How can one yoga class change a life? For Yoga Gives Back, it’s more than a question — it’s a proven truth.
In this inspiring conversation, with Soukup Strategic Solutions, Inc., Kayoko Mitsumatsu, Founder & Executive Director of Yoga Gives Back (YGB), reveals how a single idea grew into a global nonprofit movement that now empowers over 3,000 women and children in India each year. From her early passion for yoga to building an international network of supporters, Kayoko shares practical leadership lessons every nonprofit professional can use.
From Yoga Mat to Global Impact
Kayoko’s journey began with a deep love for yoga and a desire to give back to the country that gave the world this transformative practice. Inspired by Nobel Peace Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s microfinance model, she launched Yoga Gives Back in 2007 with a simple but powerful message:
“For the cost of one yoga class, you can change a life.”
Today, YGB funds microloans, SHE (Scholarship for Higher Education), and empowerment programs for women and children across India, creating generational change in underserved communities.
Lessons for Nonprofit Leaders
This episode offers an inside look at how Kayoko has sustained and scaled YGB for nearly two decades — overcoming fundraising challenges, building an engaged Board of Directors, and cultivating a worldwide network of ambassadors in over 30 countries.
Key takeaways include:
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Mission Clarity: Stay true to your core purpose and communicate it clearly.
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Strategic Networking: Build relationships that amplify your reach and resources.
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Sustainable Momentum: Keep inspiration alive by staying connected to the people you serve.
Whether you’re starting a nonprofit or growing an established organization, these strategies can help you expand your mission and impact.
Inspiring Success Stories
One of the most moving parts of this conversation is the real-life success stories.
Guruprasad, once living in poverty, became a surgeon with YGB’s support — proof of how consistent, targeted help can change the course of a life. Listen to his story “From Seedling to Sheltering Tree: Guruprasad’s Journey” here!
“The eyes of the women and children in India give me so much energy — they remind me why I can’t stop.”
Why Empowering Women Changes Everything
At its heart, YGB’s mission is about gender equality and social impact. “When women are empowered, the country is empowered.”
Through microloans, education, and mentorship, YGB equips women to start businesses, send their children to school, and lift entire communities out of poverty.
If you believe in the power of yoga to create social change, join our movement. Donate, volunteer, or host an event. One class can change a life — and together, we can change thousands.
