Inspired by a yoga class taken at UConn, Abby Johnson and Kate Ariano used their grant from My Friend Abby to create “Stretching in Sunshine,” a yoga class designed to get participants thinking about mental health and self-care, while promoting a sense of community.

The free class, taught by a certified yoga instructor, began with a short introduction to My Friend Abby and the importance of destigmatizing discussions of mental health. The instructor then set the intention of the class to be present in the moment, honor oneself, and focus on mental health, and chose poses specifically to foster a sense of calmness and connection to one another.

Participants were given yoga mats to encourage them to practice self-care on their own, plus goody bags with stress balls, tumblers, and notes of encouragement to remind them that there are positive things they can do to help them get through tough times. The class was held in a donated studio, and participants were asked to make donations to My Friend Abby. They raised $200, and both Abby and Kate hope to continue the project next year.

“Yoga is such an effective activity to relieve physical and mental stress,” said Abby, who had received the My Friend Abby scholarship back at Trumbull High School. “We’re so thankful that we were chosen for this grant project and were able to hold an event that had such a positive impact on our community members!”