Nonprofit Profile: Yoga in Action

For our latest profile, we’re meeting with the Seacoast based Yoga in Action, and their founder Rochelle Jewell. Read on to learn about how Yoga in Action is helping people heal through the transformative power of yoga.

Rochelle Jewell

New Hampshire Magazine: Tell us about yourself! What is your role at your nonprofit?

Rochelle Jewell: I’m Rochelle Jewell, the founder and executive director of Yoga in Action (formerly SATYA:  Seacoast Area teachers of Yoga in Action). I’m a yoga therapist and teacher trainer with 25 years of experience sharing yoga with individuals of all abilities, including survivors of trauma, people living with addiction and those who have been diagnosed with a variety of disabilities. I’m a native of the New Hampshire Seacoast and have lived in several New Hampshire communities. I’ve been in Stratham for over 20 years, with my husband and extended family. In my free time, I love to spend time outdoors, especially gardening and hiking.

NHM: What is Yoga in Action’s mission?

RJ: Yoga in Action brings specialized therapeutic yoga programs to traditionally unrepresented populations. Our mission is to ensure all people have access to the therapeutic benefits of yoga regardless of social, physical, and financial barriers.  Our vision is that all people realize their power to connect, transform, heal and thrive through yoga.

NHM: When was Yoga in Action founded and why?

RJ: Yoga in Action (formerly SATYA) was founded in 2012. Yoga has made a huge difference in my life. It changed it really. When I first began practicing, I felt I became a better parent and partner. I felt empowered, happier and stronger physically. If it could make a huge difference in the life of someone who is quite privileged, imagine what happens when you offer it to others who are not so fortunate?

Yoga is a high-impact modality that supports mental and physical health. Yoga is proven to reduce anxiety and depression, help manage stress, support the immune system, increase strength and flexibility, reduce pain, and enhance a sense of calm. Research shows that yoga is comparable to other treatments, such as medicine and psychotherapy, and is an intervention that can mitigate the need for medications and the side effects medications may cause.

The mental and physical health benefits of yoga are profound for anyone who practices yoga but can be even more transformative for individuals facing social, physical, and financial barriers. YiA is committed to helping these individuals access research-based wellness and therapeutic support services not covered by insurance. YiA steps in to remove barriers to access by making all classes available free of cost to participants by making classes available online and at social service agencies where participants may already be visiting and by offering more accessible times than traditional yoga studios.

Also, many YiA constituents face social isolation as a result of their adversities.  Our reliable class schedule brings individuals who have shared lived experiences together, and creates a sense of community which helps mitigate isolation and instills a sense of connection and purpose.  These are all critical for positive mental health, and one’s overall wellbeing.

NHM: How did you get involved?

A chair yoga class

RJ: I had been teaching yoga to individuals with disabilities for several years and had recently decided to shift the focus of my yoga teaching to serve that population. I had realized that my greatest joy came when I was sharing specialized yoga classes.  During that time, I also attended the first ever Yoga Service Conference at Omega Institute in upstate New York. At that conference, I was introduced to many teachers and programs who served a variety of at risk and marginalized populations. I learned about yoga for the incarcerated, yoga for cancer, yoga in Africa and more. My mind was honestly blown away by the possibilities and I knew I wanted to do more. I also yearned for a way to bring yoga teachers and studios together. In a world rife with competition, I wanted our yoga community to come together with a common purpose.

Yoga in Action was born on a September afternoon on my back deck in Stratham.  I gathered five other yoga professionals who I had worked with in the past on various service projects to share my thoughts about creating a yoga service organization in our community. We decided to merge a couple of annual events that were coordinated by individuals and to bring them under the umbrella of Yoga in Action and to begin to develop programming which would reach individuals who would never find their way into our yoga studios.

In one afternoon, we committed to creating an actual nonprofit, and to doing it right. Within the next week, I had secured both an attorney and an accountant who offered to help us pro-bono to set up our corporation. In June of 2014, we received our 501c3 status.

A Yoga in Action class being taught in Portsmouth’s Prescott Park

NHM: What services do you provide?

RJ: Yoga in Action helps people navigate life’s challenges by providing accessible yoga programs to individuals in a wide variety of settings and circumstances. Yoga is a low cost, high impact modality that can support the mental and physical health of ANYONE.  These programs are fueled by our dedicated staff, experienced teachers and the expertise of our partner organizations in the community. Classes are free to participants and are led by highly trained faculty who understand the unique needs of the populations they are serving. Our four actions are Connect, Transform, Heal and Thrive. Community education, events and free yoga, meditation and breathing classes are open to all, improving overall wellness and increasing human connections. Our website has a full list of our available services, which we encourage everyone to check out.

NHM: How has YiA grown since its beginning?

RJ: Yoga in Action is truly grassroots. We started with no funding at all. Our initial group volunteered time to set up the corporation and nonprofit. We brought donations to our monthly meetings and would all throw $5 into the pot. Our first few years of fundraising, as we transitioned into this model, we donated more to outside organizations than was kept for Yoga in Action. As we began to grow and offer programs, we began to raise money for yoga classes rather than food and fuel.  For several years, we were entirely volunteer run.  YiA now has two paid staff and a full roster of 12 volunteer board members, plus additional volunteers who serve on various committees. Some of those committee members are also part of our faculty.  We have about 30 independent contractors on faculty at any given time.  Some teach regular weekly classes, and others serve on our sub list. We’ve grown from two classes per week to 25. Our budget for 2024 is just over $200,000, still modest for a New Hampshire nonprofit.

NHM: What’s next? What are you looking to do over the course of the next year?

RJ: In 2024, YiA plans to expand staffing, and financial capacity so we can further disrupt inequities in wellbeing with a particular focus on reaching more than 500 New Hampshire individuals who have been impacted by cancer, disability, addiction, trauma, and financial hardship. We will offer more than 1,000 free classes throughout the year ensuring that our impact on the health of our clients is consistent and meaningful. We will continue delivering tailored programs to social service agencies in the region who rely on YiA to support the wellbeing of their constituents.

NHM: What is the impact that your nonprofit is looking to make in New Hampshire and beyond?

RJ: We hope to continue to grow and to expand our programs throughout and beyond New Hampshire. Between virtual classes and the capacity to develop in-person classes anywhere, we now see this as a goal within reach. We’ve served individuals from 26 states and as far away as India. Our first long distance in-person class is now live in Maryland. We have a solid program that is replicable and the experience and track record to change many more lives.

NHM: What has been your favorite part about working for your nonprofit?

RJ: To be honest, my favorite part is when I get to teach. It’s not as often as I would like, but I am able to substitute any of the classes that Yoga in Action offers. I love to interact with our clients and to see and hear about what impact the classes are having on their lives. I love my job and am proud to say that I am a founder and executive director of an organization doing very important work.  What is closest to my heart, however, is the human connections we make when we see and share our vulnerabilities on the mat.  That’s what it is all about. I think of yoga as a very special gift and I am happiest when I can share it directly.

NHM: How can our readers get involved in your organization?

RJ: Join a class, donate, become a teacher, volunteer, join our board, become an event partner, host a donation-based event! You can visit our website at yogainaction.org to learn more or email me at rochelle.jewell@yogainaction.org

For more information on Yoga in Action, and their classes, visit their website at yogainaction.org