Saying farewell to our friends at Yoga By Design Foundation

See below for a message from our friends at Yoga By Design Foundation.


Dear YBDF Friends and Supporters,

It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we write to inform you that the Yoga by Design Foundation will cease operations in mid-2022.  After deep and mindful consideration, the Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to dissolve our beloved foundation, an action not taken lightly but deemed necessary in light of our financial situation. 

Founded in 2011, Yoga By Design Foundation has brought the healing practices of Yoga, Mindfulness and Meditation to hundreds who were in need. With your support, an amazing group of dedicated, highly trained yoga instructors in Michigan have planted the seeds of hope and peace throughout many under-resourced and under-served local communities.  Yoga is a journey, not a destination.  We may never experience the fruits of the work that has been done, but we know that YBDF has made a difference in their lives.

With funds raised at our 2021 Yogathon, as well as recent grants and donations, we are pleased to be able to continue our programs through June of 2022. We are no longer accepting donations but assure you that all previous monies donated will be used in the service of our mission.

Sending love and light this holiday season,
Lynn Medow, President Emeritus & Founder
Sarah Williams, Executive Director & President

Donate to Direct Relief in Support of Ukraine

Yoga Association of Greater Detroit would like to encourage all our teachers and friends to donate to the charity use the button above. We checked Charity Navigator and Direct Relief has a four-star rating. Direct Relief also has an obvious link for Ukraine so the donations go where you want them to go. I’m sure there are many charities out there.

Please donate what you can. As a yoga teacherm you could also donate your time to teach karma classes with all funds collected going directly to the charity, or encourage your students to donate directly. We can make a difference.

With much gratitude for Karen Lutz for this great idea.

Sincerely,
Charlene Vukonich, President of YAGD

Ellie Howard recommends YAGD!

Ellie Howard

My name is Ellie Howard and I have been a member of the Yoga Association of Greater Detroit for over 40 years. The YAGD is an opportunity to be around like-minded people once a month to participate, as a student, in a class from another member-teacher. We have the opportunity to enhance our Yoga experience at our monthly meetings. This keeps our Yoga-teaching experience fresh. Why have I stayed with YAGD for over 40 years? It has never gotten old for me. Every month I learn something that I didn’t know before … another way of moving from one posture to another … another way of introducing one of the basic poses … another new member joins and freshens our atmosphere.

Every year I am impressed with excellent leadership of YAGD. Our Board Members are the President/VP/Recording Secretary, and Treasurer. Then we have the commitment of our Committee Chairpersons. Their dedication makes for an outstanding experience.

If there is any question in your mind about joining or not joining, ask yourself, “What are you looking for in your Yoga profession?” For over 40 years, my questions have been answered here – in YAGD.

The Vagus Nerve and the Neck: A Key to Health through Yoga — A Webinar with Doug Keller

Doug Keller sitting in lotus pose

Looking for something to add to your yoga tool bag?

Check out this webinar from Doug Keller on the Vagus Nerve as it relates to you teaching yoga: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/neckhealth (it’s also good for 3 CE credits).  

Member Katherine Schaefer has brought Doug to Farmington several years in a row.  He is a  excellent teacher and has a talent for explaining the human body and its relationship to yoga. He offers great insight to yoga teachers all over the world.  He is one of my favorites!

– Char Vukonich, V.P. YAGD

Introducing Chela Yoga

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Marlo Ziegler E-RYT200, RCYT began teaching Yoga after completing her RYT200 at YogaChi, Birmingham in 2003 after falling in love with the her first “real” Yoga class in 2001

Marlo, Owner and Founder of Chela Yoga LLC opened its doors in 2012.

Chela Yoga Studio is a Yoga Alliance Accredited School (RYS200) since 2011. Marlo’s original RYT200 certification was in Ashtanga/Vinyasa which she taught and practiced regularly up until a few years ago when her own practiced shifted due to multiple injuries. Her teaching style has since  changed to a more restorative and adaptable Hatha practice focused on personal alignment and “Feel Good” movement.

We are known to most as a community with like minded teachers working on the healing art of Yoga. Meditation, and Pranayama work are the forefront of the classes led at Chela Yoga, where a variety of classes are taught. From Slow Flow Vinyasa, Gentle Hatha, Yin, and Restorative, all classes are design with the students needs in mind and are adapted accordingly in an all inclusive and welcoming setting.

Our Chela Family, students and teachers put a lot of focus into its charitable events, from Adopting a road in Waterford just down the street from its Highland location, to its Community Garden located at Hess Hathaway in Waterford feeding the community through Open Door, to its countless event raising money and goods for such non-profit organizations such as Common Ground (Pontiac), Care House of Oakland County (Pontiac), Affirmations (Ferndale), Detroit Zen Center (Hamtramck) and many more.

Chela Yoga also has a small rental space for local Healers, and Massage therapist to use complete with its own waiting room,salt lamps, a calming atmosphere and a massage table. In the front lobby located in the rear of the building, we have a small retail section housing local hand crafted items from local small businesses, including handmade soaps and beauty products from Ma Belle Lune to Yoga books, mats, towels, blocks, and our very own Chela swag. 

To find out more about Chela Yoga, visit their website:
https://www.chela-yoga.com/