Reflections on Community Yoga from Nikki
Nikki - Chair Yoga at Chicago Public Library, Douglass Branch
Happy mid-July! Summertime Chi is in full effect (finally!), and I kind of feel like I am on fire with all the energy that is swirling around. Do not be alarmed... It’s a fire that I haven’t felt in a while, and thankfully, the Co-op has allowed me to focus that fire into community.
The Co-op emphasizes putting community first, something that I’ve been passionate about for a long time. I’ve had so many enriching experiences
volunteering throughout Chicago and the Chicagoland area as a scientist and mentor. Thus, it was only natural for me to dive into expanding Community Yoga programming with The Co-op. Yoga really is for everyone... but at the same time, Yoga is not accessible to everyone. However, we are trying to tackle this accessibility issue, one free class at a time! For me, it’s about giving back to the city I’m from and sharing something I love with its people.
As of right now, The Co-op is fortunate enough to be partnering with seven Chicago Public Library branches to offer free Yoga classes in the Austin, Dunning, Englewood, Humboldt Park, Lincoln Park, North Lawndale, and Oriole Park neighborhoods. Most of these Chicago neighborhoods have historically lacked consistent Yoga offerings, meaning that their residents (members of our Chicago community) have never experienced the physical, emotional, and mental benefits of the practice.
Yoga at Community Centers
We’ve also built out programming with majorly impactful community centers including:
• BUILD Chicago, on the West Side that supports gang intervention, violence prevention, and youth development;
• Centro Romero, a Rogers Park-based non-profit that empowers immigrants by supporting education, legal, and social services that promote justice, inclusion, and overall well‐being; and
• The Rizal Center, a center led by the Filipino American Council of Greater Chicago in Lakeview.
"I see myself deeply..."
“As an immigrant, I see myself deeply reflected in the people who attend my classes.”
- Paco at a Centro Romero community class (held in studio in the photo).
Our community classes in these spaces include traditional Yoga movement, Chair Yoga (honestly...my fave!), breath work, and meditation.
Each one of these spaces is uniquely beautiful. Moreover, each one of the people that frequents these spaces has a story to tell -- be it recovering from substance abuse, trying hard to adjust to a new home far away from their own, or just really needing to get back to taking care of their body, mind, and spirit.
I am so grateful to these spaces for welcoming The Co-op and allowing us to share this practice with them.
