Our Story
Meet the Founder, Kayoko Mitsumatsu
“In 2006, as I began to learn yoga asana and philosophy, it hit me very hard that I needed to use all my capacity to help others, especially the underserved women and children in India, motherland of YOGA. I was benefitting so much from the daily practice of Yoga, I had to give back. I shared this idea with my yoga teacher and the studio manager who all supported the idea. That’s how Yoga Gives Back was born with our mantra — For the cost of one yoga class, you can change a life. “
Previously Kayoko was a producer/director for documentary programs at NHK (Japan’s National Public TV) since 1984 and Cultural Attache at the Embassy of Japan in London.
Global Awareness Outreach
In the last fifteen years, Yoga Gives Back has spread globally with 150 Ambassadors who are yoga teachers sharing YGB’s mission with their communities as well as raising funds with their events. We have also created a community of dedicated volunteers and partnering sponsors whose annual contribution also tremendously helps our mission.
Programs of Empowerment in India
550 mothers
with micro loans
1400 children
with care and education
400 youths
with 5-year scholarships for higher education
There are many charity organizations within the yoga community, but there is none other that focused on giving back to India, especially to support the serious challenges of poverty and related social issues. It’s clear that the economic imbalance is lopsided, that impoverished mothers will never even have a chance to relax with yoga practice in India; while so many of us, an estimated 300 million practitioners today, enjoy this practice mainly for self-care, generating an estimated 80 billion dollars.
Now, our goal is to reach to #OneMillionYogis so we can create much bigger impact, empowering lives.
