Recreation

Yoga Classes Will Raise Funds for Free Clinic

Tom Giffey |

Yoga is promoted as a practice that can help one’s mind, body, and spirit; now it’s helping the community, too. That’s the motivation behind a series of monthly classes being launched by Eau Claire yoga teacher Sarah Kay Thearin. All funds raised by the Generous Yoga sessions (the suggested donation is $10) will go to the Chippewa Valley Free Clinic. Classes will be 10-11:15am on the first Saturday of every month, beginning Nov. 1 and ending April 4, in the lobby at Eau Claire Therapy and Fitness, 836 Richard Drive, Eau Claire. The location, and the chosen charity, are no coincidence: Eau Claire Therapy and Fitness shares that lobby with the free clinic. While scouting for places to teach yoga, Thearin fell in love with the sunlit space, and she decided holding classes there to benefit the clinic would be a good way to give back to her hometown. Thearin says the Western-style medicine offered at the clinic is complementary to the traditional Eastern discipline of yoga. While medical care is a necessity, especially for those who have nowhere else to turn, she says, “You need to avoid having the issues in the first place, and I think yoga and wellness come into that.” Thearin says the Generous Yoga classes will be open to people of all fitness levels and will focus on alignment and stretching injured muscles. (She teaches more advanced, physically demanding classes as well.) To learn more about all Thearin’s classes, visit SKyoga.net.