More than 20 local yoga studios joined forces to raise money for needy families during the fourth annual Seacoast Yoga Mala on Sunday, Feb. 12. Together, they raised more than $11,000 for the (H)EAT Campaign.

About 200 participants crowded the Rivermill at Dover Landing, located in an old brick mill building at One Washington Center that overlooks the Cochecho River. Their yoga mats carpeted the wood floor and their body heat humidified the air as they worked through a physically intense three-hour session.

A string of instructors from various studios guided the crowd through 108 sun salutations, occasionally reading statistics about hunger in America and thanking the students for committing themselves to an important cause.

Through registration fees, pledges and donations, participants raised a total of $11,400, all of which will go toward community non-profits such as local food pantries and fuel assistance programs. The Seacoast Local (H)EAT campaign is led by local businesses working together to raise funds to purchase 10,000 gallons of heating oil and 10,000 meals for local families.

The event provided evidence of the Seacoast’s exceptionally strong yoga community and the positive energy it can harness for the greater good.