Nonotuck, Kripalu Team Up for Mindfulness

This past June four members of the Nonotuck community traveled to the Berkshires to attend an in-person RISE program at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. Kripalu is a leader in yoga- and mindfulness-based education, dedicated to serving people and communities in realizing their full potential through the transformative wisdom and practice of yoga.

Kripalu serves frontline professionals through their evidence-based resilience program, RISE™, which is anchored in the science of mindfulness, yoga, and positive psychology.

As part of Nonotuck’s Wellness Initiative we have built a strong partnership with Kripalu. Since 2015 many our team members have attended RISE workshops both in person and virtually, and have been greatly impacted by these experiences.

Mia Weichel, RN, Elsa Toro, Assistant Program Director, Susana Chirino, Assistant Program Director, and Naana Amoaka-Atta, Nonotuck Administrative Assistant, all stepped outside their comfort zones to be the first Nonotuck team members to attend an in-person retreat at Kripalu since before the pandemic. Since returning they have already begun integrating what they learned with their teams at Nonotuck.

“The Rise program in person was very informative and helpful. We learned about stress management, tools to decrease stressors, the art of breathing, and how wonderfully it calms our nervous system. I feel refreshed, centered, clear-minded, and able to put my best foot forward coming back to the workplace.” – Elsa Toro, Nonotuck APD

“I want to start by stating that I was hesitant to go to Kripalu, there was feelings of the unknown. Entering the Berkshires, I felt a sense of calmness and peace. Then I knew it was going to be a good experience. Upon arrival I received a warm welcome form staff. This was great. I came to the training with an open mind as I was unsure of what to expect in person. I learned that stress management requires centering, being in the present, mindfulness, and becoming aware of ourselves.” – Naana Amoaka-Atta, Nonotuck Administrative Assistant

Nonotuck is made up of a committed and caring team comprised of Nurses, Clinicians, Care Managers, Program Directors, Administrative staff, Direct Support Workers, Placements Specialists, Community Health Workers, and our Executive Team. The Nonotuck Wellness Initiative aims to support the wellbeing of this team so they can continue to provide the best possible care to the people we serve. Since 2015 many of these team members have integrated what they learned from Kripalu and RISE into their roles at Nonotuck. We are grateful for this continued partnership and the impact it has had on our community.