Follow Your Heart Yoga is committed to not only creating and building community within the Yoga Center but also supporting the surrounding local community in which we live.  Anusara Yoga’s source is the tantric tradition of yoga that sees the beauty and magnificence in all of creation.  In supporting our community we serve others to acknowledge their goodness - their own light - so they may attain health, well-being and a more fulfilling life.

Since opening in February 2004, the Center has supported the following organizations through cash donations, clothing, program ads, donated classes and toys.  We are particularly compassionate with regard to children.

• The Barnesville School
• Black Rock Center For The Arts
• Fox Chapel Elementary School through Linkages to Learning
• Insight Meditation Community of Washington
• Kingsview PTSA
• Lab Rescue
• Laytonsville Elementary School PTA
• Mary of Nazareth Roman Catholic Elementary School
• Matsunaga Elementary and Longview Schools
• Mill Creek Nursery School
• Moms Club of Germantown
• Northwood HS Booster Club
• Samaritan Home Relief (Tsunami-related)
• St. Cecilia School
• St. Nicholas Episcopal Church
• Stillwater Meditation Community
• Northwest High School
• Clarksburg High School
• Thomas Jefferson Preparatory School
• The Diener School
• Seneca Valley High School
• Spark M. Matsunaga School

Our focus is to promote and encourage an attitude of seva - Seva Yoga.  Seva (say-vuh) is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘service’ or ‘spirit of service’ and describes those actions that seek collective upliftment through an understanding of the needs of other, and are based on togetherness and integration.  Seva has been referred to as “selfless service” and “compassionate action.”  In a sense, volunteerism is the western version of Seva.  Follow Your Heart Yoga Center would like to work to identify opportunities for yoga students to practice Seva Yoga.

Two opportunities in Germantown are Germantown HELP and Meals on Wheels, both of which provide services solely through volunteers (individuals and organizations) within the community.  Germantown HELP’s website is www.germantownhelp.org.

Following is some information from that website: “The need in Germantown is growing rapidly as the cost of fuel and the cost of living increases.  We are constantly working to support the needs of our exploding population. We greatly appreciate your willingness to help people in your community and thank you for remembering that they are your children’s schoolmates, the friends you met at the park and your neighbors. Germantown HELP is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization which offers a variety of emergency services to neighbors needing help in Germantown, Maryland (20874 and 20876 zip codes). Our organization began operation in January 1986. Our Federal Identification Number is 52-1410219. Without volunteers, we cannot accomplish our mission.”
If you know of some organization, or individual(s), that could benefit from our collective community outreach, please contact the Yoga Center.

Namaste.