Bringing a passion for equity and access, new leadership will support the growth of healing-centered, community-based programming
Hartford, CT- (July 17, 2025)- Yoga In Our City, presented by ConnectiCare, announced the appointment of its new Managing Director, Yizza Galdamez. A longtime teacher within the program, Galdamez brings a deep passion for creating inclusive spaces that foster healing and connection across all ages and abilities.
A Hartford native, Galdamez didn’t grow up with access to yoga or an understanding of its benefits. Over a decade ago, a friend brought her to her first class. At that time, she was working in community health, supporting individuals often overlooked by the healthcare system. Her work centered on building trust, bridging gaps in care, and helping people feel seen and supported. A few years later, she began her first yoga teacher training.
Yoga became another pathway, one that offered a more holistic way to support healing. She felt a pull to learn more and was driven to share what yoga was teaching her with her community, knowing many hadn’t yet been exposed to the practice. She has been sharing yoga with the Hartford community ever since with a focus on trauma-informed care and integrating the practice into mental health spaces supporting those navigating depression, anxiety, and addiction recovery.
“My work has always been about helping people feel less alone in their experiences, whether that was sitting with them in a clinic, advocating for their care, or guiding them through movement and breath. Yoga became another way to do that. It offers a space where people can reconnect with themselves, feel supported, and know that healing is possible in community.”
Now in its 13th season, the City Parks program — presented by ConnectiCare — is rooted in inclusion, compassion, and the power of community healing.
Yoga In Our City offers free, accessible yoga classes all summer long in parks across Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, and Waterbury. The 2025 season features classes seven days a week at select locations, including sessions led by bilingual instructors. Participants are encouraged to bring water and a yoga mat, towel, or blanket.
In addition to its seasonal offerings, Yoga In Our City also runs Happy Warrior®, a trauma-informed, equity-centered yoga teacher training program in partnership with YWCA Hartford Region. This 200-hour certification empowers community members to become leaders in wellness, connection, and inclusion. The curriculum goes beyond postures — integrating social justice, accessible anatomy, and community-based teaching. Two cohorts have graduated, and applications are now open for the third cohort, which begins this October.
About Yoga In Our City
Yoga In Our City is a non-profit program of Civic Mind. The program has been committed to building happier, healthier communities through compassion, gratitude, and mindfulness since its establishment in 2012. Yoga In Our City brings communities together with free yoga in public parks in 4 cities across the state: Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, and Waterbury. Yoga In Our City welcomes everyone of all ages, sizes, and abilities. For more information, visit yogainourcity.com.
About Happy Warrior
Happy Warrior® is a trauma-sensitive, equity-centered yoga teacher training program from Yoga In Our City that empowers community members to become leaders in healing, connection, and inclusion. Combining online evening sessions with in-person weekends in Connecticut, the 200-hour training goes beyond poses — integrating social justice, accessible anatomy, and trauma-informed practices. Graduates emerge as advocates for health equity, ready to bring inclusive wellness to parks, classrooms, and communities often left out of traditional yoga spaces. For more information, visit yogainourcity.com.
