SEVA
At Yoga Bliss, Seva means putting service into action. Our Fairlawn community comes together through yoga, Yoga Sculpt, barre, fundraising, and charitable giving to support organizations and causes throughout Akron, Northeast Ohio, and beyond. From donated classes and community events to long-term partnerships, giving back has been part of Yoga Bliss from the beginning.
Community Impact
Yoga Bliss gives back, year after year.
Whether contributing funds for women and children in orphanages or supporting local events where the community can access free yoga, Yoga Bliss is involved.
Support for Local Organizations
Local causes we have supported.
Yoga Bliss regularly donates classes, merchandise, space, and community support to organizations serving families, survivors, schools, the arts, health care, animals, and neighbors in need.
- Akron Canton Food Bank
- Akron Children’s Hospital Holiday Tree Festival
- Akron Symphony
- American Cancer Society
- Bath Volunteers for Service
- Battered Women’s Shelter
- Boy Scouts
- Crown Point
- Elevate Akron
- Hattie Larlham
- Humane Society of Akron
- Kimberly Walton Foundation
- Kylie Rose’s Run
- Local Schools, Fundraisers, and Churches
- March of Dimes
- RAHAB
- Victim Assistance
- Victory Gallop
Community classes, cancer support, and RAHAB
Yoga Bliss raised $4,450 for the Stephen A. Comunale, Jr. Family Cancer Foundation in honor of dear friend and teacher Amy Boswell.
Teacher Trainees also taught donation classes that raised $1,500 for Hope Meadows, a therapeutic equestrian center. Yoga Bliss continued hosting weekly yoga classes for clients of RAHAB.
Wounded Warrior Project
Yoga Bliss held several events that raised more than $3,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project in honor of dear friend Matt Handshue.
The studio also continued hosting weekly yoga classes for clients of RAHAB.
RAHAB minor safe house support
Yoga Bliss pledged significant funds toward the construction of a minor safe house for girls ages 11-16 through RAHAB, an organization devoted to rescuing and restoring victims trafficked into sexual slavery and exploitation in Northeast Ohio.
The Fairlawn and Green studios also provided space for weekly donation-based classes.
RAHAB safe house donation
Yoga Bliss donated $10,000 toward the construction of a minor safe house for girls ages 11-16 through RAHAB.
Gracie Gronowski also donated additional significant funds raised from teaching a bi-weekly donation-based class for teens, while sharing education about trafficking in Northeast Ohio.
Hope, healing, and yoga outreach
Yoga Bliss continued raising money for the Huntington Center for Hope and Healing, donating an additional $10,000 and collecting needed items such as toiletries.
The studio also matched $1,500 raised by a Yoga Bliss student for a yoga program supporting RAHAB.
The Shanti Empowerment Room
Proceeds from Friday Happy Hour and Community Yoga benefited The Huntington Center for Hope and Healing, home to the Battered Women’s Shelter and Rape Crisis Center in downtown Akron.
Yoga Bliss donated $10,000 to sponsor an Empowerment Room at the new facility. The room was named Shanti, meaning peace, rest, calmness, tranquility, or bliss. Teachers and Teacher Trainees also led community classes for causes close to their hearts.
Kenya Seva Challenge
Through Off the Mat Into the World, the 2015 Global Seva Challenge raised awareness and support for women facing Female Genital Mutilation and Early Childhood Marriage in Kenya.
Funds raised at the studio supported local organizations working to rescue girls from child marriage, circumcision, domestic violence, and physical or sexual abuse.
Seva Smile
Yoga Bliss pledged $10,000 to ACCESS, an Akron nonprofit supporting mothers working toward independence, employment, and stability for their families.
The funds helped provide dentistry for women with damaged teeth as a result of neglect and abuse.
India Seva Challenge
Through Off the Mat Into the World, the 2012 Global Seva Challenge raised awareness of the root causes and impact of the global sex trafficking industry in India.
The studio raised $21,000 to support organizations in India providing refuge, rehabilitation, and economic opportunities to survivors.
Haiti Seva Challenge
Through Off the Mat Into the World, the 2011 Global Seva Challenge supported local organizations in Haiti addressing chronic poverty and natural disaster recovery.
The $25,000 raised at the studio helped build a community center, finance community projects, plant 1,000 trees, install water filtration systems, construct an eco-efficient center for children and a dental clinic, and bring solar lighting and electricity to tent cities.