RESEARCH & IMPACT
Transforming Lives Through Trauma Informed Yoga
Since 2016, The Yoga Impact Charity has delivered evidence based, trauma informed yoga programs worldwide. Grounded in research and led by trained teachers, our programs support healing, wellbeing, and resilience across diverse communities, from healthcare workers to survivors of trauma, refugees, and First Nations peoples. Below, you can explore the impact of our programs and the research that informs our work.
IMPACT
Since 2016, we have delivered over 2,510 yoga programs worldwide, supporting 26,266 people on their journey of healing from trauma. Participants have included frontline healthcare workers, survivors of domestic violence, refugees and asylum seekers, people in detention, individuals experiencing homelessness, First Nations people, members of the Defence Force, and veterans.
In 2022 alone, we delivered 385 trauma informed yoga programs across the globe, reaching 3,927 people and supporting their recovery from trauma.
RESEARCH
The Yoga Impact Charity teaching team has all completed the Body Mind Heart Training® 200 Hour Trauma Informed Yoga Teacher Training, an evidence based methodology integrating yoga, somatic therapy, and psychology.
We evaluate the impact of many of our community programs, including:
12-Week Virtual Yoga for Healthcare Workers
Eight-Week Yoga Intervention
Refugees Healing from Torture and Trauma: A Mixed Methods Evaluation
Eight-Week Yoga Intervention at Villawood Immigration Detention Centre
12-Week Virtual Yoga for Healthcare Workers during COVID-19
Eight-Week Yoga intervention with Foster Care Workers and Staff at KARI
8-week Yoga Intervention at Villawood Immigration Detention Centre
Refugees Healing from Torture and Trauma: A Mixed Methods Evaluation
IN THEIR WORDS
In Their Words features portraits of some of the people who take part in The Yoga Impact Charity's Trauma Informed Yoga Programs for refugees in Sydney accompanied by a snapshot of their journey in their words.
“I have a very long and sad story. I came by boat to Australia with my three kids and arrived in Sydney. I love education and I am studying English at TAFE. One of my sons is a lawyer, the other son is studying a Master of Bioengineering at UNSW and my daughter is studying Commerce at US. My life in Australia is very different from Iraq. I am happy now - more peaceful and calm. I enjoy coming to Yoga for deeper relaxation. My daughter says not to share that I came here by boat, but it's my story and I'm proud.”
– Intesar from Iraq, now living and studying in Sydney
“More than 1 million people from Xinjiang are unlawfully detained in re-education camps. I don't know the whereabouts of my mum, younger brother, younger sister or father (who has health issues including diabetes). I can't try and call them for fear it will get them in trouble. I can never feel safe and feel like we are being monitored. I've heard a lot of horrific things about the camps but it's like we are invisible to the world. Before it was other people's stories, but now it's my life. It's very hard to take. To cope I seek counselling, practice Yoga, write poetry and I try to help others. You feel very alone when you experience these things, it helps me to feel like I'm not alone. I don't have to be destroyed by this. I'm teaching kids in the community three days a week - it's called Genius kids. I teach English, Maths and Coding. I'm so proud we have 2 girls and 3 boys. They give me a lot of good energy.”
– Fatima is a PhD Candidate in Geophysics and Poet from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region now living in Sydney
“For a long time I felt like I didn't have choices or deserve good things. Through Yoga and Prayer I have connected to a part of myself that is positive, strong and powerful. Connecting to this part of myself shows me that I'm free to make good choices for myself and my children. I know that I deserve the best.”
– Aifad from Iraq, now living in Sydney
“You don't know how to relax deeply if you haven't tasted it. After I tasted it though Yoga, I realised this is something I have to try again”