Warriors are people engaged in a cause. Heroes facing the world’s greatest problems. Armed with the tools of yoga and meditation, our cause is peace.
Every day people are living with violence in their communities, homes, bodies and minds. Yoga has taught many of us how to create more peace in our actions, thoughts, and words - to cultivate peace in every area of our lives, both inside and out. We all have the capacity to create positive change, but not all of us have the opportunity to nourish ourselves in positive ways.
Help New Leaf make yoga more accessible to youth in the places where it’s been least available. We are asking you to take a stand as a Warrior for Peace, supporting the young men and women we work with, by committing to a monthly donation in support of New Leaf’s yoga programs.
Email us to learn how your studio can become a warrior for peace
Moving into our 6th year, we're beginning to place additional focus on prevention programs. Our prevention initiatives continue to align with our mandate by operating in some of the least- served neighbourhoods so that yoga may be an option for those who haven’t had access.
Through a 3-year partnership with the Toronto District School Board, we are launching the Three Schools, One Community Initiative with the goal to create a lasting impact in specific “priority” areas of the GTA. We will pilot the the program in 3 schools in Regent Park this year and apply the model within additional areas next year. The most important aspect of this initiative will be to build strong community relationships - both within the schools and in the communities in which we’re working.
Our PhD researcher and art therapist partners will be gathering youth testimonials and insights on their experiences so that the youth themselves can inform the program’s future growth.
In a nutshell, the program components are:
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We’re proud to be partnering with the following schools to offer 24 weeks of yoga programing at each over the course of this school year:
Nelson Mandela Park P.S.
Duke of York Junior P.S.
Market Lane Junior & Senior P.S
Jess Robertson, Co-founder of New Leaf Yoga Foundation, shares her
gratitude for everyone that has participated and supported us over the
past five years.
What does it take to build a successful yoga non-profit organization committed to creating positive change in the lives of youth? Relationships and support, says Laura Sygrove, New Leaf Yoga Foundation‘s Executive Director and co-founder. In this video interview, Laura and Roseanne Harvey talk about the roots of New Leaf’s work, our Warriors for Peace fundraising campaign, the challenges and rewards of engaged yoga service work, and the importance of supportive networks.
