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Emily Griggs hosts a weekly event called Sunset Yoga. Every Wednesday night the event is held at the Judicial Branch in downtown Des Moines. Griggs originally started Sunset Yoga to blend her pure passion for yoga and Iowa’s breathtaking sunsets, but it then turned into something more for her and the Des Moines community.

“I moved back from New York City in 2014,” Griggs said. “I made a commitment to take a picture of the sunset every day that year. I also started practicing yoga for the first time in my life at the same time. When I began teaching yoga in 2017, it just made sense to marry the two loves of my life to create Sunset Yoga, especially in one of the most beautiful places in Des Moines.”

Starting Sunset Yoga was tough for Griggs. When she first started this event, she only had about 10 to 15 people participating in her class. She also began originally operating this event without the proper consent from the Capitol Grounds of Des Moines (unknowingly). The state sent a state trooper to one of the first Sunset Yoga sessions. She now has a following of over 100 people at her yoga sessions and the proper license to hold the event. She also has an expanded sense of purpose.

This year Griggs has combined her passion for yoga with her right to fight for the social injustices that are happening around the United States and here in Des Moines. Each week a different organization is represented at her yoga class. Attending Sunset Yoga at the Judicial Branch is free, but she gives the option for those who attend the class to donate to one of the chosen organizations via CashApp or Venmo.

“I believe yoga is healing for the self and the community and I became a yoga instructor so that I could offer this gift to people,” Griggs said. “2020 Sunset Yoga was set to be in its third summer. It was around the same time that the need for the Black Lives Matter movement became undeniable. I also learned about DarQuan Jones, a local young black man who was nearly killed in a racist attack on the south side of Des Moines. Initially, I intended to dedicate our first practice to raising money for him. Not long after I realized we needed to dedicate the whole series to BLM causes in our community. It was fundraising meets karmic-yoga endeavor. It just seemed like the right thing to do because Black Lives Matter is very important to me.”

Griggs has organized Sunset Yoga events for organizations and causes, including Hoover High School Football, Urban Dreams, Des Moines BLM Rent Relief, Movement 515, The Supply Hive, Italia Kelly and many more.

“These organizations are important to me because they are doing the Black Lives Matter work here in our community,” Griggs said. “I have the privilege to know many of the people behind these organizations, and I want to support the work they do in our community. These organizations are also important to me because they foster diversity and culture in Des Moines.”

The impact that Griggs has made is undeniable. She has gained a large local following and inspired others in the community. During the toughest times, Griggs and Sunset Yoga has been used to uplift and inspire the community, but there is still a lot more that could be done. When asked what others can do in their communities to make an impact, Griggs’ words of advice were to use your skills, talents, hobbies and interests to contribute to a worthy cause. Do what makes sense for your life; the possibilities are endless.