Dozens of candles will light up a yoga class tonight as a local organization raises money for Tallahassee shooting victims.
Yogaloka, a nonprofit that offers classes to marginalized communities, is hosting a community yoga class from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Thelma A. Boltin Center, at 516 NE Second Ave., said Liz Getman, the program director.
The class comes a week after a man shot six people in the Hot Yoga Tallahassee studio, killing two and himself, according to the New York Times.
The candles are more than just a light source, Getman said.
“They are a gesture of offering light and being light in a time when we feel really dark and really heavy,” she said.
Entrance is $3 for students, $1 for adults older than 50, free for city employees and $5 for anyone else, Getman said.
The organization is accepting donations for Hot Yoga Tallahassee, which will either be sent to the studio by check or through its GoFundMe campaign, Getman said.
Getman said the class is an opportunity for the community to practice “ahimsa,” or nonviolence.
“This is a way for people to feel connected and remember there’s still hope out there,” she said.
Taelor Hartley, a 21-year-old UF elementary education senior, said she started practicing yoga last summer. She plans to attend the class to honor the shooting victims.
“I feel like it’s the opposite of violence,” she said.
