Just Picture It: DC Yoga Community Bands Together

Michael Joel Hall and Michael Roike. Image via myfoxdc.com

Although a terrible event has recently taken place in DC, as I've watched the DC yoga community take action this past week, I couldn't be more proud to be a part of this amazingly loving, caring, active, and powerful group of people.

For those who don't live in DC or don't know what has recently happened here, the gay couple in the image above, both named Michael, were attacked by a gang of young people last weekend in what police are investigating as a hate crime (you can watch the news coverage and learn more here). The man on the left in the picture above, Michael Joel Hall, is a beloved DC-area yoga teacher, who is still in the hospital after having to get a metal plate put into the side of his face due to the injuries he sustained from the beating. Sadly, Michael does not have health insurance AND to make matters worse, the couple's apartment recently burned down in an accidental fire, leaving them with very little. It's an absolutely heartbreaking story, but there is something wonderful that has come out of it...

The DC yoga community has come together to offer a number of amazing benefit classes for Michael. It seems that almost every studio has stepped in to help, as has Lululemon Logan Circle (where Michael is an ambassador) and a bunch of Michael's close friends and colleagues. Many teachers are volunteering their time and energy to spread the word, teach classes in Michael's name, and stand up against what may have been a hate crime. It has been extremely powerful to be in on all the emails, facebook groups/events, and news that has been coming out of this tragedy, as people have swiftly come together to support this one cause--and I can see that as a group, we'll be able to raise a lot of money and support for the Michael Joel Hall Fund.

I feel unbelievably lucky to be a part of the DC yoga community, and to be a part of the yoga world in general; a world where you help those in need and where giving is much more important than taking or earning.

If you want to donate to the Michael Joel Hall fund, you can click here. 
You can learn more about a bunch of the benefit classes in the area here, and can check out the Facebook Group for the Michaels here. 

For my fellow Tranquil Space yogis, we'll be hosting classes for Michael at both studios this weekend, and you can view all of the information here. 

Namaste,
Mary Catherine