Mindful Movement for Mental Health
As part of our ongoing effort to foster hope, mental wellness, and fitness in our communities, Servicios de la Raza’s Behavioral Health Department is hosting a Mindfulness Movement Fundraiser.
THE NEED:
COVID-19 has placed added stressors on those living with behavioral health conditions. This has had particular impacts on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.
Adding to this issue is the shortage of trauma-informed, culturally competent, and linguistically matched providers that accept low-income clients. These communities rely on organizations like Servicios de la Raza (SDLR) to fill this need. The behavioral health team at SDLR is hosting this fundraiser to promote mental health awareness, get people moving, and to raise funds for our program. All money raised will go directly to the Behavioral Health Program. Visit our website for more information.
Your $25.00 donation to participate in this fundraiser covers the cost of one therapy session. A generous $250.00 donation will pay for 8 therapy sessions as well as transportation costs for clients in need.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
This Mindfulness Movement Fundraiser event runs from MAY 16 - JUNE 6, 2021, but donations can be accepted prior to May 16. In this fundraiser, YOU get to choose WHERE and WHEN you practice mindful movement!! For a donation of $25.00 or more, you will receive a mindfulness kit to use during your mindful movement (pick-up only). We will gather (safely and socially distanced) at Sloan's Lake Park on June 5, 2021, from 10AM to 1PM to practice mindful movement together. We have Mimi Tzadok, a local yoga teacher, coming to give a lesson on that day from 10:30AM - 11:30PM. Mindfulness kits will also be available to pick up on that day. Please look out for email updates for more information regarding the mindfulness kit and day at the park!
WHAT IS MINDFUL MOVEMENT?
“Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy, and serenity. We need only to be awake, alive in the present moment.”
Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace is Every Step
Walking, riding a bike, lifting weights, or sweating it out in hot yoga can all be mindful practices. Whatever the physical activity, instead of simply working out to master a skill or improve your condition, you can move and breathe in a way that shifts you from feeling busy and distracted to feeling strong and capable. Mindful movement allows us to check in with our bodies and get moving in a way that can help us lower stress, release stagnant energy, and strengthen our mind-body connection. It is a great way to practice self-care by incorporating both mental and physical well-being. Oftentimes, when we engage in mindful movement to help our body feel better, our mood is uplifted, too!
The principles of mindful movement are the same as any other mindfulness practice. We aim to bring our full attention to the present moment to experience the here and now. We bring our awareness to the movement and focus on our breath or the way our body feels as it moves. When our mind wanders, we bring our attention back to the practice, to our breath, to our body. Visit this website for more information.
MINDFULLNESS MOVEMENT KITS
Healing on the Half Shell, a local group, has partnered with nonprofits to share carbon-negative pieces of art with community. This project aims to bridge the gap in the response to intimate partner violence and behavioral health needs in our communities. They paint seashells with beautiful images designed to inspire mindfulness and relaxation. Check out their Facebook and Instagram pages for more information.
Mindfulness Kits will Include:
A shell painted by Healing on the Half Shell
How-to instructions for mindfulness movement
Seeds to plant to bring closer connection to the earth
Mindfulness crafting supplies
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