Move & Meditate For Mental Health Fundraiser

Move & Meditate for Mental Health Fundraiser

During the pandemic, mental health challenges have affected millions, so our Movement Travel community, in partnership with Asana At Home, came together on February 21, 2021 to improve our collective well-being in support of the Canadian Mental Health Association.  With close to 40 movers and meditators from all over North America, we raised $2,870 for this very special cause.  

The event began with:

Movement

A 50-minute yoga inspired HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workout led by Movement Travel co-founder and yoga and fitness instructor, Melanie Yip.  The workout included a warm-up, cool-down, and 3-circuits of body weight exercises.  We realized HIIT wasn’t for everyone so we invited participants to move with us any way they liked as the important thing was to just move.  We had movers in their early 30s all the way up to their mid 80s and it was wonderful to see so many generations moving together.  

After elevating our heart rates for 50-minutes, we closed our practice with:

Meditation

A beautiful 15-minute loving kindness meditation to help people connect more deeply with themselves and others was guided by Dr. Ellen Choi, social psychologist, mindfulness expert and Movement Travel Wellness Ambassador.  This meditation was so touching that it brought some people to tears.  

Giveaway

To continue to support home based wellness practices during the pandemic, each registration was entered to win one B MAT Strong yoga mat and one Silk Eye Pillow which were generously donated by B Yoga, a Canadian wellness company known for making some of the best and grippiest yoga mats.

Event Hosts

Dr. Ellen Choi PhD.

Ellen is a social psychologist with a Masters of Science from the London School of Economics, and a PhD from the Ivey School of Business. She is a mindfulness researcher and speaker that specializes in the effects of mindfulness on workplace outcomes like performance, creativity, authenticity and self-compassion. She has taught and researched mindfulness in corporate settings, with students of all ages, police recruits, and health care professionals. She is also a yoga instructor, reiki practitioner, and executive meditation coach. 

Melanie Yip

In 2018, Melanie retired from her 17-year career in banking, moved home to Vancouver and co-founded Movement Travel.  She has since become a YTT 200 Yoga Instructor, ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor and Halfmoon Yoga ambassador.  She is passionate about travel, functional movement, active aging, food, and living a more balanced lifestyle.  While business has slowed significantly during the pandemic, Melanie has been keeping busy by teaching weekly virtual Yoga Flow and Yoga HIIT classes on Asana At Home.  

Melanie Yip
Co-Founder, Movement Travel
RYT 200 and ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor