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‘How do you live your yoga?"

Local instructor doing charity work ‘Off the Mat'

By Alandra Johnson / The Bulletin

Last modified: November 10. 2009 5:20AM PST

People who know a little about yoga may think of it as a series of body poses. Downward-facing dog, mountain pose, warrior. But for Bend resident Amanda Stuermer, yoga is about much more. Yoga is not only a way of staying physically fit, it is a way of life that inspires her to give back to the community.

She says yoga is a way of going inside. “When you connect with yourself, you start wanting to connect with others,” she said.

After more than 20 years of yoga practice, Stuermer has started two community service projects this year. She is teaching yoga and creative writing to high school girls, and she is raising money to help build a school and birthing center in Uganda.

Stuermer was inspired by the national movement called Off the Mat, Into the World, which encourages yoga practitioners to do good in the world. She started asking herself, “How do you live your yoga?”

“I knew I needed to be of service,” she said.

Her youngest child just entered first grade and she felt she had time to dedicate. “What can I do to make a difference in the world? How can I give back?”

Teaching

Stuermer started a pilot program at Bend private school Cascades Academy this fall called “Shine Yoga and Creative Arts.” She hopes to start a similar program at private school Seven Peaks School in Bend during winter term. Stuermer says she hopes to expand to public schools in the future.

In the current class, Stuermer teaches eight girls once a week. She talks about a particular yoga principle. Then she leads through a series of poses and gives the students a creative writing exercise.

For instance, one week the theme was aparigraha, which means non-grasping or letting go of negative tendencies. Stuermer led the girls through a series of twisting moves, which offer release. Then, she asked them to each write a letter to their future selves, talking about what they would let go of now in order to become their future selves. One girl, for instance, wrote about letting go of being cynical.

Stuermer says many of the girls don't have experience relaxing, slowing down and getting away from outside noise. They say they never relax or take time to just be quiet.

“It amazes me how receptive the girls are to it. Every session they open up a little more.”

Stuermer knew she wanted to work with teenage girls in part because of her own experiences growing up. She had an eating disorder and says her teen years were tough. She wants to “try to help other teens feel comfortable with their bodies.”

Stuermer says the school liked her idea of combining yoga with a creative outlet. They pay her a small fee, which she donates to Off the Mat.

As the class progresses, she would like to add a service arm to the group.

Africa

In addition to her work with local teens, Stuermer also has global ambitions. She and her two sons, now ages 9 and 11, traveled to Tanzania on vacation last year. While there, she saw great need in the country and knew she wanted to return.

“It was life changing. I knew I would return in some kind of service capacity,” she said.

Off the Mat has a challenge this year, asking people to raise $20,000 to help with a mission in Uganda. The charity will offer individuals who can raise that amount a spot to travel on a humanitarian aid mission. They will travel to the country and help build a school and a birthing center in February.

Stuermer only began raising money for the mission in September, but she has already raised $17,000 through a letter-writing campaign to friends and family as well as through two fundraising events. She sponsored and coordinated a children's festival and put on a concert at the Old Stone Church in Bend.

On Nov. 17, she is planning her third fundraiser (see “If you go” on Page E1). She calls the event a Night of Giving, and it will take place at tbd loft and PoetHouse Art in downtown Bend. Products from numerous local businesses will be on display and available for purchase. Businesses also donated items for a silent auction. The event, which includes refreshments, will conclude with a showing of the movie “One Peace at a Time.”

The movie was shown at the BendFilm Festival in October. The documentary by Turk Pipkin highlights specific solutions to global problems, including a visit to orphanages in India, water projects in Ethiopia and more. The film includes music from Bob Dylan, Ben Harper, Jack Johnson and Willie Nelson. The event and screening cost $10.

Alandra Johnson can be reached at 541-617-7860 or at ajohnson@bendbulletin.com.

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