Make a Difference.

Contact your local park and/or nearby recreation organization and ask if they will allow a free teen community event to take place in their space.

Putting an event on is more fun with friends!

-You will want people on your team who can help you promote the event.

-Someone to speak about their experience before the yoga routine.

- Someone to take pictures & post on social media.

-Help set up and take down-it is nice to have extra yoga mats available.

-Someone to sign in attendees.

-Someone to oversee the lantern decorating table.

-Someone to assist with lanterns; whether that is someone on a kayak to take out onto lake or someone helping lighting to let them float.

If you are not a Certified Yoga instructor, you will want to find someone who is qualified to lead your group safely through a Beginner level class!

-Call local yoga studios, yoga teacher training schools or YMCA’s to see who would be willing to donate their time to an amazing cause.

It’s hard to feel a part of an event if you can’t hear the speakers or the instructors.

-Make sure you amplify your music (within the guidelines of wherever you are! SHOW RESPECT TO THOSE YOU ARE SHARING THIS SPACE WITH!)

-If you can get your hands on a microphone/speaker for your speakers and yoga instructor-awesome. A simple Karaoke machine can work.

-If not make sure you gather your group as close as possible to be able to hear and encourage your speakers to project.

With the space that you have picked to host this event-what makes the most sense for your group? Are there any restrictions you need to consider?

-We have a small lake where we put lanterns out onto. It has a fountain in the middle and we found that the lanterns couldn’t float far without assistance. So we have two kayakers take the lanterns out onto the lake and release them…this also allows us to gather up all the used soggy lanterns and throw them away! ALWAYS TAKE CARE TO LEAVE YOUR SPACE BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT!

-You can purchase lanterns on amazon.com

-You may want to send off lanterns that float. Make sure you OK this with whoever is allowing you to use their space!

-Events are more fun when people can win prizes. Contact local businesses and see if any are willing to offer coupons or products for you to give away.

The purpose of this event is to gather community. Reach out to local business and local committees and let them know what you are doing-to help get the word out involve more people! The more people we can have supporting teen mental health the better!!

-You may want to create signage or fliers. It can get costly. Ask your school, church or businesses in your community to help sponsor the event! AND MAKE SURE YOU GIVE THEM PUBLICITY AND A THANK YOU! Let them see the value in supporting you.

Talking about mental health and suicide isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be sad and serious. You want your group to come away from this event feeling connected, feeling empowered and feeling hopeful.

-What are ways that you can help engender those things?

-Pre yoga activities like face and body painting has been something we have done every year.

-Decorating the lanterns is fun.

-You could do ice breaker games with those who are arriving or those who are sitting on their mats waiting for the event to begin.

-LEARN PEOPLE’S NAMES. It is a vulnerable thing to show up to an event full or people you might not know. Try your best to make people feel more comfortable and get to know the people around them!!

Please let us know about your event and include us in your journey! We want to hear about the good you are creating in this world!

-Contant us so we can give you a shout out on our social media and help you promote!

-Tag us in your photos @ishawarriors #NOTALONE #ISHAWARRIORS #TEENYOGA