On Wednesday, June 21 — the first day/night of summer — you’ll want to come out to Turnure Park in White Plains for an evening of yoga that promises not only to be super-fun, but will also help a great cause.
The mega-yoga event is being held to raise both awareness and funds for the Mental Health Association (MHA) of Westchester, which has been promoting mental health in Westchester for more than 70 years through advocacy, community education, and services.
The event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with a live performance by world-music trio House of Waters, as well as an exciting yoga marketplace full of community partners, vendors, and sponsors. There will also be a photo booth where you can pose to your heart’s content and join a social-media awareness campaign, utilizing the hastag #MentalHealthMatters.
At 6:30 p.m., attendees (more than 500 are expected) of various ages and skill levels (including total novices) will get on their mats for a class led by veteran yoga instructor Beryl Bender Birch. “I am thrilled to be joining MHA as we all get on our mats for mental health,” says Bender Birch, a 40-year veteran instructor, creator of “power yoga,” and founder of the Give Back Yoga Foundation.
Yoga and mindfulness can be an effective tool for people experiencing anxiety, depression, or other mental-health conditions, and, says MHA CEO Charlotte Ostman, this event “is an exciting opportunity to showcase this, as well as foster dialogue about mental health issues.”
WHAT: Get On Your Mat for Mental Health
WHEN: Wednesday, June 21
5:30 pm (check-in, live music, yoga marketplace)
6:30 pm (yoga class with Beryl Bender Birch)
WHERE: Turnure Park, 26 Lake Street, White Plains
HOW: To register, visit: www.mhawestchester.org/yoga. Pre-registration is $25; day-of registration is $30; kids under 12 register for the “little yogi” rate of $15 * The first 250 registrants will receive a FREE yoga mat and bag courtesy of White Plains Hospital.
For more info, contact: Connie Moustakas, Director of Development, Mental Health Association of Westchester; 914.265.7511; development@mhawestchester.org
