NYC Yoga for All

Multi-Week Program Design‍

Evidence shows that the mental health benefits of yoga are best realized through consistent practice. Therefore, we offer multi-week programs designed with a developmental trajectory that begins with the most foundational elements of the practice (e.g., mindfulness, grounding, and core stabilization). Our programs scaffold through repeated practice, as each class incorporates themes and skills learned in prior classes. Building off of these foundations, later classes incorporate more advanced practices (e.g., compassion for self and others, open-hearted union, backbends, and hip openers). More information about multi-week programs can be found below.

‍Program Development

Needs Assessment: We know that every community is different, so we start with a needs assessment to get to know a little bit about your people and your space. We want to create a workshop series tailored to your residents’ needs and works within your space.

Program Proposal: After the initial needs assessment, we will send you a program proposal that outlines the major themes and practices of each week’s session, including an overview of the program’s developmental trajectory.

Scheduling and Payment: At this point of the process, we will agree on dates and set a recurring weekly time for practice. We are completely grant-funded at this time and are offering complimentary programs to qualifying shelters. ‍

Before Class

Materials: People of all bodies and mobility levels can practice yoga. We provide accessible yoga classes by supplying props that promote physical and mental ease, including mats, blocks, and blankets. We bring these props to and from each class.

Comfortable Clothing: Before the start of class, we ask that you designate a member of your staff to invite students to change into comfortable clothes that they feel able to move around in.

Staff Assistant:  We ask that you designate one member of your staff to assist the yoga instructor by being the person to step in in the event of any significant distractions or emergencies. The assistant can participate in the practice, or simply be in the room.

Set-up: Instructors arrive 20 minutes before class to assist with the set-up of the space, including cleaning and laying out mats and props.

Class Structure

• Welcome and Introductions: Name and Pronoun Sharing
• Conditioned stimulus for mindfulness (e.g., three collective breaths, sound bowl)
• Opening comments that invite autonomy and voluntariness in movement and participation
• Presentation of theme and intention
• Breathing practice
• Intention setting
• Form and movement practice (e.g., warm up, main sequence, peak pose, and cool down)
• Inner practices (e.g., body scan, guided meditation, 30 seconds of silence and stillness)
• Closing comments
• Expression of gratitude
• Questions, feedback, and experience sharing
• Group clean up
• Participant completion of short feedback form

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