Local Nonprofit Makes National News

Franklin Lakes' own Geri Topfer graces the cover of this month's Successful Meetings magazine. The topic: Yoga, of course! 

Topfer, president and founder of the nonprofit Kula for Karma, an organization that provides free yoga to "those among us whose spirit has been challenged by illness abulse, neglect, addiction, and other life obstacles," as the groups mission statement puts it.

What might Kula for Karma have in common with successful meetings? The article, Spreading Karma: Incorporating Yoga Into Meetings, explains that Yoga helps meeting attendees stay engaged. Topfer and and Penni Feiner, Kula for Karma's executive director, led yoga sessions at last year's conference for the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and will be doing the same again at the 2011 meeting. 

The women agree that finding yoga was a life changing experience for them both.

"Yoga, chanting, breathwork, and mindfulness meditation have led me to Kula and the most rewarding fulfilling job I’ve had in all my 58 years," Feiner, a Hawthorne resident, told Patch. "I absolutely love the work I do. I wake up every morning feeling so very grateful to have found my passion and having a venue to turn it into action!"

As for Topfer, her practice continues to teach her how to be present, how to see yourself in everyone else, and how to stay centered.

Awaken Your Inner Yogi

Kula for Karma along with Naturally Yoga is hosting Ride the Wave of Grace beach weekend May 14 and 15, at Ocean Place Resort in Long Branch. Awaken your inner surfer, cultivate patience, courage, compassion and fearlessness with meditations, vegetarian fare, and special sessions titled Diving into the Heart of Your Dreams and Riding the Wave of Grace. For more details and reservations, contact Pam Smith, 201-807-0710 or email pam@prosmith.com.  The flier and registration form can be found at www.kulaforkarma.org.