Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are among the most disadvantaged women in the world: a third of female prisoners in NSW are Aboriginal despite making up just 3% of the population. More than 80% of Aboriginal women in prison are mothers.
Offering culturally safe healing practices can help restore health and support healing.
Traditional healing has been shown to have the most efficacy. It can be combined with transformative partnerships with western practitioners to create innovative, evidence-based and culturally appropriate services. These address intergenerational disadvantage and support lasting change.
Our trauma informed yoga program at Mudgin-gal, Sydney, invited women to come together with an experienced teacher to try culturally appropriate techniques to soothe, calm and support the nervous system.
Our project is an innovative way to create change by melding yoga with Aboriginal healing practices, in a culturally appropriate way. Ultimately it is to improve mental health outcomes of First Nations women which is critical.
Recent research shows that Aboriginal people endure chronic levels of ill health and access to appropriate health care is limited and impacted by obstacles caused by institutional racism. Programs such as ours work to remove such obstacles and build on existing Aboriginal led practices to recognize the importance of self-determination as a principle of healing. Understanding how yoga principles and practices can be used will bring the benefits of yoga and traditional healing to more at risk Aboriginal women to create disrupt the cycle of disadvantage and intergenerational trauma.
“Nourished my soul last week with the cultural aspect, It is really needed when we are so disconnected in this modern world”
“Yoga helps with the chaos around and in my mind gives me peace of mind”
Contact National Domestic Violence Service if you need support: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).