Outreach Program
Isthadev Niwas' Outreach Program supports people in deep states of transformation... |
SERVE - See a space in the community that needs help and fill it.
LOVE - Allow connection and teachings to flow freely without discrimination. GIVE - It is in the giving that we receive. In response to need and due to great demand, Shivani, Ishtadev Niwas and its dedicated team of yogis have developed the Ishtadev Niwas Outreach Program to assist people of low income and in deep states of transformation, illness, in addiction recovery, or suffering from PTSD, anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders. |
Ishtadev Niwas believes that to step into the next dimension and embody the teachings of yoga in North America, we need to shift out of a business paradigm to be more aligned with the tradition in India.
What does this mean?
Traditionally, yoga students aligned themselves with a teacher that held the teachings in a way that was felt to have value in the world, whether that teacher was in silence, available for private sessions or not, travelled, or stayed in one place. It was the embodiment of the teachings that was valued and supported within the community as a whole. Thus, nobody who approached the teacher for classes was turned away based on income, for the community held the teacher and the teacher served unconditionally.
This means that yogis have tremendous hours to dedicate to personal sadhana, to outreach at minimum fee, donation or no charge in the community. That the energy of the teacher is to support, enrich and hold space for the community; to study and to support the community through free writing, teaching and private sessions that are easily accessible for people in crisis and deep change. Often these people don’t have the resources to access the support in their need for change. For a person to truly embody this opportunity, they need to have this exchange of energy supported by the greater community. People in deep states of change (i.e. addictions, depression, anxiety, birth, death, miscarriage, illness, eating disorders, PTSD, etc.) often have limited-to-no income. The stress of finances only compounds their experiences of isolation and limited ability to harness their opportunities for healing.
Often when people are feeling lost, it is not only private sessions that help; it is a place to be fed, a place to sleep without fear. It is reading a blog from the comfort of your own couch and not feeling alone. It is the ability to receive a few words or a personalized letter infused with care that keeps us going when times are hard.
This needs to change. It takes a community, a large community, to hold space for people, not just one. By supporting our PATREONAGE.COM page, you are not just supporting Shivani or Ishtadev Niwas as a space to hold retreat. It is 1000 arms holding up people who can no longer hold themselves. Whatever is stress-free for you to offer is not just a financial contribution, it is a contribution of love and encouragement to those who need it most. It is a contribution in the belief of the teachings and of people feeling heard, seen and held.
What does this mean?
Traditionally, yoga students aligned themselves with a teacher that held the teachings in a way that was felt to have value in the world, whether that teacher was in silence, available for private sessions or not, travelled, or stayed in one place. It was the embodiment of the teachings that was valued and supported within the community as a whole. Thus, nobody who approached the teacher for classes was turned away based on income, for the community held the teacher and the teacher served unconditionally.
This means that yogis have tremendous hours to dedicate to personal sadhana, to outreach at minimum fee, donation or no charge in the community. That the energy of the teacher is to support, enrich and hold space for the community; to study and to support the community through free writing, teaching and private sessions that are easily accessible for people in crisis and deep change. Often these people don’t have the resources to access the support in their need for change. For a person to truly embody this opportunity, they need to have this exchange of energy supported by the greater community. People in deep states of change (i.e. addictions, depression, anxiety, birth, death, miscarriage, illness, eating disorders, PTSD, etc.) often have limited-to-no income. The stress of finances only compounds their experiences of isolation and limited ability to harness their opportunities for healing.
Often when people are feeling lost, it is not only private sessions that help; it is a place to be fed, a place to sleep without fear. It is reading a blog from the comfort of your own couch and not feeling alone. It is the ability to receive a few words or a personalized letter infused with care that keeps us going when times are hard.
This needs to change. It takes a community, a large community, to hold space for people, not just one. By supporting our PATREONAGE.COM page, you are not just supporting Shivani or Ishtadev Niwas as a space to hold retreat. It is 1000 arms holding up people who can no longer hold themselves. Whatever is stress-free for you to offer is not just a financial contribution, it is a contribution of love and encouragement to those who need it most. It is a contribution in the belief of the teachings and of people feeling heard, seen and held.