By Rachelle Trujillo
rmt5153@gmail.com
Wyo Gives Day, a state-wide initiative to raise money and bring awareness to Wyoming nonprofits, kicks off on July 12th. For one local yoga studio here in Laramie, the day is a chance to enact change and come together as a community.
Seek Yoga Studio is hosting classes that will be paid by donation instead of usual pricing. 100% of proceeds will be donated to the SAFE Project, a local organization that helps and empowers victims of domestic violence and abuse.
“SAFE Project stood out to us because I think victims of domestic violence are often suffering in silence, and it’s one of those problems that can go unnoticed day to day until something really heartbreaking happens,” said Audrey Jansen, owner of Seek Yoga Studio. “The more support we can give before those heartbreaking things happen, the better world we’re creating.”
Classes will be held on July 11th so all donations are ready to be sent off on July 12th.
“We figured if we did all classes by donation on the 11th, then we could really kick off Wyo Gives Day first thing on the 12th with that donation,” Jansen said.
Seek Yoga Studio is no stranger to helping local nonprofits, with past fundraisers benefiting LAWS (Laramie Animal Welfare Society), Climb Wyoming and missing Indigenous women organizations. However, Jansen explained the size of this event is bigger than usual.
“We often do fundraisers for nonprofits, and when we do that, we often do a special class. But in this case, I wanted to do the whole day by donation and see if we could create an even bigger impact that way,” she said.
For Jansen, the day and event are about helping others alongside an entire community. She hopes the event will help create a positive impact within the city of Laramie.
“I wanted to get involved with Wyo Gives Day because I think it’s just a big celebration of community and a calling together of support and resources to really lift up the organizations in our community doing really hard work to create a better future,” she said.
“I think we’re always most excited in these kinds of experiences to come together as a community and create a positive impact.”
To get involved with the event, Jansen directed those interested to Seek Yoga Studio’s website. Registration is free, and donations can be made ahead of time or the day of via cash, check or Venmo. Those interested in supporting the cause without attending classes are still welcome to donate.
Jansen shared that Seek Yoga Studio strives to address all areas of health, including physical, mental, and spiritual. She said that the event is a great way for newcomers to get involved to support a great cause.
“It’s a great way for people to get introduced in the studio and to do yoga not just for themselves, but for someone else? Even more powerful.”
Seek Yoga is also holding another fundraiser in collaboration with Mountain Shadows Equine Revival, a horse rescue just a few miles outside of town. Audrey Jansen will be leading a donation-based yoga fundraiser there alongside the horses the evening of August 23rd with 100% of the proceeds going to the non-profit.