By Amanda Gordon - 2012-08-15T15:23:37Z

The yoga mat is gaining traction as a fundraising tool in the Hamptons.

A private yoga session with Hilaria Baldwin went for $10,000 at Guild Halls benefit on Aug. 10, auctioned by her husband, Alec, to hedge-fund-manager-turned-entrepreneur Nick Lobaccaro. (The package also included a night with Alec Baldwin in his box at Guild Halls theater.)

On Aug. 24, Hilaria Baldwin will lead a class to benefit the Child Mind Institute Inc., organized by the Southampton- based studio Yoga Gives. Tickets are $250, which goes to the institute to improve mental-health care for children. Baldwin is once again donating her services.

Yoga Gives has organized several similar events alongside its for-profit offerings. Kelly Morris, a popular instructor in New York, led one to benefit the Retreat, an East Hampton shelter for victims of domestic violence. Heather Mnuchin, whose husband, Steven T. Mnuchin, runs OneWest Bank Group LLC, went to the mat for the Sag Harbor Food Pantry.

Mnuchin has also taken classes, along with Julia Koch, wife of David H. Koch of Koch Industries Inc., and Christine Mack, wife of Richard Mack, North American chief executive officer of Apollo Real Estate Advisors.

To me its a natural pairing, said Amanda Taylor, founder of Yoga Gives. The idea of yoga is to be of service, to be present to other people, to be aware, awake and alive.

Taylor got the idea after hearing about the one-hour SoulCycle spin class that raised more than $35,000 for Baby Buggy.

If they can do that with bikes, I thought, I can do that with yoga mats, she said.

Taylor sees the classes as a welcome alternative to the evening gala. Theyre certainly cheaper: Yoga Gives has been charging $50 a class or less.

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