When I think of green, I think of environmentalism – and more. “Green” encompasses values of sustainability and social justice. It’s about protecting and nurturing the planet and its people.
Last year, when I was hosting “Keep It Green” on EquatorHD, we started a new series of segments focused on volunteering to really illustrate the bigger picture of what it means to be green.
Volunteering is a part of the green lifestyle that is very close to my heart. I’ve tried to incorporate service work in my life as much as possible. In the past, I’ve been a domestic violence shelter volunteer, an adult literacy tutor, and a yoga teacher at a teen residential treatment center.
However, in the past two years, I’ve moved several times and have been very focused on my work. I hadn’t taken that first step towards finding a regular volunteer position. It always seemed like I just didn’t have the time or energy.
Shooting these episodes really inspired me to get back into volunteering. I’ve recently begun teaching yoga classes at a local residential treatment center for women recovering from trauma or addiction.
I love bringing yoga to different groups of people – especially the yoga style I teach (kundalini) which incorporates physical postures with breathwork, mantras and meditation. It’s always amazing to see how open students can be to something so different and how much they can get out of just one class.
Have you thought about volunteering, but haven’t taken that first step yet? Here are some reasons to get involved:
- It’s great for your health. Studies have shown that people who volunteer frequently live longer and healthier! [pdf links]
- You learn new skills [pdf]. A 2000 study found that the majority of volunteers surveyed increased their interpersonal and communications skills.
- You meet new people - your clients, fellow volunteers – and form new relationships.
- It’s fun and rewarding!
Sometimes, with everything in our busy schedules, it can seem like we don’t have the time. But, in the past, once I’ve committed to a volunteer position, it actually works out just fine. It becomes a normal part of my routine that I can easily work my plans around. Plus, there are tons of volunteer opportunities that offer flexible schedules.
Websites like Idealist and VolunteerMatch can connect you with volunteer positions in your neighborhood. The Taproot Foundation links professionals with well-run nonprofits to provide pro-bono services.
The main thing is just to pick something you love, feel passionate about, or, are even just curious about. It may be an old cliche, but it really feels good to give.
In my upcoming posts, I’ll share the videos from my KIG segments with some thoughts about the experiences I had volunteering for the day with each group.
