On March 27th, I shared with you the movement to get Village Voice Media to stop advertising for "escort services" on their Backpage section which promoted and supported the sex trafficking activities. I signed a petition on Change.org demanding that Village Voice stop this reprehensible advertising. Here is the rest of the story:

    On March 29, protesters delivered 100 pairs of girls' shoes to
Village Voice offices in New York, representing the children bought and sold for sex on the classifieds website Backpage.com, owned by Village Voice
Media.
    Along with the shoes came more than 225,000
signatures
on a petition on Change.org calling on Village Voice Media to stop allowing child sex traffickers and pimps to advertise on their site. But the ads for sex with minors are still running.
    Now, child sex trafficking survivor "Paula K." is asking the owners of Village Voice Media -- who were just revealed by New York Times
columnist Nick Kristoff (one of the authors of the book I recommend you read, HALF THE SKY) after intense investigation -- to use their power to stamp out child sex trafficking on Backpage.com for good. Paula started a petition on Change.org telling Village Voice Media co-owners Alta Communications and Brynwood Partners to do everything
in their power to shut down Backpage.com's adult ads section. Click here to sign Paula's petition now. 
 
    Paula was drugged and forced into prostitution when she was 15
years old. Now, having rebuilt her life, she is joining 51 State Attorneys
General, faith leaders and 10 U.S. Senators to publicly call on Village Voice
Media to shut down their adult ads where minors are sold for
sex.
    Already, several big name companies with stake in Village Voice
Media -- like Goldman Sachs -- have sold off their shares in response to the
pressure. Village Voice Media owners Alta Communications and Brynwood Partners are tied to big consumer brands like the Boston Celtics, Pretzel Flipz and Balance Bar. If they feel the prestige of those brands is on the line, the companies will have to take action to stop child sex
trafficking on Backpage.com. This is a real way that our efforts can make a difference!!! Paula has stood up for children and you and I can too. Please make a  donation to the Global Seva in my name so that your donation can save girls like Paula from the devastating and life-threatening results of sex trafficking! 
    Please come to a soulful Community Yoga Class tonight with Jill at Four Winds Yoga in Pennington, NJ, www.fourwindsyoga.com. Suggested donation is $5 and ALL proceeds will go towards ending sex trafficking through the Global Seva in collaboration with OFF THE MAT INTO THE WORLD. 
    And SAVE THE DATE for April 20th screening of the amazingly inspirational film Yogawoman. It is our FIRST BENEFIT EVENT and we would love to see you there. My next post tomorrow will be on the film and why it is such a great film for yogi's and non-yogi's alike!
    With great respect,
    May all beings know happiness and freedom!


    

 
    When I signed on to participate in the Global Seva India 2012, to end sex trafficking, I was very aware that I was taking a quantum leap forward. I knew it would require me to get out of my comfort zone and ask for help (something I find difficult- asking for something- I would much rather be the one asked). Anyhow, despite my thoughts swirling around about how this is really too much, I'm too busy, I probably can't do it and so why try.....it seemed as though another force was moving my hand to sign up. I actually didn't have much of a choice in a way. I had just told the teachers at our staff meeting a few weeks earlier, how I wanted to do some charity work for human trafficking and I knew putting it "out there" was making it more apt to come true. So, the Universe provided me with the opportunity to follow my heart, and take action on a big dream. In the Bhagavad Gita, there is a quote about doing your "work" or "duty"  and letting God take care of the rest. In otherwords, let go of the results you want, and focus on the process of doing your best regardless of the outcome. When we do something from the promptings of our heart it has power, if we are also doing it to benefit someone else, even more power. That in itself is a gift from the Divine. And I truly and deeply want to be of service to the Divine and to all.
    I opened myself up to the world of miracles too by signing on. I was in effect saying to the Universe, "OK, I'll do this, but you have to help me!" This thing of helping children and women to live a life free from the horrors of sex trafficking requires much more effort and backing than I could ever provide alone. I need other people to step up, especially if this issue of sexual exploitation touches something in them. I need "you" to be a partner in the dream. Taking a risk is uncomfortable and it means being vulnerable to criticism, self-doubt, putting our ego and "my needs" on the line for a greater good. Miracles are starting to happen...
    I look forward to sharing the many miracles of this journey with you as I continue on.
With deep respect and gratitude,
May all beings be happy and free!

