chris will be there on the baseball fields with his company Frozen Ropes. Who else will be involved? How can other small businesses get involved? 

We are super excited that you all will be a part of the Kids' Yogathon on November 2. Thank you for donating your time to be a part of this special day. And yes, so excited Frozen Ropes will be a part of the event as well! We will have a marketplace where businesses can share their brand, product or service with the over 100 families that will attend. In addition, we will have face painting, henna designs, massage for the mom's and dad's, an Acro-Yoga Playground and so much more!

How can our clients get involved in Yoga Reaches Out? 

YRO is all about bringing the community together to help make a difference in the lives of children in need. We would absolutely LOVE the support of the DanceFIT family! Please email sarah@yogareachesout.org if you are interested in volunteering or participating in any way. You can learn more about YRO at www.yogareachesout.org.