May Day is fast approaching and once I decided on my plan for honoring May Day Strong, I wanted to get the information to you quickly. But I am going to admit that though I have done my very best proof-reading this email, but it’s at the end of a long day for me and tomorrow starts bright and early. There are bound to be some errors. Please give me some grace, and ask all the questions for anything that’s not clear. I think the important things are here, and the rest will be figured out!
Too Long Didn’t Read Version (TLDR): Class meets as normal, the proceeds will be donated, you don’t actually have to do anything different if you don’t want too. Please note the zoom link has changed, reach out if you need it.
As some of you undoubtedly know, one of the things going on this May Day is a call for a nation wide No Work, No School, No Shopping. If you’re curious I linked a few organizations who have been involved in this organizing below. I doubt this is an inclusive list, so if you know of others please pass them along. If you haven’t heard about this, no real surprise, there is a lot going on, and for a variety of reasons our algorithms don’t tend to put this movement front and center.
Rather than rescheduling class, my plan is to hold class as scheduled, and to donate the funds generated to Winona Sheltering Network. How this will work, is you show up for class as. normal but know that the equivalent of what you paid for class depending on what package you have will go to folks who are helping out vulnerable people in our community. For those who work in cash, if you want to donate extra, bring cash. If you can’t make it to class but still want one of your classes to go towards this cause, just let me know. Easy Peasy.
You can of course also donate on their site, or bring food and donations to drop sites in town, I’ve included graphics from Winona Know your Rights that detail what is needed and how to do this.
It feels important to honor that yogic philosophy which is very clear in considering community care a part of self care. To walk the path of yoga is to walk a path of discovering interconnectedness. On the mat this can look like connecting our breath to a pose, or realizing that opening up our hamstrings might make our neck relax. Or perhaps by attending class we realize that practicing together helps us take care of ourselves. Our body isn’t a collection of parts but rather a sensitive organism that thrives with care on all levels. This connectivity is true on and off the mat, externally and internally.
I also feel it’s worth pointing out, as with all things it’s important to find our edge and work within our capacity. Where are the places to extend ourselves, move into the discomfort, where do we need to develop the muscles of giving, where are the places we can nurture others, where are the places we need nurturing?
On May Day, I invite you to join me and connect our self care with our community care in a delightfully literal way.
Love to each of you,
Elle
https://thirdact.org/act/may-day-strong-may-1st-national-day-of-action/
https://indivisible.org/campaigns/may-day-participation-guide/
https://solidarity-us.org/may-day-strong/
https://maydaystrong.org/coalition
