With Good Intention Partnership

At Yoga Home, we strive to do everything with good intention. And so when we met Kate Sweeney and were introduced to her company, With Good Intention, we knew we were meant to work together. Over the course of the last few months, we’ve been working on some exciting things together that we are thrilled to now share with you! Here, Yoga Home co-founder, Maura Manzo, sits down for an interview that will explain everything we’ve been putting together for you!

• Meet Kate Sweeney – With Good Intention Founder & Awesome Human Being
• Meet Allison – Yoga Home Teacher and WGI’s first Brand Ambassador
• Yoga Home Custom Mala
• WGI Gives Back: Building Hope for Haiti Fundraiser

Meet Kate! Kate, What are you all about?

My name is Kathleen Sweeney and I am the owner and designer of With Good Intention, LLC. I create inspirational and yoga inspired jewelry that is designed to carry with it, both intention and meaning.

I am currently a full-time graduate student at Saint Joseph’s University and a graduate of Temple University. I previously worked in behavioral health for about three years then as time and life unfolded, I discovered the path that led me to forging a deeper connection with practicing yoga. Through the deepening of that connection, I was also drawn to the eye-catching beauty of mala beads and other inspirational jewelry. After receiving the encouragement of those who are dear to me, I invested more of myself into developing a brand of yoga jewelry that not only offers inspiration, but also exists as a representation of the things that are not always physically visible. My jewelry is meant to be worn as reminders of the intentions we carry within, to be taken with you throughout your day, and to inspire change. A favorite quote of mine that has truly resonated with me since the first time I came across it is, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Gandhi. It reminds us that we have the ability to literally change the world and to touch everything around us with the sincerity in our hearts.

A very large part of what With Good Intention is also centered on is giving back and paying it forward. As With Good Intention grows, so does the ability to actually effect change. To use this platform to make a difference is the ultimate goal.

Awesome. Why did you pick Allison to represent With Good Intention as a brand ambassador?

Since beginning my yoga practice at Yoga Home, I have been so fortunate to connect with some amazing individuals who are helping me on my path to achieving this goal. When I first met Allison Russell as a student in one of her classes, I immediately knew she was someone I wanted to be around and someone I felt shared my passion for doing good. Her genuine kindness and authentic interaction with everyone around her is exactly what I was looking for in a Brand Ambassador. I am very grateful to Maura and Kerri at Yoga Home for extending the invitation of this partnership and could not be happier to have Allison represent the With Good Intention brand.

Allison, congrats! What does living with good intention mean to you?

To live with good intention, to me, means to live a life that’s worth living – to value the relationships that support me, to love with my whole heart, to be of service to those in need, to see and feel the world, to laugh often, to give great hugs, to intend to stay present, and to know I am always good enough.

After finding yoga during my time at the University of Pittsburgh in 2005, I knew it would somehow lead me on the path to where I am right now. I always struggled to remain present ‘in the moment’ and yoga, no matter where I was in the world, forced me to find the ground beneath me and the sky above.

I completed the Beyond Asana Yoga Teacher Training in November 2014 and traveled to Malawi with my fellow teacher trainees to build a school in the Mchereka Village through the organization buildOn. This experience inspires me every single day and is reflected in my classes, as I tap into the love, happiness, and sense of community of that special village in Africa in order to build confidence in students and allow for a fun, creative, and energetic experience on the mat.

My incredibly supportive mom bought me a sign that currently hangs over my bedroom door that states: Wake Up & Do Good. Every morning, I get that wonderful reminder that I have the power to simply “do good”.

I live in Conshohocken with my husband James and am honored to teach weekly at Yoga Home.

Amazing! So, tell us about what you two have created with Building Hope for Haiti. How has WGI supported this year’s Beyond Asana Teacher Training and their efforts to build a school in Haiti?

Together, along with all of the students in this training, we are currently working on a fundraiser for the organization buildOn to construct a new school in Haiti. WGI hopes to support their efforts in two ways:

1) We’ve created a special edition mala bracelet. 50% of all sales of this special edition “Building Hope for Haiti” bracelet will go directly towards the fundraising efforts of the Beyond Asana Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) students raising money to build a new school in Haiti through the organization buildOn. The spiderweb jasper beads encourage growth & development and the amazonite bead is for courage and truth. We hope that while you wear this bracelet, you can live proudly within your own truth, knowing that you’ve helped to support and nurture the beautiful children of Haiti and their future school!

2) With Good Intention will donate 15% of ALL purchases made through Etsy Shop now through September 30th directly to the groups’ fundraising efforts.

So, how can people support these efforts?

Easy!  Just visit my online store, www.withgoodintention.etsy.com, and shop! Just make sure to put “Yoga Home” in the Note to With Good Intention section so that we make sure to allocate the funds from your purchase.

Alright. Sounds easy enough.  Kate, you’ve created a beautiful signature mala just for Yoga Home. Can you tell us a little about it?

This mala represents the intention of creating sacred space, something Maura & Kerri are creating at Yoga Home. And it acts as a reminder that you can bring this sacred space with you anywhere. The mala beads can be worn as an accessory and they can support your mediation practice.

Kate, thank you so much. Allison, congratulations. We’re looking forward to co-creating with both of you, both in the studio and out in the community.