Problem: Article: Check with local animal shelters and rescue centers to see if they need help with the organization of a fundraiser. If you cannot be there in person, offer your help by sharing information with friends and family about the event. Animal shelters and rescues provide services for many pets, some of which have faced abusive pasts. Volunteering will go a long way toward helping these institutions sustain their work. There are also organizations dedicated to rehabilitating abused farm animals that welcome the help of volunteers.  Get in touch with a shelter or sanctuary to see where they need help and how you might be most impactful. If you are unable to donate your time, spread the word to others or make a monetary donation. Pets at animal shelters were often abandoned or unwanted, and have potentially faced abuse. Adopting one of these pets will help give them a loving family and become a great addition to the family. Many shelters often have euthanasia policies due to receiving abandoned and unwanted pets at a high volume. Not only is adopting a pet giving it a happy and loving home, but it is also saving a life. If you are unable or not yet ready to adopt a pet, consider fostering animals. Many shelters and rescues are in need of foster parents willing to provide a temporary home to unwanted or abandoned animals. Being a foster parent to an animal provides the animal with more time to find a permanent home.  Every adoption agency or animal shelter has different requirements for potential fosters. Get in touch with a local adoption agency or shelter to discuss the application process and requirements for being a foster parent. Most agencies and shelters will have a foster care coordinator work with you throughout the process to help you determine which type of pet (puppies, dogs, kittens, cats, etc.) might be best for you. Most adoption agencies and animal shelters will have extensive histories available about the pet you are considering adopting or fostering. Ask the shelter or agency questions about the animal’s temperament, whether it has been fostered before, and what kinds of abuse it has suffered. The more information you have about your pet the better home you will be able to make for them.  If your pet has been fostered before, reach out to the previous foster parents to find out about the animal’s comfort zone and what actions, behaviors, or environments should be avoided. Many agencies and shelters also offer rehabilitation for abused animals. Reach out to your shelter or agency to see if your pet has been enrolled in rehabilitation or if there is a program you can enroll in together.
Summary: Participate in or start a fundraiser. Volunteer at your local animal shelter or find a nearby animal sanctuary. Adopt a shelter pet. Foster abandoned animals. Prepare yourself for the special needs abused pets might have.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Sit down with your legs in the criss-cross (applesauce) position. Make sure your butt is stable on the ground and your back is straight. If you’re a little more flexible and want to do the lotus position, take your right foot and place it on your left thigh and lift your left foot onto your right thigh.  If you have a knee problem, place bolsters or blankets beneath your knees so they don’t get strained. If you have a back problem and can’t sit up straight, lean against pillows or blankets to find a comfortable semi-upright position. As long as your spine is straight, you’re good to go! Yoga meditation should not be done lying down. Although this is a relaxing position, it encourages sleep rather than concentration. Simply rest your palms face down on your knees with your fingers relaxed. If you’re more comfortable with them in your lap, that’s an option too. To do this with some monkish style, layer your fingers on one hand on top of the fingers on your other hand with your palms facing up. Set them in your lap up against your body and press the tips of your thumbs together to make a triangle. If you'd like, try the wisdom seal position by placing your hands palms-up on your knees and holding your thumb and index finger together. Take a deep inhale into your belly and half-speak, half-sing the mantra “OM” (which is pronounced “ohm” or “aum”). Sustain the mantra for as long as you can as you exhale. This mantra is thought to focus on purification and dissolving negativity. Inhale through your nose all the way into the bottom of your belly. Take note of your belly extending and contracting as you inhale and exhale—your shoulders shouldn’t move up and down. As you do this, you might think to yourself, "breathing in, I calm my mind and body, breathing out, I smile to my body."  If you like a more structured approach, try inhaling slowly for 8 counts, holding your breath for 8 counts, and exhaling for 8 counts. There’s no right way to breathe in meditation so find what works for you. If you feel strained or lightheaded from breathing a certain way, try a different way. After you become familiar with basic breathing techniques, you can practice yogic styles of breathing that energize the body (like bhastrika or kapalabhati).
Summary:
Sit on your mat with your legs crossed or assume the lotus position. Place your hands on top of your knees or put your hands in your lap. Chant the “OM” mantra 5 to 10 times if you desire. Breathe from your diaphragm, focusing on each inhale and exhale.