Why I choose to support Guided by Humanity

The pandemic seems like another lifetime ago, but it was only a couple years ago that the world re-opened.  My brother is a special needs adult in his late 30s.  During the pandemic, my brother was able to participate in adaptive yoga and virtual dance classes to help stave off boredom.  The classes prevented daily meltdowns and gave us both the endurance and resilience to make it through the pandemic in good mental and physical health.  My brother loves his yoga and Pilates mat workouts with me, and I was thrilled to find that there is a Denver non-profit dedicated to offering yoga and wellness class to people living with disability.  

Guided By Humanity is a local non-profit dedicated to providing inclusive and equitable yoga and wellness services for people living with disabilities, seen and unseen. Guided By Humanity was established in 2017 with an anti-oppression lens, founded by a disability advocate that witnessed many health disparities amongst folks with disabilities, particularly for individuals with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities.

Help me raise $500 this October for Guided By Humanity by booking a massage today!   Giving back has never been easier—just let a back massage take care of the heavy lifting for you! 

 What kind of yoga classes does GBH offer?

• All Abilities Yoga - This class is geared toward students experiencing neurodiversity. 
• Yoga for everyBODY - This class allows all experiences and abilities to practice together in a supportive, inclusive community.
• Yoga for the Special Child - Classes are gentle and therapeutic for babies and children with developmental disabilities.
• Seated and Accessible Yoga poses
• Yoga for Amputees
•  Learn more about GBH: https://guidedbyhumanity.org/why-yoga/ 

The pandemic seems like another lifetime ago, but it was only a few years ago that the world re-opened.  My brother is a special needs adult in his late 30s.  During the pandemic, my brother was able to participate in adaptive yoga and virtual dance classes to help stave off boredom.  The classes prevented daily meltdowns and gave us both the endurance and resilience to make it through the pandemic in good mental and physical health.  My brother loves his yoga and Pilates mat workouts with me, and I was thrilled to find that there is a Denver non-profit dedicated to offering dance classes and performance opportunities to people living with disability.  I choose to donate to NPDT because they run a dance company called EMPOWER (an adaptive company for teens and young adults) as well as a youth company (ages 12-22) and an adult company (18+).

“New Paradigm Dance Theater (NPDT), founded in 2023 in Westminster, CO, is dedicated to nurturing creative artists of the future. We provide an artistic environment where dancers can be vulnerable and break assumptions on their journey to artistry…We’ll also partner with local schools to offer arts-integrated programming, after-school classes, and scholarships through our sister organization, Colorado Movement Lab.”  

What are adaptive sports?

Adaptive sports are recreational or competitive sports modified to allow individuals with disabilities to participate. These modifications can involve changes to rules, equipment, or playing environments to accommodate various physical, cognitive, or sensory impairments. Essentially, adaptive sports aim to create inclusive and accessible sporting experiences.

https://www.accessibility.com/blog/what-are-adaptive-sports

I graduated from Massage Therapy Institute of Colorado (MTIC) in 2019.  Like many alumni, I was heartbroken when MTIC closed in 2020 after operating for over 30 years. Massage therapy schools have become increasingly rare, and with each closure, our profession loses an important place for mentorship, hands-on learning, and community. Only 198 accredited massage therapy schools are left in the US.

Many of you may also remember that when the Boulder School of Massage Therapy closed in 2013 after operating for 38 years.  Some of last cohort of students transferred to MTIC to finish their program. Now, a new nonprofit organization called Boulder School of Massage Therapy (BSMT) is preparing to open its doors this July and help strengthen the future of massage therapy education in Colorado.

BSMT is working to create a high-quality, in-person massage therapy program focused on ethics, professional excellence, and community impact. Their goal is to raise $50,000 in the next 30 days to help establish the school and launch operations.

MTIC changed my life. I was a TA after I graduated and wanted to teach there someday.  I miss the MTIC community. It gave me the education, confidence, and foundation to build a career that I love. Since MTIC is no longer here, I'm choosing to support BSMT and their mission to train the next generation of massage therapists.

If massage therapy has positively impacted your life, please consider making a donation of any size or sharing their campaign with others. Together, we can help ensure future students have the same opportunities I was given.

Thank you for supporting massage education and our profession. ❤️

LEARN MORE & DONATE:  https://givebutter.com/c/silent-auction-2jtziy/auction