Vision
Yoga Wonderland Center 3D Model
The intention and goal for the future is to establish a home base for Yoga Wonderland, which will be easily accessible to young individuals with disabilities in New York City. Martha envisions this center as being a safe haven and community, where children of ALL abilities can come to participate in yoga classes and other creative and health-enhancing outlets (i.e., art therapy, music therapy, dance therapy, adapted sports classes, massage therapy, physical/occupational therapy, pet therapy, self-empowerment/self-esteem/acting classes, nutrition/healthy eating classes, organic gardening, etc.), which will empower and encourage them to “shine their lights brightly.” She expects the offerings at Yoga Wonderland will evolve and grow as she learns from her students, because they, after all, are her greatest and wisest teachers.
More than a therapy center, Martha envisions Yoga Wonderland as being a community, a respite from a fast-paced world that, in general, doesn’t have time for young individuals with special needs. Yoga Wonderland will offer many opportunities for socialization and leisure (something that is sadly missing in the lives of individuals with disabilities). In addition to the diverse classes at Yoga Wonderland, we will also have regular theme parties, Disco Night, Karaoke Night, concerts, special guests to entertain and teach, and whatever else naturally evolves from our interaction with the members of this special community. In essence, Yoga Wonderland will offer a variety of activities to young individuals with disabilities for them to express themselves and lead healthy, harmonious, meaningful and HAPPY lives. While Yoga Wonderland will most certainly cater to young individuals with special needs, children of ALL abilities are welcome, as it is our belief that young people should not be segregated according to their physical abilities.
Martha believes that an environment such as the one that Yoga Wonderland will provide is something that is truly and greatly needed. Many young individuals with special needs, especially if they have severe physical challenges that preclude them from being independent with activities of daily living (ADLs), have little to no opportunities for extracurricular activities. While NYC special education public schools provide nicely for their students while they are of school age and during school hours, there is essentially few, if any, places for them to go after school or on the weekends. Young individuals with disabilities miss out on the chance to socialize and have leisure time, which we all know is so important for one’s health and wellbeing. This becomes even more crucial after these students graduate school. More often than not, graduates with disabilities are deemed unsuitable candidates for employment or Adult Day Programs because of the high level of assistance they require with ADL’s and because many programs are not hospitable to wheelchairs. As a result, their futures are hopeless, depressing and sad. The concept for Blissful Bedrooms (see Karma Yoga Projects) and Yoga Wonderland was conceived because of this unfortunate reality and together with her husband, Martha founded the non-profit 501c3 organization, Passion for Compassion, Inc, which encompasses these two programs.
Young individuals with physical challenges rarely have the opportunity to engage in group sports/activities with others, especially “typical” or “able-bodied” ones. Sadly, inclusion usually means that the person in the wheelchair sits on the sidelines and watches as their able-bodied peers run around and have fun. If they happen to be in the way, they are simply pushed aside. Yoga Wonderland will be a community where everyone will be made to feel comfortable, at home, and as an active and involved member. It will be a place where individuals with special needs can interact with their peers, learn new and creative skills, feel empowered and valued and simply have fun! Yoga Wonderland will foster an atmosphere where laughter and smiles abound, friendships are forged, and encouragement and respect come natural. In addition, Yoga Wonderland will be unique in that young individuals with disabilities will interact, without boundaries, with “able-bodied” or typically developing individuals. Both will learn enormous lessons, such as compassion, patience, acceptance and teamwork. It will be obvious to anyone who is part of, or visits, the Yoga Wonderland community that our differences aren’t as great as our similarities. Yoga Wonderland – A place where young individuals of all abilities unite to shine their light!
It is the core tenet of Yoga Wonderland that every being has a life purpose, regardless of his/her physical/mental challenges and abilities. Martha has found that many of the children with disabilities that she has worked with feel like they are “mistakes” and that they have no place in this world, nothing to contribute and no right to dream or have expectations. Many feel like they are a burden to their caregivers/society and that they deserve very little. Martha knows this is completely untrue and she wants them to unequivocally understand that as well. She believes that by exposing our children to the ancient and spiritual practice of yoga, as well as other healing/creative arts, we will promote balance and equanimity in these young individuals and will encourage them to follow their heart’s desire or life path, without the need to compete or measure themselves against others abilities or accomplishments. In this way, they will come to feel empowered, and will know that there is room for all of us to succeed and be prosperous in this world and it doesn’t have to be at the expense or misfortune of another. It will become clear through their positive experiences at Yoga Wonderland that we are all unmistakably connected and one. This understanding will lead to adults who are tolerant, compassionate, responsible, and contribute to strong communities and eventually world peace.
