Yoga, Community, and Gratitude

For the past seven years, I have had the incredible honor of being part of Yoga Reaches Out, an organization that blends my love of yoga with the opportunity to raise funds to support Boston Children’s Hospital. During this time, Team Heidi Kassner Yoga and our generous community have raised over $100,000 to help fund life-saving research and care.

In 2023, I was humbled to serve as the patient family speaker at the event, sharing our story to inspire the 1,000 yogis gathered and show them exactly who their support was helping. It was a moment that deeply connected my yoga practice with the power of giving and healing.

This August 2025, our family’s story has entered a new chapter. Ari underwent a second emergency open heart surgery on August 13, 2025. Through it all, our gratitude for Boston Children’s Hospital, his surgeon Dr. Ram Emani, and the extraordinary team who saved Ari twice, is boundless. One day, when we have fully healed, I will share more of this journey, but for now, this is the why behind all that I do. Yoga has been a cornerstone of our healing and a gift I am honored to share with others.

Many have asked how they can help Ari as he recovers. The truth is, he needs nothing for himself. Instead, we have created a fund in his honor to support the team that gave him life twice.

Ari’s experience is extraordinary. First, as a 13-day-old infant, and now again at 12 years old, his life has been saved by the skill, care, and relentless dedication of Dr. Emani and his team. Their expertise allowed our son to come home to us again, thriving.

We’re fundraising to help Boston Children’s continue their groundbreaking work for kids and families like ours. Every dollar raised directly supports breakthrough research at the Benderson Family Heart Center, the largest pediatric heart program in the country, with over 500 experts dedicated to caring for children with heart conditions.

Our fundraiser specifically supports Dr. Emani and his team as they develop innovative surgical techniques and tools to repair the most delicate hearts. Their work gives children with even the most complex conditions a chance to thrive, just like Ari.

We are deeply inspired by their commitment and invite you to join us in supporting these lifesaving advancements. Every gift brings hope, healing, and the possibility of more children returning home to their families.

If you feel called to contribute and are looking for a cause to support, you can donate here: Open Your Heart Fundraiser

You can also watch the first speech I gave sharing Ari’s journey at Boston Children’s Hospital below. It’s a story of hope, resilience, and the incredible power of community and care.

Thank you for opening your heart and helping children like Ari live full, healthy lives.