BBYWC is a nonprofit, donation-based studio with a mission to build community through yoga and connection. Thank you so much for your interest in our volunteer program to help support our mission + keep the studio running smoothly!
Become a Volunteer!
Who are we?
We are a group of passionate and driven individuals dedicated to the care of our emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing.We love yoga, We love people, We love our community, and we offer yoga and wellness practices to everyone in our community regardless of social status, physical ability, or financial standing.
What we've created
A trauma informed community offering diversity-sensitive mindfulness based yoga and wellness practices for marginalized individuals to gather for spiritual well being, support, healing, resilience, self development,connection, belonging, and positive social change.
Vision:
Providing inclusivity, connection, and access to all in their journey to find emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing while reconnecting to their highest potential in their journey to inner peace.
Our Mission!
We aim to move youth, adults, and seniors facing poverty, homelessness, abuse, addiction, PTSD, incarceration, emotional hardship and more to a more eco conscious & mindful lifestyle, promoting a sustainable approach to life involving a deep connection with nature & spirituality through the principals of yoga, natural living, and sustainability by breaking down financial and cultural barriers to proven healing practices, self development, and personal growth within our community.
Our Core Values:
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Yoga is much more than Asana
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Everyone brings something to the table
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Teaching should be trauma informed
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Cueing should be inclusive
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All should feel valued and welcomed
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Yoga should be accessible to anyone it is inaccessible to due to physical and financial barriers
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Hugs are healing and should be shared often
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Everyone should have a place for connecting and belonging within their community
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Everyone should have access to developing mindful, eco conscious & sustainable living lifestyles
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​Humor is essential
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Be in the world and not of the world
What do volunteers do?
​That depends! ​We have a few options for volunteer shifts available depending on your interest & availability.
Independent Cleaning Shifts​
CLEANING & RESTOCKING (WEEKLY)
​Exactly what it sounds like! A cleaning of the studio, wiping down high touch surfaces and communal areas, vacuuming, and then restocking the space with supplies needed for each week. This is the beautiful re-set to the studio.
MAT CLEANING (WEEKLY)
​Since we let students use communal mats at the studios, we need to make sure that they are being cleaned each week. Yes, students clean them down with spray after class, but we like to go a little deeper. This task involves unrolling all the mats, steam cleaning them on one side, flipping them over and steaming the second side. Then rolling them back up and putting them away. It's a pretty good workout and a great way to get through your favorite weekly podcast!
LAUNDRY PICK UP (BIWEEKLY/AS NEEDED)
Each week we need one (or more) humans to beep bop around to all our locations and pick up our small rag laundry. This could be anything from the dish towels used at the sinks, to a bath towel used to clean up a big water spill, to our daily block cleaning towels. It's generally one small load that needs to be washed, folded and brought back to the studio. Previous volunteers have chosen to do this laundry at their homes for ease. We provide the soap!
PROP CLEANING (MONTHLY)
​Every month we like to add a little extra love and care to our blocks and bolsters. Students are spraying down their blocks after class, but we like to add a little more intentionality to them as we wipe them down monthly with some slightly stronger cleaner. We also like to spend time steam cleaning each side of our comfy bolsters to make sure that they are good to go for the next set of yogis who wanna lay on them!
DEEP CLEANING (MONTHLY)
With the deep clean, you're doing everything our clearer does weekly, and a little bit more! You're going that extra mile to make sure all the dust bunnies are gone from under the altar and that the floor is squeaky clean. ​
BLANKET WASHING (QUARTERLY)
Every three-ish month we wash our blankets at a local laundromat. It's about a 3+ hour endeavor between collecting the blankets, lugging them to the washing station, and getting them washed & dried in small batches. We then ask that you fold them and swing them back to the studio. It's a laborious activity but one that we (and every student) so so so appreciate. It makes a world of difference! ​
Shifts with the People!
CLASS SUPPORT (WEEKLY)
Some classes need another set of hands to help check in students and complete closing tasks after class in collaboration with the teacher. This volunteer usually arrives 20-30 minutes before class starts, is able to take class (that’s right!) & then stays another 30 minutes to help close down the space.
HYBRID ASSISTANT (WEEKLY)
Some in-person classes are hybrid, aka streamed online for folks wanting to practice from home. This role consists of helping set up the tech equipment and/or checking folks into the in-person class while the teacher sets up equipment (depending on teacher preference). Then you’ll set down a mat & actually be our “on screen demo” for folks at home to view so that the teacher can get off of their mat & keep their eyes on folks in the actual studio space. This volunteer usually arrives 20-30 minutes before class starts, is able to take class (& be on camera) & then stays after class to tidy up (& maybe close down the space depending on if it’s a closing shift or not). ​
What do volunteers get?
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A complimentary membership for the duration of service (4 months) OR
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Gratitude by volunteering your time to give back to the studio! We so appreciate & benefit from seva (service in Sanskrit).
What are the requirements?
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Be able to commit to a volunteer shift for a minimum of 4-6 months.
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Fill out our Volunteer application below
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Agree to & fill out our volunteer agreement
Next Steps….
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Take a peek at our Volunteer Needs calendar above to see what shift you’re willing & able to take on. Please note the list of available independent shifts at the top + all scheduled shifts for class support, as well as the location of each shift.
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Fill out our Volunteer Application & give an accurate snapshot of your availability & the top two shifts you’d like to fill.
We’ll get back to you shortly! If you have any questions, please reach out to us at hello@balanceandbreathyoga.com.
OUR COMMUNITY, OUR IMPACT​
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Sustainability
We value long-lasting relationships with our students, partners, and the communities we serve.
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Inclusion
We believe yoga is for every body.
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Connection
In all that we do and with all whom we meet, we strive for authentic and meaningful connection.
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Growth
Ultimately, our goal is to empower those we serve to grow and to live more fulfilling lives through yoga.
Support Our Mission for Diversity, Inclusion, and Equality Through Yoga Training
As we continue our work starting our non profit, our 2024 Cohort offers a Pay-what-you-can based 200-hour registered yoga teacher training in a bid to foster diversity, inclusion, and equality within our community!
Complete your certification Online or In studio with live instruction and hands on Experience! The BB yoga Teacher Training program is flexible and self-paced, consisting of 26 modules. This training is accredited by the Yoga Alliance, and can be completed in as little as 4 months, but you can take your time if you'd like and stretch it over a 12 month time line!
At BBYCW, our aim is to offer inclusive studio classes open to everyone interested in practicing with us! We embrace you as you are, encouraging and supporting you to personalize your practice to honor you, your body, and your needs along this journey.Our center is a space where authenticity is celebrated and healing is found in humor, hugs, & community. We frequently remind our students: come as you are. Our center is a space for you to be you. Join our BBYWC community and let our studio home become your studio home as well. We are glad you are here and can’t wait to see you in class!
WONDERING WHERE YOUR DONATION GOES?
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Our mission in action through financially accessible pricing and ensuring that we always remain a donation-based studio where everyone is welcome
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Specialized programs for specific populations like the LGBTQIA+ community, those affected by traumatic brain injuries and the accessible yoga community
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Scholarship positions for studio memberships, workshops and trainings
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Equitable teacher compensation
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Administrative support
YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR IMPACT
Our nonprofit’s intention is to deliver trauma-informed, diversity-sensitive, mindfulness-based yoga through partnerships with nonprofit organizations serving marginalized individuals to support healing, resilience, self-development and positive social change. Our commitment is to continue providing accessible programming and to provide employment opportunities to our local practitioners sharing these healing modalities and practices.