Lotus In Action (LIA), located in Montclair, New Jersey, is a not-for-profit organization offering yoga and meditation to underserved constituencies as a means to create positive change in the world. LIA brings yoga to diverse populations in detention centers, housing projects, community centers, hospitals, and schools. One of LIA’s major initiatives is bringing educational enrichment to Newark, New Jersey public school students. Although no public funding is available, LIA teachers provide fifteen classes a week to 180 students in the Newark schools. With Manduka’s help, students in two of the schools are now practicing on mats instead of the school floor. Sixth grade students from the Avon School and Jennifer Kohl, Director of Lotus In Action, are pictured below leading one another in their favorite poses.

Learn more by visiting www.lotusinaction.com.

The mission of Free Arts for Abused Children is to inspire hope in the lives of abused, homeless, and at-risk children through innovative creative arts programs and positive interactions with caring adult volunteers. Painting, yoga, photography, and music are just some of the avenues of creativity made available to the children participating in the programs, which take place throughout greater Los Angeles. Free Arts envisions a society of individuals from different communities, cultures, and life experiences connecting through the healing power of art to interrupt the cycle of violence, create understanding, build self-esteem, and nurture better lives.

Learn more by visiting www.freearts.org.

Big World Small Planet launched a purified drinking water program at a primary school in rural Nicaragua in April. The focus was to provide each of the children with their own refillable water bottle, educating them on the value of purified water (vs the well water of which they are so accustomed) as well as encouraging them to make the best choices possible when it comes to nourishing their bodies. A water dispenser was set up in the school and weekly deliveries of purified water will continue to support the program. They also introduced yoga to the children during this visit and will continue to have a yoga class once a week. Manduka donated our stainless steel canteens so that each student would have their own refillable water bottle!

To make a $15 donation to Big World Small Planet, please visit www.bigworldsmallplanet.com.

Manduka donated eKO Mats to the Homegirl Cafe, where free yoga classes are taught to young women. Homegirl services enable young women to redirect their lives and provide them with hope for their futures.The free support services focus on education, job training and placement, legal services, counseling, twelve step meetings and tattoo removal. To make a donation to Homegirls, visit http://www.homeboy-industries.org/.