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3 Benefits of Volunteering

3 Benefits of Volunteering

by | May 12, 2015 | Community, Life Experience, Uncategorized

Volunteer to Grow

3 Benefits of Volunteering

Written by Melody Mayes

[blockquote author=”Jim Valvano”]A person does not become whole until he or she becomes a part of something bigger than himself or herself. [/blockquote]

Ten years as a Volunteer Manager, along with spending time volunteering abroad and locally, has shown me how much volunteers are needed and appreciated. Volunteering is clearly beneficial for the organization in which you provide your time, but it is also beneficial for the person donating their time.

3 Benefits of Volunteering

  1. You Grow

    Volunteerism and community involvement are an integral part to growth in a person. A great way to find a volunteering or personal development opportunity is to follow your passion. If you aren’t sure what you are passionate about when it comes to volunteerism seek out short term opportunities through various non-profits or use connection opportunities through United Way or VolunteerMatch.org. After the mentorship program with 502PY, my interest and involvement has grown even more.

  2. The Community Grows

    When you volunteer for a community, that community becomes stronger, more empowered, and healthier. The Independent Sector organization set a rate in 2012 for volunteers that their value is $22.14/hour for a typical volunteer. Not only are you saving an agency money, but you are having a large return on investment within your own life.

  3. Hearts Grow

    Ask any volunteer what they get out of volunteering and they most likely will say it’s the good feeling they get for helping others. Experiencing a service opportunity in South Africa stretched me personally very far out of my comfort zone by holding a baby in an orphanage, digging gardens, and organizing a school library. The largest emotional impact of that specific volunteer opportunity happened in a platinum mine in the city of Marikina. The city had seen great conflict and tragedy through violence. The homes where we visited were home to sometimes six adults and two children with only one room for all activities. The experience opened my heart so far that it has yet to fully comprehend that experience.

Volunteering 502 Power Yoga Community

The author during her time volunteering in South Africa

No matter where you feel called to volunteer, whether it is through your church, the YMCA, a youth sports team, or periodic events, the give and take of volunteering is worth investing time in. If you have any interest in volunteering with 502 Power Yoga there are opportunities such as Energy Exchange, Assisting, and Karma classes that provide donations to non-profits in town, accessible yoga to those that may not be able to afford it otherwise, and community outreach throughout the city. Talk to someone that is in the Energy Exchange program or an Assistant to learn what they do and what they enjoy about that opportunity. It very well may be an opportunity you can pursue!

Power Yoga: Don’t Sweat It

Power Yoga: Don’t Sweat It

by | May 5, 2015 | Life Experience, Off the Mat, Uncategorized

502 power Yoga Louisville Kentucky YogaLet’s talk about sweat.  I have heard women say on multiple occasions throughout my life, “I don’t sweat, I sparkle.”  Previously as a runner and cross-fitter I rarely experienced sweat (or sparkle for that matter) in my workouts.  Actually, I never did–ever.  The first  yoga class I had with 502 Power Yoga I was prepared for the 90 degree heat by being super hydrated, grabbing a towel once I entered the studio (although I did not think I needed it) and bringing in additional water.  With that being said, I was NOT prepared for the sweat.

My laundry detergent was also not prepared for the sweat.  Now I’m a lady so I won’t go into details, but my Pinterest research on “smelly gym clothes” provided me with loads of recommendations; I tried all of them.  I tried adding baking soda.  I tried white vinegar.  I tried soaking.  I tried not drying.  All of my clothes still maintained a certain level of ‘ew’.  It wasn’t until I finally got up the courage to ask a fellow yogi friend, Jess, about how she managed the sweat in her laundry that I discovered something as simple as Tide Sport was the answer.

With that problem solved, there are no longer concerns about odor or other potential issues with my yoga clothes impacting my yoga practice or my confidence.  But more importantly I should not have been so embarrassed.  Conversations about sweat are not the easiest to be had, but it isn’t going to break connections either.

Regardless of my previous sweat to sparkle ratio in physical activity, I can officially say I sweat at 502 PY and I do so knowing that no one judges me for it. Being part of a community that allows for questions, mistakes, falling out of tree pose for the 700th time that week, is ok.  The reminders from teachers and assistants that falling out of a pose is perfect reminds all of us that just as we are is just how we should be in our lives.  There is usually a sweaty Baptiste hug at the end of that 60 to 90 minute Vinyasa Flow waiting for me, and I love it. It has astounded me that adding yoga to my life has truly helped with self-confidence in such a big way and that’s regardless of sparkle, sweat or choice of laundry detergent.

Know always that the community at 502 Power Yoga is just that, a community.  Come with questions.  Come with hugs. Come as you are. Leave sweaty.

 

Written by Melody Mayes