 
Please join me and make a difference in the life of a child or woman. Allowing sex trafficking to proliferate in the 21st century is not an option. We must band together to end the inhumane treatment of the vulnerable, restore dignity to our fellow beings, and work for a better reality for all.
 
As I have been sharing with others (whom ever will lend a caring ear) about sex trafficking and my mission to be a part of a movement to end this horrendous crime, I get a sense that, people just don't know much about it or don't want to hear about something that disturbing, or have preconceived notions about sex trafficking or prostitution. That is why I am so darned determined to get the word out! Because if people knew what a crime against humanity it really is, they would naturally want to be a part of a solution! I believe in people, our common humanity and our strength to go beyond our comfort zone and perceived limitations. Let me bust some myths to get us started:
1) Prostitutes choose their "profession" and can get out of it if they wanted to . Prejudices may be that they are from a lower class, are not "good people" and like what they do.

The TRUTH is that in the sex trafficking industry, these prostitutes are victims often kidnapped or sold as CHILDREN. WE ARE TALKING CHILDREN MOST OFTEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 12-14. SOME ARE TAKEN AND "INITIATED" AT 6 OR EVEN YOUNGER. The are sold for a profit often many times over, beaten and raped to break their spirits. They are indentured to their captors and are property. The children and young women are often from cultures that teach women to be subservient and are very poor. It is unbelievable that a parent, sibling or family member can be so poor as to sell their child into sex slavery. Sex slaves are kidnapped around the world, in the US, in NJ, and can come from any socioeconomic background. UNDER THOSE CIRCOMSTANCES, IT IS INSANE TO THINK A CHILD OR WOMAN WOULD LIKE THIS INHUMANE TREATMENT. So to be clear, even if a woman makes it into her late teens and 20's, she likely was brought in as an innocent child. Having sex with a "virgin" in some cultures occurs because it is a myth that doing so will cure the male of AIDS. Because of this and that the victims are unprotected, they often contract AIDS and die at an early age. **To read more about the sex trafficking industry read HALF THE SKY by Kristoff and WuDunn and/or THE ROAD OF LOST INNOCENCE: THE TRUE STORY OF CAMBODIAN HEROINE SOMALY MAM.

2) We cannot do much about ending sex trafficking. It's bigger than anything "I" can do about it. I have enough to worry about in my own life. I can't contribute to everything. Someone else will be better able to help than me.

THE TRUTH IS change happens one person sticking their neck out at a time. We can make a difference. Off the Mat Into the World has an excellent track record and you can read more at www.offthematintotheworld.org . IF WE ONLY HELP ONE GIRL, ONE CHILD, AND HELP THEM OUT OF A LIVING HELL AND HAVE HOPE AND KNOW THAT THEY ARE PRECIOUS AND CARED FOR, IS THIS A LOSS? IS THIS NOT WORTH A FEW DOLLARS? IS THAT ONE CHILD'S LIFE NOT WORTH OUR SMALL BUT COMPASSIONATE EFFORT? There is so much to "give" to. But the cruelty, abuse, hopelessness that these children and women face is unbearable to me. We are the change we wish to see. We are talking extreme abuse and to know it exists, even if we turn away, on some level we still know. It will take only a small act to feel we are contributing to that child's life. President Obama spoke last week about pledging to make a difference in human trafficking. Read more here http://www.humantrafficking.org/updates/889.


I will be sharing about my participation in the Global Seva and why I am so determined, passionate, and clear about ending sex trafficking after three of my classes, please come to lend a compassionate ear and allow me to tell you why this is important to me and each of us as a global family. I will speak and answer questions after class (no more than 20-30min)
The dates are:
Mon, April 9 after my 5:45-6:45pm Core class
Tues, April 10 after my 9:15- 10:30am Yoga class
Thurs, April 12 after my 5:45- 7:15pm Yoga class
I look forward to seeing you there!

