On Monday, March 29, 2010, New Yorkers For Children Youth Advisory Board and Friends Committee members gathered at Exhale Spa to host the first ever Youth For Yoga event to benefit younger children in foster care in New York City. More than 25 youth in foster care (ages 7-10) and 10 Youth Advisory Board members participated in the yoga class, which was led by an instructor from Yo-Yoga. New Yorkers For Children supporters Marisa Arredondo, Jen Creel, Selita Ebanks, Susan Shin and Rory Hermelee were also in attendance to learn fun and relaxing yoga exercises. The hour-long class flew by as the youth and Friends tested out a variety of yoga techniques and poses, including Selita Ebanks’ personal favorite: the “half moon.”

The New Yorkers For Children Youth Advisory Board (YAB), a group of high school and college students in foster care who serve as advocates for youth in care, proposed the Youth for Yoga event as their spring community service project. YAB worked with the Friends Committee to plan the class, which was intended to help younger children in foster care learn how to manage their emotions through yoga.

Special thanks to Exhale for generously providing both their Yoga and Core Fusion Studios for the class. Additional support was provided by Alternative Apparel and Vitaminwater.