About Us
Our Mission
Perceptions Yoga, Mindfulness and Art is a nonprofit organization that provides underserved populations, including our local community of Jennings County, Indiana, with the opportunity to pursue wellness, self-care, wholeness, and healing through the practices of trauma sensitive yoga, mindfulness and art.
Our Leadership
Karen Chilman, a retired public school art teacher and lifelong resident of Jennings County, completed her 500 hour RYT training through YogaFit Teacher Training and her 140 Hours Warriors certification in trauma sensitive yoga in 2019. She recently completed her 100 hour certification in yoga for women's health and a 100 hour certification in yoga for childhood trauma. She has been practicing yoga for over 25 years. She has four certifications in mindfulness teacher training through MindfulSchools.org and in addition to teaching high/middle school art for 30 years, owns and operates Swirlz Art Studio in Commiskey, Indiana. She currently serves as Executive Director and Lead Yoga & Art Instructor of Perceptions Yoga, Mindfulness & Art.
Charlinda Evans is president and co-founder of Perceptions Yoga, Mindfulness & Art, Inc., a nonprofit in Vernon, Indiana. She is a 500 RYT certified yoga instructor with 140 hours of training in trauma sensitive yoga for adults and 100 hours of training in trauma informed yoga for children. She recently completed 100 hours of training in yoga for women's health. She is a full time middle school media teacher and former high school social studies teacher, recently completing her 29th year in public education. She has earned four certifications from MindfulSchools.org and also served as one of the sponsors for the school's Hope Squad, a suicide prevention group. She is the current vice president of the Jennings County Drug and Alcohol Task Force and former president of the JC Women’s Giving Circle.
Our Story
Formed in the summer of 2018, we are an organization with leadership experience, expertise, and passion. Our board, composed of seven like-minded women, has more than 100 years of experience teaching, working in public schools, or serving in the public sector. We have master’s degrees in areas such as art education, instructional systems technology, physical education, and business. Our instructors are certified 500 hour RYT with 140 hour certifications in trauma sensitive yoga, 100 hours certifications in trauma sensitive yoga for children, and 150 hours of mindfulness training, including MBSR. We are makers of positive change in our community, and as individuals have promoted art, mindfulness, education, and a sense of community for decades. In 2018, we realized that to make the greatest impact, we needed to formalize our efforts and create a nonprofit entity that would umbrella our passions. We are believers that “we must be the change that we want to see in the world.”
Our Purpose
Perceptions Yoga, Mindfulness & Art, Inc. is a non profit corporation based in North Vernon, Indiana and is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
Perceptions Yoga, Mindfulness and Art provides underserved populations, including our local community members, with the opportunity to pursue wellness, self-care, wholeness, and healing through the practices of trauma sensitive yoga, mindfulness and art. This includes the provision of low or no cost art instruction and experiences, the hosting of art shows and sales, the creation of public art, the provision of creation spaces, and/or consultation in yoga, mindfulness and/or art. The specific objectives and purpose of this organization shall be:
to provide yoga and mindfulness instruction to underserved populations in the form of group or individualized classes and/or workshops.
to provide instructors,equipment and space for participants to engage in yoga, mindfulness, and art experiences.
to provide opportunities for participants to engage in yoga, mindfulness, and art experiences and trainings.
to sponsor, host and/or participate in events and activities that promote yoga, mindfulness and art.
to offer consultation to individuals or organizations in the areas of yoga, mindfulness, and/or art.
to create or sponsor public art projects that better the quality of life for residents in our community.
Our Certifications
- Yoga for Seniors
- Yoga for Addiction and Recovery
- Prenatal Yoga
- Yoga for Emotional Balance (Depression & Anxiety)
- Yoga for PTSD
- Yoga for Caregivers
- Yoga for Childhood Trauma
- Yoga for ADD and Autism
- Yoga for Kids
- Yoga for Women’s Health
- MindfulSchools.org Certifications – Mindfulness Fundamentals, Mindfulness Curriculum Training (K-12), Mindful Communication, and Difficult Emotions
- Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (8 Week Course)
- Mental Health First Aid
- Suicide Prevention QPR Training
Our Board of Directors
The affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by its Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall have control of and be responsible for the management of the affairs and property of the Corporation. There are currently six members serving on the board as of June 2018.
Current Officers & Contact Information
President - Charlinda Evans charlindaevans@perceptionsyoga.org
Vice President - Tricia Losey
Secretary/Treasurer - Karen Jackson karenjackson@perceptionsyoga.org
Other Board Members:
Amber Fields
Georgia Nixon
Becky Sargent
Teresa Taylor
Melissa Gresham
Katelyn Smith
Contact Us
Mailing Address:
5675 N CR 200 W
North Vernon, IN 47265
5675 N CR 200 W
North Vernon, IN 47265
Physical Address:
139 East US Hwy 3
Vernon, IN 47282
139 East US Hwy 3
Vernon, IN 47282