Mission, Vision, & Values
Mission
YogaCare catalyzes the spread of yoga in under-resourced communities to promote health.
We accomplish this by providing customized yoga and wellness programs, employee wellness services, scholarships for community residents to become yoga teachers, and professional development for community-focused yoga teachers.
Vision & Core Belief
We envision a world of loving-kindness in which everyone treats themselves and others with love and compassion, where yoga is available and accessible for all and provided by culturally responsive well-trained teachers, and society values yoga for its healing potential.
We believe that when people have an opportunity to connect with each other in a safe and welcoming space to engage in positive health behaviors, they can take proactive steps in their own lives, leading to increased healing potential and healthier communities.
Values
health equity: we believe that yoga is healthcare. Our programs increase access to healing in places and communities that historically have been systematically overlooked and thus are acts of racial justice and healing justice
diversity, inclusion, access: we build a colorful, diverse, and vibrant team across many identities in which all voices are heard, honored, and incorporated into our work, aspiring to high standards of equity. We listen to and lift up marginalized voices. We self-reflect on privilege and learn from our mistakes.
compassion for self and others: we demonstrate lovingkindness for all and bring peace in every interaction, giving ourselves and each other the space and grace to be human.
self-care as collective care: “rest is resistance” - we work with balance and pacing and inspire each team member to take care of themselves and by doing so we care for each other and our communities
authenticity: we are accountable to our partner communities, organizations, clients, students, stakeholders, and each other with integrity and transparency.
collaboration & power-sharing: we do not ‘bring yoga to’ communities but rather ‘co-develop programs with’ our partners so that power is shared within our organization and in partnership with others
we honor all paths. We embrace both the possibilities of yoga and the heritages that open those possibilities to us. This is the core of what we hope to share with others about yoga. We live and honor yoga: We care for our impact, not just our intention. We live as if we are all connected, because we already are. (Adapted from: The Yoga Manifesto, Susanna Barkataki)