Movement, breathwork & practical awareness
Urban Yogis NYC offers movement, breathwork, and practical awareness programs for schools, community settings, and organizations.
Our story
Urban Yogis began in 2011 as an integrated program of LIFE Camp in South Side Jamaica, Queens. Led by Erica Ford, the program started with five young adults whose lives and communities had been deeply affected by violence. Through yoga and meditation, they found practical tools for healing, focus, and growth.
What began as a local practice became a broader commitment to make wellness accessible to people often left out of traditional yoga spaces. The work grew through community activism and programs serving schools, shelters, churches, senior settings, and neighborhood organizations.
Today, under the direction of NaRon Tillman, Urban Yogis carries that foundation forward through movement, breathwork, and practical awareness programs for schools, organizations, communities, and individuals.
Rooted in South JamaicaUrban Yogis begins through LIFE Camp with five young adults and a community-centered practice.
Practice meets communityPrograms expand into schools, shelters, churches, senior settings, and community organizations.
Awareness into actionNaRon Tillman leads the next chapter through accessible movement, breathwork, leadership, and practical awareness.
Transformation begins within—and moves outward.
Elevate minds & transform lives
Urban Yogis designs structured, engaging wellness experiences for organizations and individuals. Programs can combine yoga, mindful movement, breathwork, relaxation, self-reflection, leadership development, and personal growth.
From a single workshop to a multi-week series, we provide thoughtful curriculum, preparation, facilitation, participant engagement, program coordination, and—when appropriate—an end-of-cycle outcomes summary.
One practice. Many possibilities. Lasting impact.
Three pathways. One practical approach.
Schools & Youth
Age-appropriate experiences that help young people notice internal signals, name what is happening, make intentional choices, and practice healthier responses.
Explore school programsSenior & Community Settings
Accessible chair and supported movement, breathwork, confidence, and connection—adapted to participants rather than asking participants to adapt to the practice.
Plan an accessible sessionExecutive Teams & Leaders
An eight-week awareness-based program applying reflection and intentional response to decisions, communication, team dynamics, and execution.
Explore team trainingThe Urban Yogis practice
Awareness becomes useful when it can guide what happens next. This simple practice gives participants a repeatable way to pause, understand, respond, and grow.
Pause and recognize what is happening in the body, breath, thoughts, and environment.
Use clear language to identify the feeling, pattern, need, or decision in front of you.
Move from automatic reaction toward an intentional response that supports the moment.
Practice the process until awareness becomes an accessible part of everyday life.
Experienced NYC school partner
Urban Yogis is a NYC Department of Education vendor with experience delivering yoga, mindfulness, movement, leadership, and wellness programming through school-based contracts across New York City.
Programs are adapted for each school community and may be offered during the school day, after school, for special events, or as a structured multi-week wellness series. Our approach combines engaging instruction with reliable scheduling, professional communication, thoughtful program coordination, and participant-centered care.
Request a School ProposalFlexible delivery
6- or 12-week options
Go beyond the basics with intensive yoga and mindfulness training programs designed to deepen understanding, strengthen personal practice, and cultivate holistic well-being.
Participants develop practical tools for mindfulness, movement, stress management, emotional wellness, and personal growth—creating habits that extend far beyond the mat.
Learn. Practice. Transform.
Accessible wellness
Discover the healing power of chair yoga, thoughtfully designed for individuals seeking gentle movement, increased mobility, and therapeutic wellness benefits.
Sessions offer a nurturing environment to safely explore movement, breathing, and mindfulness while promoting flexibility, physical comfort, stress reduction, relaxation, and overall well-being.
Ideal for seniors, individuals with limited mobility, and anyone looking for a more accessible approach to yoga.
Move Gently. Breathe Deeply. Heal Fully.
Live virtual wellness
Urban Yogis offers accessible online yoga and mindfulness classes that make it easier to build wellness into your schedule. Participate from home, work, or any comfortable space while receiving thoughtful, live guidance from an experienced instructor.
Real people. Real practice.
From focused individual practice to shared movement in the heart of the city, Urban Yogis creates space for strength, awareness, and connection.
Beyond the session
Each program is adapted to its setting, but the goal remains practical: help participants develop awareness and skills they can use in everyday life.
Greater self-awareness and healthier strategies for managing stress and regulating emotions.
Improved flexibility, balance, body awareness, and confidence with mindful movement.
Opportunities to build personal confidence, reflection, and responsibility.
Stronger interpersonal, teamwork, decision-making, and personal-leadership skills.
Practical techniques that support calm, attention, clarity, and thoughtful choices.
A stronger understanding of wellness practices and how to identify next steps for growth.
Meet the instructor
Entrepreneur · Author · Speaker · Pastor · Mindfulness Educator
NaRon Tillman is the Director of Urban Yogis and a mindfulness educator with more than 25 years of leadership and community experience. He combines movement, mindfulness, faith, and personal development to help people build greater awareness, resilience, and purpose. Through Urban Yogis, NaRon has delivered accessible wellness programs in schools, shelters, senior centers, and underserved communities.
Books & apparel
Take the practice beyond the session through ideas that deepen awareness and apparel that carries the Urban Yogis message into everyday life.
Read & reflect
Internal Awareness in an AI Age
NaRon Tillman explores identity, attention, and internal dialogue, inviting readers to recognize limiting patterns and move forward with greater clarity and intention.
Purchase the Book
Wear the movement
Represent Urban Yogis with official apparel designed to carry the message of movement, awareness, and belonging beyond the mat.
Shop the CollectionPurchases are completed and fulfilled through our external retail partners.
Community impact
Urban Yogis has worked alongside schools, nonprofits, foundations, faith communities, and national organizations to bring meaningful wellness experiences to the people they serve.
Adelphi College · Eagle Academy · Frederick Douglass Academy · Metro High School · PAL · PS 180 · Recess · St. John Residence for Boys · Summer Youth NYC
Allen AME Senior Center · D-Herbs · Life Camp · Maranatha Baptist Church · Sheltering Arms · Sonima Foundation · Women in Need
Chicago Bulls Foundation · Coca-Cola · Hilton Foundation · Kansas City Chiefs · NFL 360 · Pinkerton Foundation
And more community partners across New York City and beyond.
Your people. Your setting. Your practice.