As this year comes to a close, two University of North Florida interns have taken a moment to reflect on their time working with Yoga 4 Change. Continue reading for fun facts about them and their time with Yoga 4 Change.
Lauren Moore
Planned to graduate from the University of North Florida in Spring 2022
Hometown: Tampa, Fl
Area of Study: BA Psychology, Minor in Philosophy
What is something that you have learned from this experience?
I have learned and grown so much during my time at Yoga 4 Change. One thing I have learned that really stands out to me is how hard work can truly make a difference in the personal lives of so many people in the community.
What is something that you love about Yoga 4 Change?
I love that Yoga 4 Change acknowledges how the benefits of yoga and mindfulness can be lifechanging and sees the potential for it to benefit underserved individuals. This organization is run by the most compassionate group of people who value community. Offering these resources to those who do not have the privilege of access to them regularly does so much to bring the community together.
What population do you resonate with most and why?
I definitely resonate the most with the Youth. I feel very connected to the youth of our community and have so much empathy for their struggles. Often, they are too young to be able to process the emotions they are feeling in a healthy way on their own without guidance. Providing them with tools that help early on has the potential to make such a positive impact on their lifepath.
What is something on your life’s ‘bucket list’ you would like to do/experience?
Something that is on my bucket list is to travel the world! I really see the value of getting out of your comfort zone and experiencing everything that this beautiful planet has to offer.
Emmalee Peterson
Recent graduate from the University of North Florida
Hometown: Jacksonville, FL (DUVAAALLLL)
Area of Study: BA Psychology, Minor Social Welfare
What is something that you have learned from this experience?
My time with Yoga 4 Change reminded me of the power of trust. Trust is built in small moments, and these moments act as opportunities to connect with someone else. I experienced so much trust from the Yoga 4 Change team during my time working with them. Because of this trust, I was able to trust myself in the work that I carried out. Beyond the trusting relationship built between myself and the team, I was able to witness moments of trust throughout the organization. The administrative team trusts their yoga instructors. They are compensated for the work they do and are consistently reminded of their role in the mission of the organization. The yoga instructors are then able to confidently carry this trust over to the students in their classes. The level of vulnerability that comes with a yoga class is initially daunting. Through reliability, integrity, and non-judgement are the instructors able to build connections with their students. Trust creates a ripple effect, allowing each person affected to build trust within themselves and with the people around them.
As a smaller non-profit, the Yoga 4 Change team must wear many hats to do the work necessary to create change. Trust is such an important part of making this work possible. Trust is what builds connection.
What is something that you love about Yoga 4 Change?
I love that Yoga 4 Change provides the opportunity to pause and create space for oneself. Life is challenging, painful, and unpredictable. In the chaos of it all, you can find yourself disconnecting from your body and your mind. Yoga and meditation represent a journey of the self. It is a practice that grounds you, connects you with your body, and offers moments of self-compassion. Yoga 4 Change represents this compassion and a commitment to the present. With the motivation to accept yourself, it becomes so much easier to offer this to others and to build unity.
Yoga 4 Change is one of the many initiatives working to make these resources more accessible in our community.
What population do you resonate with most and why?
I resonated with our Mental Health program. Mental health has become more of a priority in our society over the last few decades, but still has a long way to go. The past two years alone have exemplified a desperate need for mental health services. Your mental health affects everything; the way you see yourself, the way you interact with others, and how you navigate the world. Sometimes our body and our minds work against us.
During my internship, I was able to join a yoga class held over Zoom at one of the Yoga 4 Change facilities. The class I joined was with a group of men, roughly 30 people. There were some people who weren’t super invested, and others who were very eager to join the weekly class. During the class, some of the men who showed little interest in the beginning began to lower their heads and cease the moment to breath and join in. There is something so endearing about someone wanting to nurture themselves, even when it might feel weird or go against what is accepted by the people around them.
What is something on your life’s ‘bucket list’ you would like to do/experience?
I’ll climb out on a limb and say to host SNL. I love storytelling, the theatrical world, and have a new-found love for improv. I’m not too sure what I could possibly be doing in the future that would grant me the candidacy to host the show, so maybe I should start with some local improv classes first…
