Nurturing Connections Through Yoga and Mindfulness: The Mass Mentoring Event at Emmanuel College

The Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, in partnership with Mass Mentoring and supported by the generous funding of the Yawkey Foundation, recently hosted a transformative half-day yoga and mindfulness event at Emmanuel College. Designed to deepen bonds between youth and adult mentors, this experience embraced trauma-informed wellness practices, allowing participants to explore presence, connection, and emotional resilience together.

An Experiential Gathering for Mentors and Mentees

Held during school vacation week, the event brought together mentor-mentee pairs for a shared journey that combined seated reflection, a guided yoga session, and group meals. The Jean Yawkey Center, home to the event, provided a supportive and inspiring setting that reflects the Yawkey Foundation’s long-standing commitment to youth and community well-being.

The Importance of Yoga and Mindfulness in Mentoring

Alicia Verity, Chief Executive Officer of the Yawkey Foundation, emphasized the role of wellness practices in supporting young people holistically. She noted, “Practices like yoga and mindfulness help build resilience, emotional awareness, and healthy coping skills. These are tools especially valuable as young people navigate stress, uncertainty, and personal growth.” Aligning with the foundation’s goal of fostering whole-self development, such practices contribute not just to individual wellbeing but also to the strengthening of connected communities.

Shared wellness activities also enhance mentor-mentee relationships by creating relaxed environments where trust and presence flourish. Alicia shared, “Activities like yoga and mindfulness allow relationships to deepen naturally through shared experience,” fostering comfort and communication that endure well beyond the day’s events.

Kripalu’s Approach to Supporting Connection and Growth

Sam Chase, Lead Faculty at Kripalu, who facilitated the yoga and mindfulness activities for the day, highlighted how the center’s core teachings—self-awareness, compassion, and meeting people where they are—resonate deeply with the goals of this program. “Yoga isn’t about performance or flexibility. It’s about helping people feel more present, connected, and at ease in themselves,” he said. In the mentor and mentee setting, this translates to a powerful shared experience of breathing, moving, and resting together, nurturing trust organically.

Sam reflected on the group’s warmth and openness: “There was a real sense of trust in the room... People showed up with curiosity and a good sense of humor.” He was struck by the patience of mentors and the honesty and energy of their young partners—qualities that made the experience genuine and welcoming for all.

One of Sam’s key takeaways was the simplicity and power of sharing space and time: “Slowing down together, moving together, eating together, and reflecting together created a real sense of connection.”

Participants left the event feeling relaxed, recharged, and equipped with mindfulness tools to navigate their daily lives. More importantly, both mentors and mentees carried forward strengthened relational bonds crafted in an atmosphere of support, presence, and mutual respect.

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