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Open Up: Empowering Disabled Individuals Through Movement
15 Feb
Summary
- Nonprofit Open Up expands wellbeing access for people with disabilities.
- It offers free yoga and mindfulness classes in inclusive spaces.
- A 200-hour yoga certification program trains disabled individuals as teachers.
Open Up, a nonprofit cofounded by Megan Sicheri, is committed to making wellbeing practices accessible to everyone, with a special focus on individuals with disabilities. The organization's mission stems from a personal drive to create inclusive environments where all can benefit from movement and mindfulness, such as yoga.
Eleven years ago, Open Up began providing free open spaces and in-studio classes in Lawrenceville. This initiative has since expanded to include a 200-hour yoga certification program. This program has enabled participants like Colton Vasquez, who has Down Syndrome, to transition from students to leading yoga classes, demonstrating the program's empowering impact.
The nonprofit also extends its reach by offering instruction in schools across the region, including Pittsburgh Public Schools. Sicheri emphasizes the importance of expert teachers who prioritize individual needs, highlighting the life-changing effects Open Up has on its participants and the crucial role of community support in its ongoing success.
