Frequently Asked Questions

Mission FAQs

    • Please review our mission statements on our website home page.

    • Our yoga classes offer an opportunity for self-care to a population of recent immigrant and refugee women. Some of these women experienced trauma in their native lands prior to arriving in the US. The process of resettling in a new country, with a new language and new culture, can be stressful. Women are often caretakers for other family members, so we try to give them opportunities to use movement and breath awareness as self-care to manage their stress.

    • Our classes unite women who are established in the Greensboro community with the immigrant/refugee new arrivals. We create opportunities for friendships, smiles, and help navigating the waters of life in our community and country.

Yoga Class FAQs

    • Our classes will seem familiar when compared to other yoga classes. Our students are women from many different countries (Mexico, Sudan, Haiti, Korea, Philippines, Ukraine, and others) and ages range from teenagers to seniors. We even have some mother/daughter attendees!

    • We always practice in a circle. This means that the teacher is always visible, and we face each other as friends. The positive energy generated from practicing in a circle is amazing!

    • Each class features a “Word of the Day.” The word helps reinforce English skills with our students and serves as a unifying thread to all the movements we take during class. Words used in the past include: sister, open, smile, connect, grow….

    • Teachers generally avoid using Sanskrit, as we hope that these classes help to reinforce English skills, but sometimes it’s hard to break the habit!

    • Our students may be wearing traditional dress, including long skirts, wraps, and head scarves. Teachers may give several options for a movement to accommodate it.

  • Try to avoid extremely revealing exercise clothes. Most of the women in our classes will not be wearing typical yoga clothing. They will be wearing their street clothes that usually covers their bodies, sometimes in multiple layers. To show respect for other cultures, wear a loose-fitting t-shirt and long pants.

    • If a student needs some extra props to make a pose easier for them, feel free to offer an additional block or strap, or help them orient their chair properly.

    • If a student does not have sufficient space around them to follow the teacher’s instruction, please move your mat to allow them the space.

    • It is not advisable to touch another student.

    • If a student is confused by or not participating with the teacher’s instruction, the teacher will take ownership of giving additional cues.

Outside of Class FAQs

    • A smile is the most helpful asset when interacting with foreign-speaking persons!

    • Remember to speak slowly and clearly; keep your vocabulary simple

    • Pointing and gesturing helps understanding

  • The social aspect of sharing some food really helps to connect our volunteers with our students. Eating together provides an opportunity to practice English skills and to make personal connections.

  • Sometimes it can be appropriate to help a participant. As a TYC volunteer, this is not expected, but many of us find it easy to be helpful. Here are some examples:

    • Offering a ride to a woman who does not have access to a car

    • Making a professional connection

    • Passing along personal items you no longer use (ie: kitchen equipment, linens, sewing material, child’s toys)

Organizational FAQs

  • We have costs associated with paying for teachers, childcare, rental space, communication and props.

    We hold several fundraisers each year to cover these costs, and we are always happy to consider new ideas for fundraising. We welcome volunteers who have some experience in this area.

  • If you have connections with the immigrant and refugee community in Greensboro, we welcome you sharing the word about our program.

    We do outreach to the ESL classes in Greensboro, and we look for volunteers experienced in our program to participate in this outreach.

  • TYC board members always welcome new ideas and connections. Reach out through the Volunteer Interest Form on the Volunteer page of our website.