It’s Important—

Giving Some Of Yourself Through Volunteering

By Kendra Bobowick

The Bee series It’s Important includes a brief interview and video revealing — one person and one idea at a time — what is important to you. Be a part of It’s Important. Contact Kendra at 426-3141 or reach her at Kendra@thebee.com.

Who: Kathleen “Kat” Barton, co-director of The Graceful Planet in Sandy Hook, is a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance trained in Hatha yoga, Pilates, yogilates, and is a certified yoga education teacher. She volunteers her time in yoga instruction with the Bridgeport School system and is preparing to visit an orphanage in India this year.

What is Important to her: Volunteering her time and instruction with children, especially, and helping to make a difference to them. She believes, “One person can make a difference, and I want to make a difference in the community and the world.”

During a recent interview, she explained why. “I turned 50. I have accomplished a lot of things and I am getting ready for the next part of my life. The community and the global community are my focus. That’s important to me.” While Bridgeport is an easy drive, a trip to Africa and the misfortune of children in the orphanage will be hard. “I am throwing myself out there into the world. I have done local things but wanted something bigger.” Her decision to go “was a little scary,” she said. Remembering her own upbringing, she said, “It’s funny. My mother was into volunteering and I was exposed to it when we would work with special needs kids, then life took over, and a career, so I am sort of returning to that.”

Soon, she will be in Africa for three weeks. “I’ll be in an orphanage with nearly 200 kids under 2 [years old],” she said. “I can’t quite grasp it.” While she fundraises, Ms Barton is also preparing herself mentally. “I’ll probably cry a lot,” she admits, realizing that the sight of so many orphaned and very young children will tug at her. She might not be able to change the children’s lives, she knows, but has other hopes. “Maybe I can make things a little better,” at least for the time she is there, she said.

Closer to home, she had contacted local schools and spoken with a principal in Bridgeport. Hoping to bring her instruction to their classrooms, she said, “I wanted to do something weekly with kids who could use it,” she said.

Volunteering has the potential to make positive changes in another person’s life, she explained. Volunteering “gives them something they haven’t been exposed to before.”

Ms Barton inhaled a quick breath touching first one finger to her thumb, then another, and gently exhaled to demonstrate a relaxing exercise that one of her Bridgeport students has used at home. Minutes later she crouched down and folded herself into a “rock” on the floor, also calm and unmoving. Standing with her feet slightly apart and lifting her arms overhead like tree limbs, she swayed “just like a tree” in another motion meant to soothe a classroom of young students. They might bring their lessons home to their parents, or just learn to sooth their nerves during a test, she explained. During relaxation exercises, children have told her, “They say they went to someplace magical [in their minds]. That tugs at my heart strings.”

Yoga involves an inner reflection, she explained. “I get [students] to think about what does it mean to be peaceful and calm?” Recalling the one child who had touched his fingers together inhaling, then exhaling following an argument with his father, she said, “I am blown away when they learn to use it in situations and can calm themselves down.” Many people have different methods of calming down, Ms Barton said. “We use breathing.”

Returning to her front office, Ms Barton took crayon-covered papers from her desk, read through cards of thanks the Bridgeport students had written to her, and smiled.

Ms Barton has a regular schedule teaching yoga education at Geraldine Johnson School in Bridgeport, and already is raising funds for her upcoming trip to Africa this February. She is volunteering through Cross Cultural Connections. She plans to be at an orphanage in Kilimanjaro. Visit her website at gracefulplanet.com to learn about scheduled fundraising events. Click on the Just Give tab to sponsor her, or attend one of the following: October 17 is the “I Like To Move It Marathon,” that offers yoga, dance, zumba and more. October 30: join Ms Barton for a Thriller dance party for all ages from 7 to 9 pm. Donations of $10 per family and $5 per person are recommended. Learn the Thriller dance and “get your zombie on.”

November 7 from 4 to 7 pm is an Artists for Africa Art Show and Sale. Meet artists, enjoy music, and refreshments — children’s art is welcome. Contact Ms Barton for details. Donations at the door will benefit the African trip and some proceeds will benefit Africa.

Contact Ms Barton for November events and Thanksgiving pie fundraisers.