“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.”  – Rabindranath Tagore.

When someone thinks of yoga, they might conjure up an image of a person on a quest to self-improvement. Images that follow are often those of a white woman in tight leggings and painful backbends. While some of these depictions are fairly accurate and while the journey to yoga is a highly personal expedition of self-discovery, what many don’t realize is the profound sense of connection that comes from within the community of yoga. At Balance, we aim to honor the roots and spread our appreciation.  

We strive to stoke this fire of community by partnering with local organizations to give back in any way we can. 

This is where THE SEVA comes in.

Okay, so, what is Seva?

“Sevā in sanskrit translates to ‘devotional service’. It is the concept of selfless service that is performed without any expectation of reward for performing it. Such services can be performed to benefit other human beings or society. Seva, Yoga in action, Karma Yoga…a more recent interpretation of the word is “dedication to others”.

In short, “The Seva” is the umbrella where all of our opportunities for service within our community fall under.

We are fortunate enough to be led through this process of giving back by our amazing Seva Leader, Barbarann ONeil, RYT, M.Ed. 

Barbarann has spent the last three years volunteering overseas supporting forcibly displaced refugees in Northern and Southern Greece. BA’s passion for serving those in need and passing on the pillars of a yogic lifestyle inspired her to grow the SEVA program here at Balance. 

BA shares “I have been given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to develop a domestic humanitarian program for balance members, THE SEVA.  Balance has partnered with 5 local organizations (for now) defined their needs, developed specific projects, and now we are offering the balance community specific avenues to GIVE BACK, effortlessly.”

So, how can you get involved? 

The first step is to fill out our volunteer application. Once your application has been submitted and reviewed you will gain access to our volunteer portal. Here you will find details on upcoming projects, announcements and other related material such as CORI applications. 

Second step is to sign up for a project that calls to you! Volunteer opportunities will be listed in our app under classes.

Our first seva project is to support Community Cookers on Wednesday, April 10th at 4pm. We will gather and prepare a meal that will serve a group of 50 at the Community Day Center of Waltham.

Below is a list of organizations Balance has teamed up with:

Service Projects

JP Harrington Organization at Ferry Hill: 

MISSION/VISION: JPH is a nurturing and inclusive community whose passion is to provide a place offering holistic support for people seeking wellness so they can heal, build strength and transform pain into power.

Friends of Holly Hill Farm:

MISSION/VISION: Provides healthy, organically grown food for the local community and fosters good stewardship of the land by educating all ages about the practices of conservation and sustainable farming.

Community Day Center of Waltham:

MISSION/VISION: The Community Day Center of Waltham provides day shelter and support services to unhoused adults. We strive to create a safe, judgment-free culture that is grounded in hospitality, compassion and mutual respect.

Sunrise Senior Living:

MISSION/VISION: Champion the quality of life for all seniors and create the preferred lifestyle for enjoying longer, healthier lives.

DOVE, Inc. – Quincy:

MISSION/VISION: Hope, healing, safety, social change. Working together to end domestic and partner violence.

Yoga Reaches Out/ Boston Children’s Hospital:

MISSION: Harness the power of the yoga community to give life.

Community Cooker at Balance:

MISSION/VISION: Provide healthy, home-cooked meals to those who have fallen on challenging times. Gathering, socializing, meal planning, delegating, cooking and serving! Once per month.

Parea Lesvos – Europe Cares – Lesvos, Greece:

MISSION/VISION: Paréa Lesvos provides a safe space for refugees and is a home for 11 other organizations. The center is located in close proximity to the camp in Kara Tepe, Lesvos and is visited daily by camp residents. It offers space to stay in a positive & safe environment, including free drinks and lunch. Here, people have the opportunity to take advantage of offers from a wide variety of organizations.

(This list is always changing and growing. If you have a group that you’re passionate about, we would love to hear about it! organizations can apply for assistance here)

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Yoga is so much more than poses on a mat; yoga is the daily decision to lead with your heart and live a more compassionate, loving lifestyle and then pass this love on to those around you. 

If you feel the pull to take your practice off your mat and get involved, please reach out to Barbarann directly. She can be found bopping around the studio and can also be reached by email: seva@balancestudiocohasset.com.