To make a donation click on the "Donate Now" button.
Go to the "India" Global Seva section.
Choose my name "Jill Gutowski" from the drop-down menu of participants.
(That way your contribution will count towards my goal of $20,000)
NO DONATION IS EVER TO SMALL OR LARGE! THANK YOU!
With Deep Respect,
May all beings know happiness, kindness and freedom!
 
Sex trafficking of girls and boys on Backpage.com, owned by Village Voice
Media, is becoming a disturbing trend.A Georgia man was arrested for pimping two 17-year-old girls around the Nashville area. Detectives responded to a suspicious ad on Backpage.com and drove to a motel. There, they found the teens and their 37-year-old pimp, as well as a laptop computer, likely used for the online advertising. Just four days prior to that, four people in Denver were arrested for forcing a teen girl into
prostitution. They also advertised her sexual services, including semi-nude
pictures, on Backpage. And last year, a South Dakota couple was arrested for selling underage girls for sex on .... wait for it ... Backpage.com yet again.
Village Voice Media has a moral responsibility to ensure that young
girls and boys aren't being abused in the commercial sex industry with help from their website.
Now, a rising movement of people of many faiths and backgrounds, motivated by their shared moral convictions, are taking action to end this practice. Please join us in demanding that Village Voice Media - Backpage.com's parent company - stop selling ads that others use to sell minors on Backpage.com by shutting down the Adult section of the website. Sign the petition at:
http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-village-voice-media-to-stop-child-sex-trafficking-on-backpagecom
Thank you!
And please donate to end sex trafficking at www.fourwindsyoga.com by clicking on the DONATE NOW button. When on the OFF the Mat website, please choose JILL GUTOWSKI's name from the drop down list so that your donation will go towards my compaign to end sex trafficking.
May All Beings Know Peace and Happiness!
 
It is difficult NOT to be inspired after such a powerful workshop this afternoon. I taught the Spring Detox Workshop to what ended up to be a group of all women (our one man had to leave before it barely got started). We talked about all the toxins that we are exposed to on a daily basis and how we can do alot to clear the body, mind, emotions and access our spirit. The asana practice was sweaty and good, the pranayama peaceful, the chanting was angelic, the sitting meditation was very comforting. It takes intent, practice, encouragement and inner resources. The Dalai Lama was quoted as saying the the world would be saved by Western women. What prompted him to say that? I believe that he is right in the sense that we have the most opportunity of women around the globe and we are the mothers, wives and sisters that can influence others and especially the next generation. Don't get me wrong, men can be empowered and change the world too. But they will need to access the feminine aspects of their nature: cooperation and sharing vs. individual achievement and climbing the ladder of success. We all have this receptive, nurturing, sharing and compassionate nature and we need to access it not only for our own good but the good of all.
If I must say, I don't think the DL was off his rocker! Western women practicing yoga and the prevalence of women teaching yoga is changing the face of yoga. Can we harness that energy for the good of all? Can we shift our focus from achieving some mythical state of beauty, personal wealth, dominance and the "me" mentality? Can we move more towards honoring the beauty within all, that wealth is meant to be shared and can ONLY be truly found within our own being in practice, and that no one wins when there is a loser? Good questions. Let's find our own answers WITHIN and WITH ONE ANOTHER FOR SUPPORT. COME OUT AND SUPPORT A GREAT CAUSE THAT WILL BENEFIT OUR SISTERS AND CHILDREN IN INDIA....

Join us for YOGAWOMAN THE MOVIE ON FRI, APRIL 20 @ 7:15PM. SIGN UP ONLINE AT WWW.FOURWINDSYOGA.COM
DONATIONS AT THE DOOR TO BENEFIT GLOBAL SEVA: END SEX TRAFFICKING NOW!

