RYSN Mission and Objectives

Yoga is a powerful force. It holds endless potential to foster mindfulness, peace, and health. The Rochester Yoga Service Network (RYSN) was created in 2014 by a small group of yoga leaders in Rochester, New York with the intention of sharing the practice of yoga with underserved populations in our community. In a spirit of cooperation and community engagement, RYSN provides support to, and unity among, local yoga service providers to create bridges of mutual connection and healing.

Objectives - RYSN aims to:

1) Maintain and share a database of Rochester yoga service providers identified by specialty, expertise, and/or affiliation

2) Facilitate the pairing of yoga teachers and volunteers with individuals and groups in need of yoga service

3) Provide a forum for RYSN members to share best program practices in addition to facilitating and hosting yoga training and professional development for Network members


Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Volunteer Opportunity

Cancer Wellness Connections is seeking yoga teacher volunteers. RYTs willing and able to guide local cancer patients in yoga-based mindfulness, breathing, and gentle stretching are needed.  If interested, please email Betsy Twohig-Barrett directly for more information:  bbarrett@rochester.rr.com

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Hot off the Press: New Yoga Therapy book by Dr. Ellen Horovitz

Please see the flyer linked below for Dr. Ellen Horovitz's new book, Yoga Therapy, coming out this April, since it may be of interest to members of this group. Feel free to pass it along since it has a 20% discount on it for orders!

Yoga Therapy Flyer

October Update and Spring SAVE THE DATE!


Autumnal Greetings, Rochester Yogis!!!

 On behalf of the Rochester Yoga Service Network (RYSN),  a hundred thousand heartfelt "Thanks!" for being a part of this very special group of yogis committed to promoting yoga-for-service in our community.  If not for the interest and support of yogis such as yourself we might still be saying, "Wouldn't it be great if....?!!". 

Alas, due to the collective spark of our combined energies and abundant desire to share the gifts of yoga, our nascent network is coming to fruition as evidenced by the success of the first RYSN Retreat which took place on Sunday, September 28th. Held on the campus of Nazareth College, the retreat included a yoga practice in the Linehan Chapel, led by Lynne Boucher, and a follow-up meeting to discuss the future of RYSN.  During this meeting we were privileged to host guest speaker Lisa Maynard, LMSW, RYT.  Lisa shared her research and professional experience concerning the impact of trauma and overcoming trauma through yoga therapy.  Thank you, Lisa, for your gift of yoga service!

In upcoming news, please save the date for the next RYSN Retreat scheduled for March 15, 2015. This event will include guest speaker Carla Giambrone, MS, e-RYT.  As a writer and yoga educator, Carla weaves her professional knowledge of  trauma sensitivity with informed yoga instruction, creating a yoga practice which both integrates and re-purposes the experience of trauma with a new, healing energy.

Lastly, in an attempt to streamline all future RYSN communication, we are asking current members and interested participants to subscribe to our blog, Rocyogaservice.blogspot.com.  Becoming a subscriber is simple and will ensure you receive all RYSN communication in the form of email as generated by the blog site. Should you have any questions regarding how to subscribe or navigate the blog, contact Jenn Kelly at Jenn.kelly47@gmail.com.

 Again, we thank you for your support of yoga service in Rochester.  Kindly subscribe, engage and stay connected...more seva goodness is sure to come!

Peace, Love, Namaste,

Erin Garvin
Lynne Boucher
Leanne Charlesworth
Jenn Kelly

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Give Back Yoga Foundation October Virtual Retreat Opportunity

If you're reading this, chances are that you're passionate about service and making a difference in the world. We're grateful to have you on board!

We also want to alert you to an upcoming, reliable source of fuel, so you can keep your flame burning for the long haul. The Give Back Yoga Foundation is offering "Kiss Burnout Goodbye: A 21-day Global Virtual Retreat for Service-Oriented Professionals".  This free tele-summit, running from October 6-26, features daily interviews with experts in healing trauma, reducing stress and inspiring positive action. 

