The Yoga Foundation
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Mission Statement
The Yoga Foundation’s mission is to support the recovery of people who have experienced trauma, mental illness and adversity. We provide a tool kit and skill set to manage mental health, heal, and improve quality of life.
About This Cause
The Yoga Foundation is a leading not-for-profit playing a critical role in the recovery of highly traumatised people.. We work with at-risk youth, domestic violence survivors, refugees and asylum seekers, people recovering from homelessness and addiction. We work with people who cannot access yoga in the general community and operate an outreach program that takes us in to maximum security hospitals, prisons and community health centres. Our Why The impact of mental illness and trauma is profound. Research shows that it causes significant challenges that present physically, cognitively and emotionally; there are financial and social implications that can restrict quality of life and a person’s potential across their lifetime. Yoga can play an important role in a person's recovery due to it's multi-dimensional approach. Recovering from mental ill-health, trauma and addiction is complex and requires a tailored approach suitable for that individual. Movement, breathwork, mindfulness and connection to others in a safe and welcoming space can help meet people's psychological, physical and social needs, and create a foundation for recovery. Current research exploring how the brain and body react to trauma means body-based therapies like yoga are in high demand. After 15 years of providing high quality, evidence- base yoga to at-risk groups we continue to expand both in number of people supported and, more importantly, in terms of a deeper impact too. We apply our organisational expertise with the knowledge of ‘experts by experience’ - people with a lived experience of mental illness and trauma - and current research to create highly effective programs that are successful in a variety of settings - from community centres to psychiatric wards. Our programs provide an important ‘soft entry’ pathway to support, connection and recovery. Impact "Yoga has helped me connect back to my body which has been a huge learning experience since complex PTSD led to dissociating. I find yoga sohelpful and interesting for developing a relationship with myself." "The breathing techniques helped me to feel the beginnings of a panic attack rather than all of a sudden being in a panic attack." "Yoga gives me serenity. I feel relaxed even before it even starts because I know I’m going to be in a comfortable, safe space and doing exercises with people that I feel comfortable with as well." Feedback is invited after each class and program. A thematic analysis of their qualitative feedback highlights the key benefits: 1. Feeling safe and welcomed 2. Developing a relationship with self and others 3. Self agency and felt control 4. Feeling physically and mentally stronger 5. Learning techniques that can be done at home 6. Easing of physical tension and muscular pain 7. Reduction in anxiety 8. Improvement of sleep We are registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and endorsed with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status.