A Letter from our Founder
As 2020's curtain closes, what we've all gone through defies words. Whether it's loss, isolation, kids at home, virtual everything, zoom fatigue, or political rage – pick your poison, but it's been a hell of a year.
The Winter Solstice, Latin for 'sun standing still,' is always a turning point – endless night shifting slowly into the promise of spring. Healthcare workers are getting vaccinated. President Elect Biden has put climate change and racial justice into his top five priorities. These are little signs that light is approaching, and perhaps a new appreciation of our inter-dependence, of mutual vulnerability, heralding a new day.
While yoga industry giants crashed around us, Down Under refused to fire/furlough a single of our 65 teachers. We moved heaven and earth to be there for everyone, providing what many students called "a lifeline" and in return, your membership, donations, and support are why we are still alive. Our school held strong as a testimony to the sweat, faith, and collaboration of teachers, students, and managers alike. Loyalty to faculty and students mirrored our activism, a standard we carry with us into 2021.
Supporting Frontline Workers
All doctors, nurses, hospital workers, teachers, school staff, and frontliners new to Down Under are invited to lean on us for 2 weeks of free yoga, fitness, and meditation during these challenging times.
Racial Justice
Hiring: We hired 7 outstanding BIPOC teachers to faculty.
Scholarships: We doubled scholarships in yoga trainings and expanded support for graduates.
Programming: We created Accomplice Circle, Fire Lounge, introduced Yoga in Spanish, and more.
Internal Management: We restructured to include our BIPOC Faculty Director, support positions for BIPOC teachers, and cultural competence staff trainings.
Funding: We raised over $20,000 for Racial Justice initiatives, in addition to the thousands of dollars we donate annually to the Climate Crisis.
Staying Open
Down Under's impeccable conditions have seen zero transmissions, and yoga studios (deemed 'recreational/cultural settings') continue to be locations with very low probability of exposure. With some of our teachers vaccinated this week, those of you hating Zoom can think of it as the last dance before spring. And if you love Zoom, it's being permanently woven into the fabric of our school, as our in-person classes continue to be livestreamed.
Down Under On Demand
For students on the go, our on-demand platform offers hundreds of yoga, fitness, and wellness classes with over 40 of your favorite teachers and new classes arriving each week. In early January, we will move from solely a web-based service to an app across 4 additional streaming services (Amazon Fire, iOS, Android, and Roku).
Wishing you comfort and rest. As always, we are here for you, quietly walking alongside you and deeply thankful for your presence and practice.
Warmest Wishes,
Justine Wiltshire Cohen