You'll get plenty of tips to help you get clear on your purpose, calm your body and mind, and change your thinking so that you can accomplish more without adding to your "to-do" list. And on October 11th, our Mindful Yoga Therapy program director Suzanne Manafort will join host Jeanell Innerarity for a special interview that explores the theme "A New Perspective on Secondary Trauma and Burnout."

To register, follow the link below:

RYSN 09/28/14 Retreat Pictures

Thanks once again to everyone who attended the First Annual Rochester Yoga Service Network Retreat - it was a huge success!

Here are just a few pictures from the event:











Monday, September 29, 2014

RYSN Strategic Planning: Vision, Mission, Objectives, Strategies and Action Items



Good Morning, Yogis!

Thanks so much to all of you who shared your energy and love at the retreat yesterday - it was a really powerful afternoon for me personally, and a really big step for RYSN!

As we discussed, we are going to continue to work on our mission statement.  With the current working version that we looked at yesterday, the consensus seemed to be that there was a lot of good wording in there, but too much for a mission statement.  Below is link to a relatively concise summary of organization strategic planning components.  Perhaps we can use this as our guide in reworking what we have?  I have posted the original working document from yesterday in the online RYSN google drive - follow the link to RYSN the google drive 'helpful links' on the right side of the blog, and you will find the working document draft in the 'Mission Statement Development' folder.  Please submit suggestions and new versions as comments to this post so that we can all be in on the conversation.

Developing a Strategic Plan: VMOSA

Thanks again for your love and light!
Jenn


Thursday, September 11, 2014

First Annual Rochester Yoga Service Network Retreat, 9/28/14

Please join us for the First Annual Rochester Yoga Service Network Retreat!

Agenda
  • 2:00 - 2:15 Meet and Mingle-asana
  • 2:15 - 3:30 Yoga Practice, led by Lynne and Imani
  • 3:30 - 4:30 RYSN Business: 
              1) Recap priorities from the RYSN survey results
              2) Review RYSN mission draft
              3) Introduce plans for volunteer linking
              4) RYSN communication plan
  • 4:30 - 5:30 "A Sensorimotor Approach to Trauma Recovery", Lisa Maynard LMSW, RYT
  • 5:30 - 6:00 Wrap-up


The more the merrier!  We would like to extend this invitation to anyone in the Rochester area who is either already involved in yoga service or would like to get started. Please help us spread the word and forward this invitation to anyone else who might be interested.

IMPORTANT: Anyone interested in being connected with RYSN (whether you are available for the retreat or not) should subscribe to the blog at the following address: RocYogaService.blogspot.com

The retreat is free of charge and includes light refreshments.  PLEASE RSVP BY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19th TO LET US KNOW WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND.

Other Important Retreat Details:We will begin at 2pm in the Linehan Chapel, located within the Golisano Academic Center.  Parking is available in Lot Q. (Please visit www.naz.edu/campus-map/map for a good campus map.)

Kindly be prepared to move on your mat.  Wear your yoga clothes, and bring a mat and water. (Extra mats are available to borrow.)

We look forward to seeing you all on September 28th!

RYSN Leadership Committee
Jenn, Lynne, Leanne,  and Erin

Thursday, August 28, 2014

SAVE THE DATE - First Annual RYSN Retreat!

Dear Roc Yoga Service Members,

Thank you for responding to the Roc Yoga Service survey! The information gleaned from the survey has already been invaluable in moving our work along.

The first annual RYSN Retreat will be our next opportunity to gather for networking, training and collaboration.

Please save the date!  
September 28, 2014
2:00-6:00 pm
Location: Nazareth College

Stay tuned for more details to come.

Namaste,
~RYSN Leadership Team
Lynne Boucher, Leanne Charlesworth, Erin Garvin & Jenn Kelly

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Rock the Dock for AYP - Sunday, August 10th!

Carla Giambrone is back home in Rochester after an amazing summer adventure which included a trip to Spain and teaching yoga in Australia. Carla would like to send an open invitation for a a yoga service class she will be teaching this Sunday, August 10th, in Sodus Bay.  The gift of service will be dedicated to Africa Yoga Project, an organization founded on the intent of delivering the gifts of yoga to East African communities. 

See the event flyer in the Event Flyers folder on the google docs drive (link on the right) for all of the details!