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Sudbury’s First Yogathon for Mental Health

Sudbury's First Yogathon for Mental Health
March 21, 2016

We’ve got the inside scoop from Emily Zanini on the Sudbury Yogathon for Mental Health – happening on Sunday, April 17th at the Caruso Club. The yogathon is a one-day community event to support mental health awareness throughout Greater Sudbury and we are really looking forward to it! Don’t consider yourself a yogi? No problem – Sudbury Yogathon for Mental Health is for people of all ages and fitness levels.

Yogathon Poster-page-001

What inspired the idea for the Sudbury Yogathan for Mental Health?

After being diagnosed with a mental illness in 2013, I thought my life was over. I thought that since a doctor labeled me, it was okay to wear that label. I chose to heal through yoga and I noticed the biggest difference in the way I managed stress and the way I saw the world. I decided to become an instructor to share the benefits of practicing yoga with others. After returning back to Sudbury after a few long (and slightly warmer) years in southern Ontario, I realized more than ever the importance of support in recovery. The more I talked about my illness with those around me, the more other people opened up about their personal struggles and lived experience. All of a sudden, I didn’t feel alone anymore. If I would have just spoken up a couple of years earlier, I could have saved myself a lot of suffering in silence and gotten the help I needed right away. I created the Sudbury Yogathon for Mental Health to bring the community together and keep the conversation going while doing something fun and active!

Does Sudbury have many programs/fundraisers that support mental health awareness? Where can our readers find out more?

I think the community has done a really great job in providing as many resources as possible, people just need to start accessing them! There are warm lines, counselling services, and rehabilitation programs available to those in need, even if it’s just a bad day. The Sudbury Yogathon for Mental Health looks to keep these programs free and accessible and connect people to the right resources while providing participants with ways to stay mentally healthy! Information on what community resources are currently available can be found on the NISA website or by calling 2-1-1. PLEASE NOTE: if you are in crisis, call the HSN Crisis line at 705.675.4760 or call 911.

What can we expect at the Yogathon?

The Yogathon is designed to be accessible for everyone! There will be various community instructors presenting short segments of different yoga styles and programs that are available throughout the city. The instructors all come from different yoga backgrounds and will provide participants of all fitness levels with an opportunity to try something new! There will be exhibitors on-site to offer healthy food options and wellness products throughout the day. Mental Health agencies throughout the community will also be available to provide information on local programs and resources. The exhibit is open to the public and FREE, although donations are appreciated. To participate in the Yogathon, participants must register at www.sudburyyogathon.com.

The Yogathon is in support of NISA. Can you give us some more information about the organization?

NISA/Northern Initiative for Social Action is located on Elgin Street in the heart of downtown Sudbury. They offer social support to those recovering from a mental illness through different programs such as art circles, food and exercise workshops, support groups, and community initiatives such as the community garden. They provide opportunities for members to develop occupational skills through sewing and computer refurbishing as well as the Dandelion Café that NISA runs at HSN’s Kirkwood site. Supporting hundreds of Sudburians a year, NISA is a vital community service that needs our support!

Our Crater team is really looking forward to this incredible event and we want all of our readers to find out how they can get involved:

  • Volunteer:

We are looking for some hard working volunteers to help make this event a success! Roles and shifts are laid out in the volunteer application at www.sudburyyogathon.com.

  • Register a team:

Teams can be submitted by emailing sudburyyogathon@gmail.com. You do not have to be a part of a team to participate in the yogathon, however we do encourage you to bring your friends and family out for a day of fun!

  • Donate:

Donations can be made online through the Sudbury Yogathon website (www.sudburyyogathon.com). Cheques can also be mailed directly to NISA. Their address information can be found on the Yogathon website or at http://nisa.on.ca/.

  • Vendor:

We are looking for community partners to help support the Yogathon and NISA. Interested exhibitors can contact me directly through sudburyyogathon@gmail.com.

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Emily Franceschini is former full-timer and lover of all things purple. In a past life, Emily worked as a marketing manager and spent her free time searching for the perfect cup of coffee. Now all of her time is free time and she's spending it exploring the world.

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