We have worked to support women affected by domestic violence since 2015 partnering with The Benevolent Society specialist DV unit, The Deli Family & Children’s services, Bondi Beach Cottage, CORE, and the Banksia Women’s Program. Our aim is to meet women where they are at, on their terms, and teach evidence based strategies and techniques to support their mental health and emotional and psychological recovery.
Our programs have many reported benefits: a respectful, safe environment is created so the women can relax, build trust, connect and develop their inner awareness. One women - Sarah - was so impressed with how yoga supported her she embarked on yoga teacher training in June 2021 ,supported by part scholarships from The Yoga Foundation and the Yoga Institute. We’ll be sharing her journey here.
“There are many dynamic and multi-faceted tools offered by the program. These tools become a personal arsenal to rearm yourself and step back into the world.”
Having a regular, therapeutic group to go to where they would feel welcomed, respected and be with women with a shared experience was very powerful for their recovery. They felt connected to each other, and safe. Here’s some recent feedback and insights from a group discussion after yoga:
One woman's mum rang her every morning to check how she was. On Wednesdays, when she tells her mum she goes to yoga, she can hear the relief in her mum's voice.
This yoga program provides "essential structure" as many women feel adrift at this time.
They loved our yoga teacher Natalie as she has curves, a “real” body, and watching her body made them realise their bodies could do the poses. They felt confident and strong.
One woman said in other yoga classes she had "felt like the village idiot" but in our classes she felt fantastic, competent.
Another said how the yoga had an unexpected "ripple effect" on her life.
Yoga works on the mind and body and is helping them release held trauma and tension.
We have created a Guide to Yoga for Domestic Violence Survivors and you can download it here.
“The yoga program provided by The Yoga Foundation has been transformative for Banksia Women in many ways. It has been exciting and energising to work with Natalie and Jessica, who embody the values of trauma-sensitive yoga, self-compassion and person-centred practice. Over our ‘Yoga for Wellness’ program series, we have seen women who have experienced domestic violence feel more empowered to respond to and regulate their mental health and anxiety.
Every yoga program is followed by the opportunity to share food, tea and coffee, where survivors connect with each other and with Banksia volunteers. Through Yoga for Wellness, Banksia Women as a service has been able to connect with more survivors in our local community, as we promote the program to local businesses, schools and churches, and raise awareness in these community spaces about the prevalence of domestic violence. As a service, we are grateful for the amazing work that The Yoga Foundation does, and look forward to deepening our partnership. ”
National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line: 1800 737 732, www.1800respect.org.au.
Crisis support can be found at Lifeline: 13 11 14 and lifeline.org.au.