THE YOGA EQUITY PROJECT
The Yoga Equity Project seeks to make yoga more affordable, diverse, and inclusive. At JP Centre Yoga we believe that yoga should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or financial means.
To achieve this, we have implemented several initiatives, locally and internationally:
Local Initiatives
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OUR TIERED PRICING SYSTEM
We subsidize 15%-25% of our classes, workshops, and trainings for those with limited or unstable financial resources. We also offer an optional 50% discount to BIPOC practitioners as a form of reparations for communities that are underserved in our health care systems.
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BIPOC FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
We set aspiring BIPOC yoga teachers up for success by providing a full tuition scholarship to our 200 Hour Foundations Teacher Training program alongside a yearlong 1-on-1 mentorship with JPCY’s Teachers of Color to support them throughout training and after graduation.
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INCREASED ACCESS SCHOLARSHIP
We provide a full tuition scholarship for our 200 Hour Foundations Teacher Training to individuals interested in primarily teaching under-resourced populations - those who may not be able to normally afford or access yoga - in their communities.
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$6 AFFINITY GROUP CLASSES
Along with our weekly $6 community class that is open to all, we offer monthly affinity classes at our $6 community class rate - Yoga For Us: BIPOC Only Space (exclusive to the BIPOC community) and a monthly Queer and Trans Community Class (exclusive to the LGBTQA+ community).
International Initiative
JP Centre Yoga Trains Yoga Teachers in the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi
Dzaleka was established in 1994 to house thousands of people fleeing violence in Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Originally designed to accommodate up to 12,000 refugees, the camp is now struggling to support more than 60,000 people. JP Centre Yoga has certified 14 yoga teachers who now teach more than 30 classes each week in a studio funded largely by JP Centre Yoga and in schools throughout the camp. All classes are free to participants, and teachers receive a monthly salary for their work.
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TEACHER TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
JP Centre Yoga hosts weekly meetings and yoga classes for residents of the camp who are interested in teaching yoga within their communities. Classes are held online via WhatsApp. We also provide a monthly teaching salary to all teachers and studio managers in the camp as refugees are not allowed to work and depend on a modest UN stipend.
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INFRASTRUCTURE
JP Centre Yoga has built a dedicated yoga studio within the refugee camp that offers free classes to residents. The space is currently expanding to include a room for mental health support, a kitchen that will provide meals for people experiencing malnutrition, and an office equipped with computers for education in basic digital skills.
Make a Donation
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BIPOC FELLOWSHIP PROJECT
LOCAL IMPACT
Your donation allows aspiring Teachers of Color to gain the necessary skills and support to thrive in their teaching careers. By covering scholarships and personalized mentorship costs, you are helping promote an inclusive and diverse environment of Yoga in Greater Boston.
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DZALEKA REFUGEE YOGA PROJECT
INTERNATIONAL IMPACT
Your donation makes the practice of yoga possible for those who have experienced displacement, trauma, and currently struggle with a lack of basic resources. For these refugees, yoga can serve as a transformative tool for healing, empowerment, and resilience.
