Blu Matter Project: Yoga Mentorship Network

“WE WANT TO CHANGE YOUR WORLD... ONE YOGA MAT AT A TIME”

“Some days I want to stay in bed, but I remind myself: it’s just getting my legs out of bed, then I will have a shower, then I will have something to eat, maybe walk my dog and slowly the hope replaces the thoughts of despair and I look forward to the next step.”Blu Matter Participant

ABOUT USDETAILS

OUR VIRTUAL COMMUNITY

– PAGE 1– PAGE 2– PAGE 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE BLU MATTER PROJECT, STUDENT CHAPTER

ABOUT US

²<RJD�DQG�PHQWRUVKLS�WRROV�KHOS�ERRVW�P\�VHOI��FRQ½GHQFH�DQG�self-belief. I am learning the importance of being still; in honouring my mind and body, and that every effort counts. Through my practice I am becoming more in tune with my self and my emotions. Blu Matter’s yoga program has made me better able to recognize (and accept) when I am having a ‘low’ day/week.” Blu Matter Participant

A NEW POSITION ON MENTAL HEALTH25% of university-age Canadians will struggle with a mental illness—particularly with stress, anxiety, or depression—and these are just the reported numbers. By the year 2020, it is predicted that mental LOOQHVV�ZLOO�EH�RQH�RI�WKH�½YH�PRVW�FRPPRQ�WULJJHUV�IRU�WKH�PRUWDOLW\�of young people1. These numbers are extrapolated from only the reported cases. People are often reluctant to discuss mental illness due to the stigma, guilt, or shame that surrounds it. This silence perpetuates harmful myths and attitudes that prevent individuals from talking openly about their experiences or seeking help for their needs.

Blu Matter Project’s Student Chapter believes that communication LV�WKH�½UVW�VWHS�LQ�UHGXFLQJ�WKHVH�VKRFNLQJ�VWDWLVWLFV�E\�GLUHFWO\�supporting young people living with depressive disorders. We are using yoga and mentorship as a way to start an open conversation about mental illness.

For people experiencing depressive disorders, a regular yoga practice reduces stress and anxiety, enhances brain functioning, and

improves sleep quality. The chapter supports students living with fear, anxiety, and depression by providing them with monthly yoga workshops and mentorship programs. Participants and mentors will write about their lived experiences that will be actively share on our website, Tumblr, Facebook page, Twitter feed, Instagram and Pinterest. This will connect students to members of the outside community, student groups on campus and the Blu Matter Project’s management team while generating a larger conversation about the realities of student stress. www.blumatterproject.com

1 “Join the Cause,” (2013). Children’s Mental Health in Ontario. www.kidsmentalhealth.ca/join_the_cause/just_the_facts.php

Blu Matter Project’s, Coffee House— A Launch Party for our Yoga Workshops and Mentorship Program, Nov. 19th 2013

PAGE 1

Beginning in January 2014, the student chapter will be leading the Yoga Mentorship and Workshop series. These monthly workshops ZLOO�LQFOXGH�D�\RJD�SUDFWLFH�WKDW�KDV�D�VSHFL½F�IRFXV�RQ�SK\VLFDO�DQG�mental practices that may support student stress.

Leading up to each workshop, Blu Matter Project’s Student Team will select 3-5 students to take part in our mentorship program. Mentees will be selected by reviewing applications by the Student Team under the direction of the Student Chapter Program Manager. Applicants’ personal information will not be disclosed during the selection process to eliminate bias.

Selected Mentees will be paired with members of the community, student groups or campus services. They will meet weekly for a IRXU�ZHHN�SHULRG�WR�OHDUQ�VSHFL½F�WRROV�WKDW�PD\�DOOHYLDWH�VRPH�GDLO\�stresses. The Program Manager will introduce the Mentee and Mentor who will meet in a safe, accessible area on campus.

For example, a Mentee may be paired with an accountant

where they will learn how to properly negotiate, balance and budget with, in many instances, limited student budgets. During another mentorship series we may pair a Mentee with a real estate agent to get accessible apartment hunting support, a nutritionist to learn about nutritional wellness on campus, or even a yoga instructor to learn more about the EHQH½WV�RI�D�\RJD�SUDFWLFH��

“I chose a yoga practice that incorporated mediation and daily stress-reducing tools that I could use to defuse myself. Now there are increasingly better days, days that have promise.” Blu Matter Participant

DETAILS

BLU MATTER PROJECT’S YOGA MENTORSHIP NETWORK

Filming for CBC’s “Off Course on Campus” series showcasing how Blu Matter Student Chapter is supporting the student mental health crisis. www.ow.ly/rcfeD

PAGE 2

During the four-week period, both Mentees and Mentors will write one blog post each about their experiences. The Mentee’s blog will discuss the tools they are learning and how this is impacting their daily mental wellness. Blog posts will be RSHQ�DQG�KRQHVW�UH¾HFWLRQV�RQ�WKHLU�PHQWRUVKLS�experience and may even include any roadblocks that are currently impacting them.

Mentor’s blog posts will outline some of the tools that they are teaching their Mentee. All Mentors ZLOO�EH�HQFRXUDJHG�WR�UH¾HFW�RQ�WKH�UHDO�OLIH�experiences that Mentees may be dealing with when applying their mentorship tools. Thus, their advice, ZLOO�EH�FDWHUHG�WR�WKH�VSHFL½F�QHHGV�DQG�VLWXDWLRQV�RI�WKH�VWXGHQW�

All experiences will be featured on the Yoga Mentorship Sections that will be added to our active Tumblr blog (www.blumatterproject.tumblr.com) and student chapter section of our website (www.blumatterproject.com). Blogs will also be Liked on our Facebook page, followed on our Twitter feed and viewed on our Pinterest and Instagram pages.

The idea is simple. Our Yoga Mentorship Network will create an open conversation and about mental illness through yoga and community connections.

HOW IS THE BLU MATTER PROJECT’S YOGA MENTORSHIP NETWORK A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN?

“Our brains are constantly remolding themselves as a result of changes in behavior, the environment, thought processes and biological HYHQWV±D�VFLHQWL½F�FRQFHSW�HQWLWOHG�QHXURSODVWLFLW\��7KURXJK�WKH�practice of yoga people living with mental illnesses may be able to calm thought processes, providing them with an alternative outlook on anxiety inducing situations.”Hellestein, David J. “Neuroplasticity and Depression,” (2011) Psychology Today. Sussex Publishers

Blu Matter Student Chapter, Presenting at Minding Our Minds: Mental Health Conference, University of Toronto, Oct. 18th 2013

SUPPORT US.JOIN THE BLU MOVEMENT.

YOUR BLU MATTERS.

OUR VIRTUAL COMMUNITY

PAGE 3