WHO WE ARE
In the Buddhist tradition, there are seekers that set out on the path toward enlightenment to alleviate their own suffering. And then there are bodhisattvas, who practice not only for the benefit of themselves but also, most importantly, for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Yoga For All Movement is on a mission to make the healing practices of yoga and mindfulness truly accessible for all beings without exception.
We do this by providing trauma-informed classes that are free to the public, as well as private classes with community partners that serve populations that have historically not been served by the wellness industry.
Founded in 2016, YFAM’s origins were sharing yoga with incarcerated individuals—not only for the health of their bodies but also to reduce the enormous impact of institutionalization. Since then, YFAM has expanded its outreach and vision. We are now a team of more than 40 teachers, offering yoga and mindfulness to individuals in recovery from substance abuse, youth in schools, youth and adults experiencing incarceration, survivors of domestic violence, isolated seniors, people with mental health needs, the LGBTQIA+ community, people with lower incomes, and more.
WHAT WE DO
We provide 22 weekly trauma-sensitive yoga and mindfulness classes in Santa Cruz County for people experiencing significant challenges in their lives.
These private classes take place at our community partner organizations, which include local jails, mental health facilities, recovery centers, alternative education schools, and senior centers. Periodically, we also have the opportunity to offer classes and workshops to the organizational staff and caregivers—the people who work directly and regularly with the vulnerable populations we serve—so they can feel resourced and supported in the important work they do.
In 2024, we offered 830 classes to 4,383 students.
Some of the organizations we partner with:
“Relaxed is not a feeling I am used to feeling in jail. But it is what I feel every time I step onto a yoga mat. The gifts I have received from the dedication of these teachers is a blessing.”
— Jose C., formerly incarcerated student in Watsonville
In addition to these private classes, we also increase accessibility to healing practices by offering weekly donation-based classes to the Santa Cruz County community.
These classes are sliding scale, and no one is turned away for lack of funds.
WHY WE DO IT
What do you burn for?
This is YFAM’s motto, our call to action, how we start our board meetings, and what we consistently ask ourselves and our students. We can make a lasting impact by tapping into our deepest passions, yearnings, and shared humanity.
We burn for making yoga and mindfulness accessible, inclusive, equitable, empowering, and a brave space for all members of our community. We burn for breaking down barriers within our culture, including harmful colonial and white-supremacist systems, that prevent people from accessing resources that can support their well-being. We burn for fostering accessibility, equity, and transformational justice by acknowledging difference and injustice, while teaching through a trauma-sensitive lens: using inclusive language and postures, offering accessibly priced classes, and by honoring yoga’s lineage.
Honoring yoga’s roots
We are dedicated to the decolonization of yoga and here to honor and uplift yoga’s roots. Yoga, an ancient practice that can be traced back thousands of years, stems from India and was brought to the West by Swami Vivekananda in 1883. Contrary to popular Western thought, yoga is not just a physical practice. The physical postures (known as “asana”) are just one small part of the 8-limbed path of yoga. We encourage all who practice asana to educate themselves on the lineage and delve into the multifaceted practice, which has physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits—and the potential to change the way one sees the world. We do our best to implement a well-rounded yoga practice in our classes through asana, meditation, pranayama (breathing), and yogic philosophy.
Our Core Values
ACCESSIBILITY: We believe in a world where all people can access the healing tools of mindfulness, breath, and movement.
INCLUSIVENESS: We embrace diversity and value the lived experiences of all people in their quest for liberation.
EQUITY: We stand for ALL people regardless of body type, ability, income status, identity, class, race, or life experience to have the same rights and opportunities.
COURAGE: We act with conviction to dismantle systems of oppression that lead to mass incarceration, addiction, violence, and other trauma.
EMPOWERMENT: We seek to lift up and expand people’s agency over their own lives and the decisions that impact them
We are always looking for mission-aligned allies to collaborate with.
If you want to teach yoga and mindfulness, volunteer, become a board member, donate, or something else, we’d love to hear from you!