Today is the anniversary of the yoga project Little Switch Yoga!

I launched last year with under $1,000 I’d painstakingly saved up to make a rent and deposit on our wonderful Vasa Hall space.

In one year we’ve grown to three instructors, four regular weekly classes, three monthly specialized series (Plant Power Hour, which starts this upcoming Sunday – as well as LGBTQ+ and Friends Yoga, and Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation), and monthly pay-what-you-wish and free yoga events in the community.

We’ve lowered blood pressure, improved sleep, strengthened physical health, provided a safer community space, and prevented many injuries.

Little Switch has served 𝟏,𝟏𝟐𝟓.𝟓 𝐲𝐨𝐠𝐚 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 to the community, and partnered with Grays Harbor College, Grays Harbor Public Health, the Dispute Resolution Center of Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties, the Montesano School District, and the office of Veteran Affairs amongst other entities.

Not one month has gone by without a free yoga event or outreach. These events in particular take a lot to plan and market, and despite many changes in my life (including becoming a fulltime graduate student) I’ve not lost pace once.

Perhaps most important to me are the regular formal and informal testimonials I have received about improvements to physical health, mental health, emotional well-being, personal and community strength. I will share some of these testimonials below.

Thank you Andrea and Rachel (the two other Little Switch instructors) – as well as our first planning committee of five who met on January 2nd this year.

I also want to thank Members.

Many people might not realize how difficult it is to survive – let alone build and run a project – as an out trans nonbinary person. Little Switch has definitely been excluded from some more mainstream business associations and medias because of my identity, and I think things are going to get worse.

Rachel, Andrea, planning committee, and Members – YOU are the reason we’ve survived and thrived our first year!

Despite formidable obstacles, Little Switch has performed very well in our first year. I will leave you with some testimonials from those who’ve taken part in our courses, classes, and events:

“Having access to a group yoga space and the opportunity to share a yoga practice with others means that I practice more often and more fully than I would on my own. Since practicing (and teaching) at Little Switch, I’ve developed more physical strength and endurance, more flexibility, and have exercised my teaching skills. I’m hugely grateful to Little Switch for the opportunity to connect with a new community since moving to the area. It’s provided a sense of belonging and purpose in the midst of a disorienting move. Thank You Agni!

“My anxiety is much better now and I noticed that not much gets me upset because I can now breathe and settle my thoughts before reacting. Physically it has lessened pain in more areas then I thought it would. This includes sciatica pain, shoulder pain, and heel pain which I had undergone a lot of doctor appointments. My body doesn’t feel as stiff anymore also. My mental and physical health is so much better.

“[LSY] allowed a space for me to be comfortable to exercise. I spent most of my life in ballet classes and every little move was critiqued. Being in a space where I don’t feel ashamed for not being as flexible as I once was is wonderful.

“I am relatively new to Little Switch Yoga (but not new to a yoga practice) and I just really enjoy practicing in a safe space and one that does not perpetuate toxic yoga culture or “Western” yoga ideas.

“I’ve enjoyed getting back into a regular yoga practice – it helps my mental and physical health tremendously.

“Mobility has improved. I am now a runner and mixing yoga with long distance running has been a life saver.

“[LSY provides] strength, flexibility, balance, feelings of peace, increased positivity in personal relationships, a reason to get out of bed.

“My anxiety isn’t overwhelming anymore. I can calm myself now and I am able to think before reacting.

“Since starting yoga, I haven’t needed my prescribed sleep meds daily. My doctor wanted me under 15 days a month using sleep meds and I am under that now.

“I sleep better after my yoga sessions. I have overall a huge increase in energy now.

“I was starting to have a series of falls and they were getting worse. I started regular yoga with Little Switch and last month marked a year since my last fall.”

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I could go on, but this post is long enough.

Thank you every single person who has helped make this project a reality!

And thank you for taking time to read this post.