November 09th, 2021

One for Health yoga and nutrition instructor, Rana Kirkland, has made having a healthy mind and body a priority. The Long Island-native has managed to center her life around movement and nutrition, and continued these efforts through career changes, cross-country moves, and more. Today, as a key member of One for Health’s network, Kirkland is using her background and skillset to help the nonprofit fulfill their mission.

Currently based in Santa Monica, CA, Kirkland facilitates OFHs yoga classes and nutritional programming at two Boys and Girls Clubs in her area. Two times a week at each of the clubs, she conducts these programs as after-school activities for the kids. 

Kirkland’s involvement with One for Health began in the late Spring of 2021. After connecting with OFH’s co-founder, Bruce Campelia, the two realized there was a huge potential for long term collaboration and developed a strong working relationship, bonding over their similar goals and passions for wellness.

“Bruce and I align with our interest in benefiting kids and our interest in yoga and wellness, but I also just got the sense that he's a good person, and he's trying to do some good work,” Kirkland said. “That definitely carried a lot of weight in my decision.”

Prior to meeting Bruce and beginning to facilitate these programs, Kirkland was already deeply invested in helping children. For several years she owned a kids activity business; her current role is the result of significant changes in her life that altered her career path in the early 2000s.

“I did a lot of TV shows and commercials back in the day,” Kirkland said, who was notably a guest star on Fresh Prince of Bel Air. After having her son, Kirkland found auditions and shoots harder to regularly keep up with, so fell naturally into her current career whilst working as an actress on occasion.

“My background as an actress has really helped me to be more engaging on camera, which is important for any kind of video instruction, especially when you're working with kids,” she explained.

“You have to be animated. Kids don't go to yoga for the same reasons that adults do, so you have to make it fun.”

Kirkland sees a future in her collaborative efforts with One for Health – especially because it has connected her to a whole new demographic of children to help become their best selves.

“For the most part, I've been teaching kids yoga to kids who come from very wealthy families because that's who can afford it and that’s usually who's interested. One of the nice things about working with One for Health is that I get to work with underserved kids,” Kirkland said. “It's a community that I would not have normally had the opportunity to work with, so that's been a big blessing.”

One for Health is thankful for the work Kirkland has done, and will continue to do for the organization and its mission. Campelia said Kirkland “epitomizes the type of person that I want to be associated with. She totally gets [One for Health’s mission] and she totally exudes it.” Campelia and Kirkland acknowledged that the partnership between the two parties works seamlessly.

“At the end of the day, kids are kids and they can all enjoy
being active with yoga,” Kirkland says.

Here is a sample Yoga video demonstrating Rana's style and teaching methods. More like this are being brought into the OFH Yoga program that will be expanding throughout Boys & Girls Clubs and YMCA's nationally.  ​
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If you would like to reach Rana Kirkland, Healthy Lifestyle Coach, follow her on Instagram: Ranakstyle

If you would like to explore bringing the Vids4Kids model to your club, school or organization or simply wish to learn more about how it works, reach out to [email protected] and Rana will call to talk with you. 

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