Nonprofit Highlight: OneLove.Yoga – Holly Bustle

In 2019, before Covid swept through our lives and collective consciousness, someone was already concerned that our children need connection, mindfulness, and emotional regulation to reduce anxiety and stress.Holly Bustle co-founded OneLove.Yoga to address what she saw in children amongst her community. She took her love for yoga, her skills in teaching, and her insight for translating yoga to form programs for school aged children..

There may have been some raised eyebrows and “Are you sure?” questions in the beginning, but in the years since OneLove.Yoga launched as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the number of schools being served has steadily grown. The organization places a dedicated yoga teacher in each school, some with their own classroom space. OneLove.Yoga works to engage every student one to two times per week. 

No matter how the kids show up each session, the teachers bring consistency and purpose to their time together.The curriculum includes lessons to help improve academic performance, reduce stress and anxiety, enhance their physical health, improve behavior and emotional regulation, and cultivate social skills and empathy. “We consistently encourage them to connect with themselves so deeply, it’s near impossible to reject others,” said Bustle.

Lessons learned in the yoga classes translate out into the students’ lives as well. Classroom teacher feedback is extremely positive; they regularly report a difference in their classes . The yoga teachers in the schools see and hear positive changes, noting that the students are growing much more skilled at recognizing, labeling, and talking about their emotions, using the skills they learned to regulate them.

Every student is given the opportunity to decide if they are ready for yoga class. They are empowered to recognize how they feel and make choices. Each class is built around the pillars of breath, mindfulness, movement, and rest. One student reported back to their yoga teacher, “I felt angry, but I didn’t let anger rule my body.” After a class or two, the students feel more confident in their own abilities and more steady because of the consistency.

It’s the kind of powerful change that ripples outward in the most positive ways.One can only imagine that caregivers and siblings are being taught the yoga tools at home.  The classroom teachers and paras may participate and enjoy class, as well. One school, which previously had two dedicated employees working with children on challenging behaviors, now has one dedicated employee for that purpose while the other  helps with educational support.

OneLove.Yoga currently works wonders in 12 schools in the Twin Cities Metro Area, with another 47 schools on a waitlist. Why is the waitlist so long? School administrators are interested in having yoga in their schools, and OneLove.Yoga would be thrilled to provide them. But there is just the matter of funding. Bustle and the OneLove.Yoga board would like to see double the number of yoga teachers and schools being served in the near term. The program is successful, the team is capable: all that stands in the way is doubling the funds raised in 2024. 

If you’d like to support this exceptional 501(c)(3) nonprofit, there are several ways to get involved. First, if you are able to volunteer your time to teach yoga, to help update the website, or keep the organization fresh on social media — your help would be very much appreciated. You can participate in the OneLove.Yoga Festival in 2024. Whether you’re interested in teaching a class for adults, a class for children, or a class suitable for all ages, volunteers are needed. Help promote the Festival, boost the signal on social media, and tell your friends and family what a great opportunity it is to come together outdoors and celebrate the gifts of yoga. 

This year’s festival will also feature a student-led class. Attend the festival and bring your friends on Saturday, August 3, 2024 at Lake Minnewashta Regional Park from 9:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.: tickets cost $30 to $75. Or keep an eye out each February for the annual gala, where you can become a sponsor, buy tickets, and participate in the silent auction.  

You can find more on the OneLove.Yoga website, including a contact form for volunteering and information to make a tax deductible donation via Venmo or PayPal.

Dawn found yoga in 1998 and it changed everything. Soon after she was telling everyone she knew about it. After years of dedicated study of yoga Dawn is joyfully sharing yoga with others. She offers thoughtfully sequenced classes, workshops, and more, with bits of wisdom and experiential learning woven throughout. Her ongoing aim is to help people mobilize their inner resources, find the “user guide” for their own bodies, and experience the ease, embodiment, and insights available to all practitioners. And she does this with a light heart and playful practice, in fact she’s known for her giggle.