OUR SERVICE

One of our past seva projects

I Grow Chicago’s Holiday Gift Giveaway for Englewood Families

I Grow has given hundreds of gifts to families in the Englewood neighborhood who, in turn, give them to their children on Xmas day. Spirit Rising Foundation partnered in the founding of I Grow (and Shiva Singh was a Board Member) and we sponsored 30 families with wrapped gifts, specifically for boys and/or specifically for girls. The gifts can also be gender neutral. Of course, please, no gifts that are violent in nature.

help spirit rising foundation continue its mission

To be known by our service. The work we do, practicing yoga and meditation, making important lifestyle choices has a greater goal that is to serve the community at large through useful and authentic ways. To achieve this goal we seek opportunities in Chicagoland and outside our local area to serve others without any thought for self.

Interested in seva at spirit rising yoga?

If you feel called to serve the Spirit Rising Yoga community, here are some ways you can get involved:

We are looking for

Champions - Those who enjoy and are passionate about a part of what helps us grow and serve Spirit Rising Foundation

Seva Champions - to identify seva opportunities in the broader communities to share the teachings in under served communities

Social Networking Champions - who are regular users of Facebook, and other social networking sites, understand how they work and update with SRF events, seva opportunities, interesting articles, etc. that move forward SRF's mission.

Outreach Champions - helping create new ways to let people know about what we are doing and to inspire folks to be a part of our SRF community, such as postcards, handouts, stickers, and frankly what really works for people.

SRF Website Contributor Champions - Be a regular contributor to our website to keep it updated, contemporary, inspiring and interesting. Blogging, articles, testimonials, humor, recipes, images like in any publication or website various contributors who cover food or seniors, or the Universe as long as it is graceful and conscious.

Visionary Champions - Long term planning, visioning, dreamers and imagining.

SRY Projects:

  • Long Term Library project - copy, organize by topic and catalog loose notes and out of print materials.

  • Social Networking - To access social networking sites, etc. understand how they work and update with SRY events, classes, workshops, interesting articles, etc.

Spirit Rising Yoga Center (SRY)
In early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic we decided to permanently close our brick and mortar location.

Check in regularly to learn what we're planning and contact us at info@spiritrisingyoga.org or call for information or to offer your skills, time and energy.

We instituted the Kenny Velez/Guru Kar Singh Memorial Scholarship Fund in 2009 to assist aspiring Kundalini Yoga teachers participate in the Level 1 Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training Course by providing needed financial support in meeting its tuition costs.

A key requirement of the Scholarship is post graduation 25 hours of Seva teaching yoga to a preselected under-served population.

Contact us at info@spiritrisingyoga.org to learn the latest opportunity for Seva

The COVID pandemic impacted our service programs which we are now working to rebuild and continue, however, you can see examples of these past programs below:

  • 2013 to present: Annual Salvation Army Thanksgiving Lunch service with Sikh Community of Greater Chicago

  • SRF is sponsored an internship for a previously incarcerated yoga student who is also a student at the Illinois Center for Broadcasting.

  • We have partnered with Beth and Terry Range Kiely at Om on the Range to provide scores of yoga mats for underserved communities including at-risk youth and domestic violence shelters.

  • October 2012 - to Present - Providing Yoga in Chairs! Classes to seniors in various locations in the Chicagoland area. Some included Oak Park Arms Senior Home, Weiss Hospital Senior Center, The Imperial Nursing Home and the Breakers. Continues to be well received with up to 20 participants at a time! Seniors express the practices have made a real impact in their lives.

  • February 24, 2013 - Ronald McDonald House Chicago, "Oscar Party" for families of hospitalized children including snacks, children and adult activities.

  • January 2013 - No cost on-going drop-in Yoga classes for previously incarcerated youth

  • January 21, 2013 - Montessori School of Englewood - Martin Luther King Day Celebration, Our 15 volunteers helped facilitated Yoga for children, Children's Art Activities and supported classes on Urban Farming and actively participated in a Peace Circle.

  • December, 2012 - Bipolar Depression Support Group - Presented Yogic practices that have shown to be helpful for those living with Bipolar Disorder and depression

  • October 2012 - MS Support Group Forest Park, IL - Presented Yogic practices that have been shown helpful to reduce symptoms for those with MS.

  • August 2012 Feed the Hungry - Englewood Neighborhood, Chicago - Partnered with I Grow Chicago to feed over 350 needy people with locally grown produce and provided yoga and story-telling activities for at risk youth. (Gun shots were fired nearby during the afternoon, such is the life in that neighborhood.)

  • Summer 2012 - I Grow Chicago - Teach yoga classes for at risk youth in Chicago's crime-ridden Englewood neighborhood as a part of their summer program.

  • August 2012 - Oak Creek, WI Sikh Temple - Provided Therapeutic Children's Yoga Activities as a part of the Team of Therapists helping the community deal with the tragedy they faced

  • Nov. 25, 2011 - No More Left-Overs! Special Post-Thanksgiving luncheon for families at Courtenay Language Arts Academy 1726 W. Berteau Ave Chicago, IL 60613. Partnered with the American Sikh Community has been sponsoring Thanksgiving meals since 1992 for thousands of people over the years. Even though it is in affluent Lake View, half a block from the Mayor's house, over 86% of the families live below poverty level.

  • July 2011 - April 2012 - Scholarship Seva UCAN - Woman's Center, Prenatal Yoga to young pregnant woman.

  • May 2010 - Snatam Kaur & GuruGanesha Singh Events - Paint the Fence

  • April 2010 - Chicago Books To Women In Prison program - Helped gather books for incarcerated women in Illinois prisons.

  • March 2010 - Peoples Church - 2 Li'l Fishes Lunch Program - Helped feed the homeless

  • February 2010 - Breaking Bread at LaSalle Street Church - Helped feed the homeless

  • January 2010 - Children's Yoga at The Chicago House

  • December 2009 - Children's Memorial Hospital - Sponsored an Italian -style dinner for families of hospitalized children.

  • October 2009 - North Park Village Nature Center - Another family oriented seva project we helped gather seed.

  • September 2009 - Food For Folks Program - Helped feed the homeless

  • May, June 2009 - Snatam Kaur Summer in Chicago 2009

  • March, April and May 2009 - Spring Cleaning @Spirit Rising Yoga Center

  • January 2009 - Operation Love From Home