Susan Lovett

Director
Center for Trauma Care in Schools, AIP

PASSION:

Susan founded Hands to Heart Center (HTHC) in 2014. After personally experiencing the benefits of yoga, Susan pursued her first yoga teacher certification (200 hours). She then began leading free yoga classes for students.

 

IMPACT:

HTHC introduces yoga to Boston’s most vulnerable communities as an effective, evidence-based intervention for anxiety, depression, stress, and trauma. HTHC works with local high-poverty schools, and nonprofits to serve people affected by poverty, trauma, and addiction by providing free yoga class series customized for each community.

All HTHC classes take place in Boston’s low-income communities and their success is tied to that. HTHC bridges the wellness divide by providing free, healing yoga classes in neighborhoods where students live and in spaces where they feel safe, such as community centers, public housing and schools. The demand for HTHC services demonstrates a “wellness gap” in Boston, an unmet need for yoga in underserved communities and a desire by community residents to participate in yoga and mindfulness programs. HTHC empowers communities and individuals who want to practice yoga, but lack means to facilitate their practice.

 

Quotes from HTHC yoga students say it all:
“Yoga reminds me that I’m strong and capable. It’s easy to forget that when living in a shelter. I want my kids to know that their mother is strong and that they are strong so I really like that they can do yoga with me.”
– Karla, HTHC Student at Brookview House

“During yoga class, I feel like I’m not in jail anymore.”
– Nicky, HTHC Student at Suffolk County House of Correction

“Yoga is my safe space. No matter what’s going on with my family or school, I know that I can go to yoga class and feel more in control.”
-Mecca, HTHC student in youth yoga program