Guided By Humanity

DURING 2021, GUIDED BY HUMANITY (GBH) SERVED WITH AND WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (I/DD). IT IS OUR MISSION TO CONTINUE TO UPLIFT OUR CURRENT AND FUTURE STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY, AND SOCIALLY. OUR PROGRAMMING BENEFITS OUR STUDENTS, BOTH IN THE COMMUNITY, AND AT HOME. THIS ALSO BRINGS AWARENESS TO THE COMMUNITY BY CREATING INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENTS IN COLORADO'S PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH LANDSCAPE. INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES EXPERIENCE TRAUMA, DEPRESSION, AND ABUSE AT HIGHER RATES THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION. YOGA AND MINDFULNESS PRACTICES ARE EFFECTIVE INTERVENTIONS TO ADDRESS TRAUMA IN THIS GROUP BY GIVING PARTICIPANTS A DEEPER SENSE OF BELONGING AND IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH. OUR PROJECT EMPHASIZES THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION TO HEAL TRAUMA, ALLEVIATE SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND PROVIDE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OF YOGA COMBINED WITH COMMUNITY EVENTS FOCUSES ON THE NEED FOR SOCIAL INTERACTION TO COMBAT ISOLATION, INCREASE PHYSICAL STRENGTH AND INCREASE MENTAL HEALTH WELL-BEING. PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ARE ONE OF THE POPULATION GROUPS MOST AT RISK FOR COVID, OBESITY AND RELATED HEALTH CARE CONCERNS. OUR SERVICES INCLUDE; 1) INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY AND ON-SITE YOGA CLASSES FOR ADULTS WITH AND W/O I/DD, 2) INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY AND ON-SITE YOGA CLASSES FOR YOUTH WITH I/DD AND THEIR CARE-GIVERS, 3) MINDFUL COOKING CLASS THAT CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO TRY NEW FOODS, LEARN NEW RECIPES AND INCREASE INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS, 4) INCLUSIVE THERAPEUTIC GRIEF SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE. 5.) MINDFULNESS BUS PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON COLLABORATION WITH LIKE-MINDED BUSINESSES TO BRING WELLNESS ACTIVITIES, NUTRITION, AND SOCIAL CONNECTION INTO COMMUNITIES. OUR PROGRAMMING AND CLASSES EMPHASIZE PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT. PARTICIPATION IS ALWAYS THE CHOICE OF THE CUSTOMER AND THIS IS COMMUNICATED THROUGHOUT EACH SESSION. CUSTOMERS' NEEDS AND WANTS ARE DISCUSSED AND INCORPORATED INTO CLASSROOM EXPERIENCES. PARTICIPANTS ARE OFFERED THE POSSIBILITY TO TRY OR LEARN NEW THINGS SO THAT THEY MIGHT CHOOSE TO INCORPORATE THESE PRACTICES INTO HEALTHY EXPRESSIONS OF RECREATION, RELATIONSHIPS, NUTRITION AND COPING SKILLS IN THEIR DAILY LIFE. WE SET UP THE CLASSES IN SUCH A WAY, THAT OUR STUDENTS FEEL SUCCESSFUL AND LEAVE CLASS WITH A HIGHER SELF-ESTEEM. THIS WHOLE-PERSON BOOST GIVES OUR STUDENTS THE CONFIDENCE TO TRY NEW THINGS IN THEIR LIVES. EACH CLASS IS TAILORED AROUND THE NEEDIEST STUDENT, WHICH ENSURES EVERYONE HAS A SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCE. IN MANY MAINSTREAM YOGA CLASSES, AN INDIVIDUAL MAY LEAVE THE SESSION FEELING EXCLUDED, DEFEATED AND NOT-GOOD-ENOUGH. THIS IS NOT THE CASE IN OUR CLASSES, NO PERSON IS LEFT BEHIND.