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Singer tackling domestic abuse

An Okotoks country singer is combining her passion for music, yoga and a violent-free Foothills in a unique fundraising event.
Tanya Ryan
Country music singer Tanya Ryan will use her yoga and vocal skills to raise money for the Rowan House Emergency Shelter in her Warriors for Women fundraiser Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Crescent Point Field House.

An Okotoks country singer is combining her passion for music, yoga and a violent-free Foothills in a unique fundraising event. In conjunction with Family Violence Prevention Month, Tanya Ryan will lead a yoga session followed by musical entertainment by herself and Okotoks pop singer Brettyn Rose in the Warriors for Women yoga and music fundraiser at the Crescent Point Field House Nov. 15. Proceeds from the event will go towards the Rowan House Emergency Shelter’s preventative and outreach programs. “I’ve been working with Rowan House for about five years as an ambassador and I’m quite invested in it emotionally,” said Ryan. “The reason I joined was because I feel that domestic abuse is seen as something we no longer have to deal with. I want to make sure people are aware we’re still dealing with it.” The fundraiser begins at 7 p.m. with Ryan leading participants in a 75-minute yoga class in various poses and stretches for all levels. She will have a team of instructors assisting people. “It’s really lighthearted yoga so if you haven’t ever been to a yoga class it’s the best one to go to,” said Ryan. “It’s more about having a good time.” Last year’s event drew over 200 participants and raised more than $11,000 to support outreach and preventative education programs offered by Rowan House, Ryan said. “They’re making a lot of effort to stop the abuse before it starts and they’re also helping women after they’re coming out of these situations,” she said. Ryan said there’s no government funding for preventative education when it comes to domestic abuse. “All there is, is government funding for is intervention,” she said. “It means their preventative education relies 100 per cent on donations. That’s why these fundraisers are so important to me.” Ryan assists the Rowan House in bringing domestic abuse prevention into Foothills schools, starting with helping students in the younger grades understand what good friendships look like. “As they get older we talk about bullying and how to prevent or intervene and what it means to be a good friend,” she said. “At the high schools we get into what abuse looks like in a relationship, how to identify abuse and how to intervene.” In addition to providing preventative education, Ryan also brings her yoga skills into the shelter, sharing the benefits she experiences from yoga with women and children. Ryan delved into yoga about the same time she started her music career, about eight years ago. “I really enjoyed the practice and it was very moving for me,” she said. “(Yoga and music) aligned really well for me. It helped me balance a lot of my mental body and I found that to be really impactful and beneficial. I want to share that with other people.” When Ryan and Brettyn Rose entertain with their voices following the yoga session, participants can relax on their mats and take in the entertainment, said Ryan. “I usually perform based on the room,” she said. “If I have a really lighthearted room I will play lighthearted songs. If I have more rooted room I will play deep songs. I will keep it fun and light.” Ally Cramm, Rowan House community relations co-ordinator, said Ryan is an asset to the High River facility. “Tanya Ryan has been such an amazing ambassador for Rowan House that we’re honoured that she’s continuing to do this for us,” she said. “She is so passionate about what she does for us that it just brings a light and enjoyment to having her work with us.” Money raised at Warriors for Women is the difference between the Rowan House being able to provide preventative education programming in schools versus focusing its money on basic necessities and the shelter, said Cramm. “Third-party fundraising plays a huge role in our ability to meet our $800,000 fundraising budget each year,” she said. “Rowan House is one of the main shelters for rural southern Alberta. We really fill a niche for people when transportation is a barrier.” Cramm is referring to the facility’s outreach services, where staff and volunteers meet with people one-on-one in communities like Vulcan, Nanton, Okotoks, Black Diamond, Turner Valley and DeWinton where they may not need a shelter but require support to keep themselves and their children safe. “Domestic violence is absolutely happening in the Foothills,” she said. “We’re so excited that Tanya Ryan is part of the Rowan House volunteer team and we hope that lots of people come out for this really fun event.” The cost to participate in Warriors for Women is a suggested donation of $20. Those interested can register on Tanya Ryan’s Facebook site or on Eventbrite.

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