Sudbury Yogathon for Mental Health

The Sudbury Yogathon for Mental Health is a one-day community event in support of mental health awareness throughout Greater Sudbury.  The Yogathon hopes to engage community members of all fitness levels, and to be an easy-going day of levelled yoga styles.All proceeds from the event will be donated to NISA/Northern Initiative for Social Action, a peer-run mental health organization providing vital services and programs to people with lived experience of mental illness. We spoke with Emily Zanini to find out more about the event and how we can get involved again!

“Sometimes medication just isn’t enough. You need to be able to relate to someone who was where you are now, and who has managed to pull through. The feeling of a community of people who understand and accept you for who you are is what we all need, and NISA does just that for this community”. Emily Zanini 

NISA is a peer-run recovery-oriented mental health organization located in downtown Sudbury which offers peer support along with active living, and creative and occupational/vocational programming. NISA supports nearly 80 members daily who understand the stigma that still exists around having a mental health diagnoses, and in finding a place of acceptance and belonging, they work to bring more awareness and advocacy around the various experiences of mental illness. Its hours are 8:30a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with a peer-run Regional Warm Line available to call every evening between 6pm-midnight, and evening support groups for families, mothers experiencing mood changes, and those bereaved by suicide.

The Sudbury Yogathon for Mental Health is in it’s second year – how was the response from the first year? Will this be an annual event now! 

With all of the continued support from last year’s sponsors, instructors, and volunteers,  we have been able to make the Sudbury Yogathon for Mental Health an annual event here in the Sudbury community! Last year was such a success and we made $9,000 for NISA at the event. Looking forward to seeing what this year’s event will bring and how big we can make it as a community event in the future.

Who will be leading the yoga classes? Will there be classes for all skill levels?

There are over 15 instructors that will be on-site to provide their expertise and guidance throughout the day. Instructors from Ganesha Yoga and Wellness, ARC, Myoga, Zen Fitness, Two Souls Yoga, and Inward focus will be a part of this year’s lineup. You won’t want to miss these segments as they’ll be guiding you through multi-levelled yoga segments including meditation, introduction to poses, vinyasa flow, core strength and balance.

How will the event help raise awareness for mental health? (Name/bio of speakers maybe?) 

As the fund recipient is NISA/Northern Initiative for Social Action, having prevalent mental health services on-site to provide information for those looking for support is vital. With the Canadian Mental Health Association, NISA/Northern Initiative for Social Action, North Eastern Suicide Prevention Network (NESPN) and Laurentian Health and Wellness Services, there will be no shortage of mental health information.

The event itself was organized to raise awareness and get people talking and through messages received since last year’s event, it’s clear that this initiative is being met by all involved.

How can people get involved?

There will be over 20 exhibitors on-site selling their health and wellness products and providing mental health information. The exhibit is open to the public, so even if you are not a yogi or do not wish to participate in the Yogathon, you can still come shop and mingle at the event.

The Sudbury Yogathon’s lead sponsors are The New HOT 93.5 and Scotia Wealth – The Dubreuil Group, with additional support from @home Energy with Greater Sudbury Utilities, Laurentian University Health and Wellness Centre, Our Crater, Alive + Fit, All About Massage,  ARC, Beards Bakery, Believe in You Jewelry by J. Woods, Frubar Juicery, Ganesha Yoga and Wellness, SweetLegs by Melissa Carscadden, Myoga, North East Suicide Prevention Network, Two Souls Yoga, South Sudbury Wellness, Sudbury Credit Union, Tree Top Bath and Body, Positive Inception, and Salute Coffee Company.

Registration can be completed online at www.sudburyyogathon.com/register/ and the fee is $40 if you pre-register for the event online. If you are a member of the Young Professionals Association of Greater Sudbury, you receive a 35% discount! The code is SUDYPA2017 and  proof of membership will be required. 

If anyone wants to help as far as volunteering, instructing, or promoting, they are asked to contact Emily Zanini at sudburyyogathon@gmail.com