Vilmarie Rivera

Glacier National Park. With the changing climate heating our Earth with each passing year, the majesty of glaciers will begin to become a rarity. Much in the same way that the Overview Effect is said to fundamentally change those who observe the Earth from space, I know deeply that to view a celestial force like the glaciers with my own eyes will be transformative. The more that we can see and experience the world, the more our eyes become open to how sacred it all is.

A quiet weekend getaway camping in an old RV within the Wassaic Multiple Use Area in Wassaic, NY. I spent these couple of days with my family (my boyfriend at the time and my cat, Jet) exploring the beautiful area, stargazing, sitting around a campfire in the evening, stirring early in the morning to the sounds of birds chirping, feeling at ease as we reconnected with nature. After a full day exploring, my “boyfriend at the time” proposed to me the following morning over coffee and I said “yes.”

With $10,000 I would begin my dream of teaching yoga full time, especially to underserved children. I really believe that yoga is a well rounded practice for mental, physical, and spiritual health. I want to help guide people on their journeys of reconnecting with themselves. Life moves fast, but we all need to slow down and retreat back into nature and ourselves to appreciate every moment we have on this magnificent planet. I hope to have a positive influence in the lives of everyone I teach.