Dear friends, family, colleagues, and community,We are witnessing history right now. War and genocide are unfolding in many nooks and crannies of our precious world, with some making headlines every day, while others are barely covered by the media. Behind each of these crises are fellow humans and families, just trying to survive. The scale of human suffering can be overwhelming.
This November, I am offering a 30-day yoga and meditation commitment (not a ‘challenge’ unless you want it to be!) for the purpose of peace, with all funds raised going to Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Canada.
MSF is an independent emergency medical humanitarian organization that has more than 40,000 staff members working in humanitarian crises all over the world, including in Lebanon, Gaza, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. MSF would not be able to conduct their life-saving work without the generosity of individual donors. More than 95% of MSF’s funding comes from private donations, rather than from governments or large institutions. This gives MSF the independence to act decisively and to go wherever the needs are greatest, without political interference.
Join Yogis Without Borders in support of Doctors Without Borders starting November 1, 2024. Here’s how you can get involved:
Participate in any or all of the yoga and meditation practices – they’re free and available from anywhere!
Every morning between 7-7:30am EST, I will post a morning meditation or affirmation on Instagram and Facebook to help you set yourself up for success that day. After all, peace starts within each of us!
Every evening by 9pm EST, I will post a yoga pose or short sequence to help you relax and let go of the day before bedtime. We all need to rest in order to keep working towards peace again tomorrow!
Every Sunday at 9:30am EST, you can join for a full-length (45-minute), all levels yoga class on my Instagram Live, or watch the recording later. I’m lucky to have the support of my wonderful and talented friends, so you can get some variety in the schedule!
Our final practice together on Saturday, November 30 from 3:30-4:30pm EST will have an in-person option – in the cozy Soul Room at PranaShanti studio in Ottawa! Space will be limited, so the class will be offered virtually as well. Message me for the Zoom link! Those attending in person will also be invited to join for a post-practice social at a café nearby (details TBD).
Not a yogi? Share this fundraiser with someone who is!
Encourage your friends and family to join the fundraiser by sharing this fundraising page and my Instagram profile with them - @lmentsyoga
If you self-identify as ‘not a yoga person’, that’s OK! Everything offered throughout the month of November is just an option – maybe some of the practices will resonate with you, and you might slowly open yourself up to the possibility of integrating some yoga and meditation into your routine.
Donate to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
If you’re able, please consider a donation to MSF.
November is a challenging month for many of us in Canada, as the days get shorter and we don’t yet have enough snow to play in! Perhaps consider your entertainment budget in the summer months compared to November, or think about how much you might pay for your monthly fitness or wellness activities, and see if you can spare that amount in exchange for the content we will provide you this month.
All online donations of $10 or more are provided a tax receipt. MSF Canada will issue a consolidated receipt for all your donations in the month of February after the previous tax year has closed. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the MSF donor relations team at 1-800-928-8685.
We will have some draws and prizes throughout the month, so stay tuned for some special gifts that may encourage you in your decision to donate!
Donations can continue beyond the month-long fundraiser, but note that I will announce the final total and the winners of any draws on Sunday, December 1.
Together, by supporting MSF, we can help alleviate suffering and change lives. Your generosity allows MSF teams to continue saving lives by delivering urgent care to people made vulnerable by disaster, conflict, disease or exclusion from healthcare.
Thank you for your support, however you can give it.
Yours in peace,
Lindsay