Jayne Robertson leads a fundraising class at lululemon athletica in Palm Desert

Jayne Robertson was looking for a cause. She has been a yoga teacher and health educator for over 30 years and was searching for something tied to the yoga world.

In February of this year, she heard about Off the Mat, Into The World, a non-profit organization created by yoga instructors that raises money for communities in crisis. This year, Off the Mat, Into the World is focused on the rehabilitation of young women and girls saved from the sex trade in India.

Jayne knew she had to take part. The program encourages participants to raise a minimum of $20,000 and spend two weeks in India working with rescued women to encourage their new path. Jayne set her sights on this goal.

“I had excitement, and a lot of fear,” says Robertson. “I’m not a fundraiser, I am a yoga educator and dedicate my life to that. I didn’t know the first thing about how to raise this much money. I knew I would have to step into areas of great discomfort to ask people for support.”

She needed inspiration and found it in gathering a group of women she looked up to. “I told them all that they had inspired me in the past to do greater things and now I needed their help. We sat in a circle and talked about what drives us to succeed, and it wasn’t long before I realized that I was not in this alone. I had others who could help me conquer my fears and achieve this magnificent goal.”

Jayne wasted no time. She reached out to family, friends and the yoga community and started organizing yoga and meditation classes, t-shirt and wristband sales, book clubs and luncheons. In 8 months, she exceeded her goal and funds to date are $21,412.

Jayne’s final event before her trip to India next February will be One Love Coachella Valley on November 11th at 11:30 am. Six local yoga instructors will teach a two-hour tag team yoga class on the beautiful lawns of Mission Hills Country Club. As 108 represents the number of energy channels running through the body, the requested donation is $108 per person.

“What started as a personal journey has grown into something far beyond my greatest expectations,” Jayne says with disbelief. “It has brought our local yoga community together to make a difference in the world.”

How can you support Jayne’s effort? Grab your yoga mat and join us at One Love Coachella Valley or donate at www.offthematintotheworld.org/give-to-global-seva.html (Seva participant name: Jayne Robertson). 760.333.2339.