Hillsborough Yoga Studio to Raise Money, Awareness for Mental Health Disorders

Hillsborough, NJ -- May is Mental Health Month and to to help bring awareness, compassion, and understanding to those touched by mental health disorders, Ray of Light Yoga is hosting a special yoga class.

Located at 170 Township Line Road in Hillsborough, Ray of Light Yoga, will hold a 90-minute all-level flow yoga class on Sunday, May 15 at 10:30 a.m.

All proceeds will be donated to Carrier Clinic, a Hillsborough-based behavioral healthcare facility. Space is limited; $20 donation to participate. Pre-registration is strongly recommended.

“In this class, we'll open our minds and hearts to helping those in need of compassion and understanding - including ourselves,” said Shannon Hurley, the Ray of Light yoga teacher who organized the event and who will lead the class.

The class will include live music by Mike “Slo-Mo” Brenner, who will be playing a chaturangui (Indian slide guitar), and Hoagy Wing, who will be playing a doumbek (Middle Eastern hand drum) – back by popular demand – and a chocolate meditation. Participants will also receive goody bags containing items donated by GoMacro, Superseedz, Yoga Journal, and Yogi Tea.

“Mental health concerns touch so many people,” said Hurley. “I recently found out from Carrier Clinic that more teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease combined. Additionally, 15 million Americans are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia. That just shows that mental health disorders do not discriminate. It is my hope that this event will provide people with an opportunity to learn more and care more.”

“Of those with mental illness, approximately 60 percent of adults and almost 50 percent of youth ages 8-15 with mental illness received no mental health services in the previous year,” said Donna Zaleski, director of development at Carrier Clinic. “Carrier Clinic wants the community to know that we’re here to help and that we offer specialized treatments for adolescents (12 and older), adults, and senior adults. We appreciate Ray of Light Yoga for shedding some light on the topic of mental health, especially during Mental Health Awareness Month.”

“Many studies have been done to show the positive impact yoga and meditation have on mental health,” said Carrie Schick, founder of Ray of Light Yoga. “The University of Utah showed how it can help tame the stress response; a study done in Germany showed that yoga can lead to an improvement to mood and functioning. People come to the studio and get on their mats for a many different reasons. What we are hoping is that they walk away feeling the positive impact on their lives.”

For more information about Ray of Light Yoga’s Yoga for a Cause class on May 15 at 10:30 a.m. to benefit Carrier Clinic, visit RayofLightYoga.net or call 908-837-9466.