 
Since launching this campaign on Feb 24, 2012, I am blown away by the support and generosity of others in an effort to put an end to the criminal practice of sex slavery. To date we have raised $2529. By the end of March our goal is to raise $471. So if by the end of this week we could raise $235 and next week we could also raise $235, we would be chugging right along. Will you help us to help countless female children and women to find a way out? Reaching out to a person in need makes things change- one person at a time. Tell a friend, there are many ways to help:
  • Use the "Donate Now" button and make a secure donation to the Global Seva Challenge through the name of participant, Jill Gutowski. (Remember $235 this
  • Tell as many people as possible about our Wed Night Community Yoga Class 7:00- 8:00pm. REjuvenate in a yoga class and donate to help others.
  • Attend our Movie Night and SEE the AMAZING film YOGAWOMAN (register online at www.fourwindsyoga.com) Come with your friends, your daughter or son, your partner! Bring your popcorn! 
  •  
 
Sex sells. Sexy is always "in" especially in our society. But talking about sex trafficking is on the taboo side. I find it interesting that unlike feeding the poor, or raising money for breast cancer (both honorable and needed), when it comes to forced sexual exploitation, we just want to shut the door and turn the page even if we do on some level "care". A friend was telling me that they watched the posted video half-way and then turned it off. I have to say, I also had that same reaction. However, it's getting ourselves through the uncomfortability of the subject that will allow us to get to the other side of horror-- healing. The Buddha suggested strongly that we do not turn away from suffering, to look it in the face and go through it. When confronted by a student or villager that was going through some difficult life problem, a respected elder Buddhist teacher, Ajahn Chah, asked his students, "Can you bear it?" In other words, can you bear witness to the suffering without turning away, numbing out or pretending it doesn't exist? All beings suffer. Can we bear witness to their suffering and our own? It is only when we go through it, that we can see ourselves as free. True inner freedom comes from bearing witness to the suffering of others and our own with compassion and wisdom. That compassion and wisdom calls us to action- compassionate action. The truth is that more women and children are shipped into brothels each year in the early 21st century than African slaves in the 18th or 19th centuries. Many die of AIDS by their late 20's. As many as 1 million children are forced into prostitution EVERY YEAR worldwide. Capitalism and the "sex sells" mentality has created new markets for female sex slaves. Please, although it is disturbing, we can do something about this. Through Off the Mat Into the World, we can raise the funds to help these children and women who need us to bear their suffering. We can make a difference! We must...
With great respect, may all beings know happiness and freedom.

 
I chose the name "sharing off the mat" because it seemed to convey the meaning and purpose of not only the site, but my view of what yoga practice really is about. With www.sharingoffthemat.weebly.com I am able to share with you, about the Global Seva India 2012 and the journey of the commitment to raise $20,000 to help end sex trafficking in India and beyond. I can share the stories of victims that have no voice. I can also share with the survivors, the goodwill, good energy and monetary support of many people who are contributing to this fundraising, and consciousness-raising effort. To date, since making my Global Seva commitment public on Feb 24, we have raised over $2,000! That's 10%! We are off to a good start! Give me a chance to tell you why you should care and what you will gain from contributing your time and energy. Yoga is "skill in action" and to take action is how the 21st century yoga is going to evolve. What we do on our yoga mats to get clear, get REAL, and let go of fear helps us to then offer our gifts to others. Sharing is the ultimate yoga practice! It's the difference of being a straw instead of a cup. A cup collects and contains. A straw allows things to move through it. I LOVE the idea of being a straw! My practice of yoga is to be a channel for the Light and the Energy to move through me to benefit all beings. Then instead of just a receiver, we can become more of a sharer! With great respect, may all beings be free.
 
A short video about modern slavery and how people like you and I can make a difference. Thank you for watching! Namaste
    Picture
    Please help end sex trafficking and make a tax deductible donation. Remember to list my name " Jill Gutowski" as the participant you are donating in the name of. Thank you so much!

    Author

    Jill Gutowski has been a practitioner of hatha yoga, meditation and holistic healing for over 18 years.  She teaches in the Princeton, NJ area.

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