Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2011

In these stressful times, we could all use a little relaxation—yoga on its own just doesn’t cut it. Move that yoga to the great outdoors and you have a pretty relaxing combination. Then, massage your spirit even further by helping a good cause. Australian instructor Dylan Robertson will be teaching open-air classes in Yoyogi Park with all proceeds donated to the Tyler Foundation, which supports families dealing with childhood cancer. The classes will be taught in Japanese and English, and all levels are welcome—even complete beginners. All you need to bring is a yoga mat and yourself.
Yoyogi Park. Sep 17-18 & 24-25, 10-11:30am, ¥1,000. Nearest stn: Harajuku. http://meturl.com/parkyoga.

Toast for Hope

HOPE International Development Agency Japan, an NGO working to create sustainable solutions to poverty, will be filling up the martini glasses for its annual celebrity cocktail party. The gala event includes a silent auction with items from the organization’s partners in Cambodia, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, and others, as well as products donated by sponsors. They will also be hosting the premiere of the short film Seeds of Hope by award-winning production company Nameless Films, which documents HOPE projects in the Philippines. Although the event is mostly invitation-only, there is a limited number of tickets for sale. If this sounds like your kind of cause, they are also in search of sponsors. 4F The Embassy of Canada, 7-3-38 Akasaka, Minato-ku. Oct 6, 6:30-8pm, ¥30,000. Nearest stn: Aoyama-itchome. http://hope.or.jp.