The Yoga Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that provides free yoga classes to vulnerable individuals with mental health challenges.
The Yoga Foundation aspires to support the most vulnerable people to live their lives to their full potential. Trauma, disadvantage and poor mental health impact a person physically, emotionally, financially and socially. Our specialised programs are designed to create safety, build connection and grow capacity.
We target people with no access to yoga and provide free, high quality, trauma informed yoga, on their terms. We often work with people that other services are not able to: those with co-occurring mental health, alcohol and other drug issues, complex trauma and disability.
Yoga is a perfectly designed integrated system that benefits mind and body, allowing the trauma survivor to heal their whole being. It simultaneously benefits participants mentally, physically, emotionally and socially in a unique way.
Our aim is to always promote healing and avoid re-traumatisation, to provide the opportunity to safely connect with others and the self, feel a sense of belonging and provide a tool kit and skill set for wellbeing, for life.
Our work is underpinned by research and we aim to contribute to the evidence base on yoga as an effective self care health regime by evaluating our programs. We are a trusted provider, designing and delivering impactful programs for over 11 years. We have stringent governance, compliance and risk management processes in place and use only highly experienced and appropriately qualified teachers.
Since 2009 we have offered a variety of programs and worked with a variety of organisations. Our current target groups are:
At-risk youth
Women affected by domestic violence
Men whose lives are at risk due to mental health challenges
Our specialised programs utilise all the components of yoga to provide the most suitable experience for the participant. Whole body movement, breathwork, relaxation techniques mindfulness, meditation and the cultivation of positive values are all deployed appropriately for the changing needs of participants. A senior veteran with PTSD may benefit from relaxation techniques and mindfulness whereas a teenager with depression may need whole body movement and to cultivate positive values.
Trauma informed yoga
Trauma-informed yoga is an approach to creating a safe, sensitive space in which students can learn to regulation skills through connection with the breath and increased body awareness
Trauma makes it hard for people to relax and feel physically safe in their bodies. Our programs cultivate mindfulness, encouraging participants to notice what they are feeling in their bodies as they move. A major challenge in recovering from trauma is being able to fully relax and let go. We help people move towards feelings of safety and calm by fostering a connection between mind, body and breath. This discharges tension and enables emotional regulation. The benefits for healing are enormous.
The core principles of trauma informed yoga include:
Choice
Interoception
Taking effective action
Present-moment experience
Some of our programs are ongoing and have run for over five years; others have an eight week duration and can run between one and four times a year depending on client funding and other factors.
If your organisation is interested in one of our yoga programs, we’re happy to discuss your specific requirements so we can design the right program for your clients. Contact us at team@yogafoundation.com.au today.
