SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital has donated $3,900 to the City of Ripon Parks and Recreation Department to support the Community Yoga – Chair Yoga and Yoga in the Park.

The city’s Community Yoga program, which includes Chair Yoga and Yoga in the Park, aim to improve physical and mental health for individuals of all ages and abilities, particularly those who may face barriers to traditional fitness programs.

Chair Yoga is an accessible, low-impact exercise option for seniors, individuals with mobility limitations, and those new to yoga. Yoga in the Park provides an open-air setting for guided yoga sessions, promoting stress reduction, mindfulness, and community engagement at no cost to participants.

“Through this program, we are enhancing public health by providing free, accessible wellness opportunities that promote physical activity, stress reduction, and overall well-being,” according to Ashton Zeien, City of Ripon Parks and Recreation Director. “These classes support preventive health initiatives that encourage healthy lifestyles.”

“Yoga offers a wide range of benefits for physical and mental well-being, including improved flexibility, strength, and balance, as well as reduced stress, improved sleep, and enhanced cognitive function,” according to Nicole Gill, SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital VP, clinical administrator. “It can also help manage pain, improve heart health, and potentially aid in weight management.”

The donation was presented to Zeien by Gill and DeAnn Thurmer, Ripon Community Hospital president.

In 2024, SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac’s community benefit ministry totaled more than $568,000 across the communities it serves. This investment helps ensure access to health care for patients who are uninsured or underinsured, train the next generation of health professionals to care for those in need, and fund programs to address the most pressing health needs of our communities.

Ashton Zeien, City of Ripon Parks and Recreation director (right), accepts a $3,900 donation from DeAnn Thurmer (left), SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital president; and Nicole Gill, hospital VP, clinical administrator.