Story

In February of 2007, I met a shy, quiet 7-year-old girl who loved reading, arts, crafts and ice cream. Still figuring out how to cope with a vision impairment, her love for reading was affected by this challenge and we spent most of our time together going to the library to foster that love for reading, without the pressures of time and distractions. Our relationship bloomed over our shared love for books, McDonald’s sundaes and various arts and crafts projects. Our relationship was built the way many friendships are – with time, patience, and curiosity. 10 years later, I just attended her high school graduation, and have watched her flourish into a confident, fun-loving, considerate and kind young adult. Our trips […]

Your vibe attracts your tribe. Over the years of teaching and practicing yoga, I have been a witness to the profound effects yoga has when practiced in a group. Healing doesn’t happen in isolation. We often find ourselves drawn to the mat for many different reasons, including emotional or physical injury. Yoga, coupled with the power of KULA, has proven to support the process of healing. A community begins to evolve. Community is when people begin to care about one another, and where they begin to share and support one another. Your yoga community celebrates your breakthroughs and your growth, where ultimately the whole thing becomes based on a higher purpose, a deeper meaning, and a more profound goal in […]

Growing up, Big Sister Raylene was troubled with loneliness. After her parents split up, her dad moved away while her mom worked long hours. She felt like she was missing out and that she had no one to talk to. “It was very hard. I felt very lonely,” said Raylene as she looks back. Little Sister Amy describes her childhood as lonely. The other kids don’t invite her to play and her mom works tirelessly. Before she met Raylene, she felt like there was no one to hang out with, confide in, and look up to. “I was having trouble making friends before, so I wanted someone who I could go to places with,” said Amy wishfully.     Things […]

Seva means selfless service in Sanskrit.  Seva is doing something for others without a need for something in return. In the yoga community we talk about this often. Many teachers believe that being a yoga teacher is a form of Seva, I would agree. However, there are many different ways to be of service in the community. You can choose to do something large, like start a non-profit or volunteer to mentor someone as with Big Sisters.  You can do something small, like give a blanket to a homeless person. Just like when a pebble is dropped in a lake and the ripples reach all the way to the shore, all actions have lasting effects. We can’t even begin to understand how […]

Last year, I had the privilege of setting the intention for Big Yoga for Big Sisters. Our theme was that we were better together. And during class, as we joined hands in tree pose, or all toppled over in attempt at a group chair, I was reminded that coming together as a community to participate in a heartfelt cause truly does reveal the best of our human spirit. The world needs more lightworkers. Light comes when we look beyond the limitations of our own needs, wants, and desires, and take a pause to act for a cause greater than our own convenience. We express our light through simple everyday acts, such as taking the time to listen to a friend, […]

“She makes me feel that I matter and that I have an important role to play in her life” Study Buddy Anna and Little Sister Olimpia were matched for nearly four years, until Olimpia graduated out of the Study Buddy program. They were first matched when Olimpia was in grade 9 and as she describes it, a “rebellious teenager.” “I dropped bombs on Anna, testing her to see if she would stick around,” Olimpia said about their first year as a match. Anna stuck it out with the help of her caseworker and the two of them developed a strong bond. Anna says, “At the end of the day, Olimpia had self-perceptions that weren’t true,” said Anna. “Olimpia’s teachers and […]

Heidi’s Story Twelve years ago I was fortunate enough to enter the amazing Big Sisters Mentoring Program. I was only 10 years old and growing up with a single mom. I wanted a Big Sister after seeing my brother’s relationship with his Big Brother, Andrew, as I’d seen how much fun they were having and what an amazing role model Andrew was to him. My mother had seen the success in my brother’s experience and knew what a great opportunity it was for a child to grow up with another adult to talk to and connect with. I remember meeting my Big Sister Shelley for the first time and realizing we shared a love for lip gloss, baking and all […]

In 1997, eleven year old Alana was living with a father struggling with addiction. Her mom had passed away when she was only seven. Although Alana was still young enough to not fully realize the disadvantages she was facing, she was shy and didn’t see many possibilities in her life. That all began to change when she met Gina through Big Sisters that year. “When I became a Big Sister I said to myself, I’m never going to do things for her, but I’m going to teach her what she can do,” says Gina. “All I tried to teach Alana was, if you want it, that’s enough.” Gina started small. On one of their earliest outings, Gina asked Alana where […]