Magnolia Project participants are adding mountain pose, downward facing dog and more yoga poses to their repertoire of stress management and healthy living techniques. The first Yoga in the Streets class was held by the Project last week to help bring participants and the Health Zone 1 community at-large the benefits of Yoga.

Research shows that Yoga can improve mindfulness and reduce the symptoms related to chronic illnesses. But because the urban core community does not typically think of Yoga as it relates to improving health, Magnolia Project staff organized “Yoga in the Streets” to allow the community to observe what Yoga is and be enticed to try it.

Residents are encouraged to “come as you are” to class. Mats are provided. Classes are available:

• Mondays at the Unity Development Center at Westbrook, 905 Garfield Street, Jacksonville. 10-11am
• Thursdays at the Magnolia Project office, 5300 North Pearl Street, Jacksonville. 1:30-2:30pm

The response so far has been positive, both anecdotally and physically. Blood pressure screenings before and after the classes have indicated that the yoga has helped drop participant’s readings by several points and surveys measuring how participants feel before and after class have also shown a change in attitude.

The Magnolia Project partnered with Yoga 4 Change, a local organization dedicated “to promote healthy living and foster self confidence among veterans, inmates, at-risk youth and those suffering from substance abuse through the teachings and practices of Yoga.” The organization, which was the top winner at this year’s One Spark crowdfunding festival, facilitates the classes.

The Magnolia Project, an initiative of the Coalition, is a federal Healthy Start program that works to improve the health and well-being of women during their childbearing years by empowering communities to address medical, behavioral, and cultural and social service needs.