Rooted Strength
Project Description
Rooted Strength is a program for AAPI youth that builds mind-body connection through wellness practices rooted in traditions from across the Asian diaspora, including Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yoga, and more. The program runs weekly 1-hour sessions in an intimate group setting designed to foster community, cultural pride, and personal wellness.
Mission/Vision
Rooted Strength’s mission is to empower AAPI youth to stand confidently in their identities by reconnecting them with the healing traditions of their ancestors. We envision a future where AAPI young people have the tools, community, and cultural grounding to advocate for themselves and their communities.
Goals
Rooted Strength aims to provide AAPI youth in the Bay Area with a safe, culturally affirming space to explore mind-body wellness and build solidarity with their peers. Through each cohort, we seek to deepen participants’ connection to their heritage while equipping them with lifelong practices for emotional and physical well-being.
Accomplishments
Rooted Strength has successfully launched its first cohorts at the India Community Center in the South Bay, offering AAPI youth hands-on exposure to ancestral wellness disciplines spanning multiple cultures. The program has established a strong curriculum grounded in four core pillars, Body Awareness, Honoring Community, Mindfulness, and Nature, and built a growing network of culturally engaged youth participants.
Next Steps
Rooted Strength plans to expand to the East Bay in Summer 2026, bringing the program to a new cohort of AAPI youth. Looking ahead, we will aggregate participant feedback to refine the curriculum and grow our instructor team.
About the founder
Sonali Bhandari
During college, Sonali studied Cognitive Science where she conducted mock studies on the effects of meditation on university students, researched accessibility of outdoor recreation for BIPOC kids, and worked as the Lead Steward of the UCSC Community Herb Garden!
After completing her degree, Sonali traveled throughout India learning Yoga and Ayurveda. It was there she felt her calling back to the US to create a space for AAPI children to explore their own connection with their roots. She currently works as a After School Teacher and Youth Programs Associate at India Community Center. She hopes Grounded Strength will be the foundation for a larger conversation on how we can cultivate passion and pride within our communities.