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
Our Impact Evaluations have been featured at:
The International Journal of Yoga Therapy (2021)
Symposium on Yoga Research (2021)
The Australasian Conference on Traumatic Stress (2021)
The Australasian Yoga Therapy Conference, Sydney (2018)
The North American Refugee Health Conference, Portland (2018)
The Yoga Australia Conference, Melbourne (2018)
The North American Refugee Health Conference, Toronto (2017)
Settlement Services International from Settlement to Belonging, Sydney (2017)
The Australia & New Zealand Refugee Trauma Conference, Sydney (2017)
The Ingham Institute for Medical Research Innovation Conference, Sydney (2016)
The North American Refugee Health Conference, New York (2016)
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The Yoga Impact Charity has brought trauma informed yoga to the healthcare sector, designing programs to meet the unique demands and stresses healthcare workers face. Using evidence based movement and breathing techniques, our sessions help regulate the nervous system, calm the mind, and provide a much needed pause during demanding workdays.
What participants say
Healthcare workers report profound benefits from our classes:
97% felt more physically relaxed after yoga
93% felt calmer
70% felt better able to cope with their workday
These results show how small, intentional practices can create meaningful change in wellbeing, resilience, and focus. Contact us to learn more about these programs and their impact.
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The Yoga Impact Charity has been sharing trauma informed yoga with the refugee and asylum seeking communities since 2015.
We partner with not-for-profit organisations, government, and schools to share in person and virtual Yoga with refugee and asylum seeker communities around the world, including:
Sydney
Melbourne
Vienna
Amsterdam
Munich
Iraq
Uganda
Our Refugee Yoga programs have been evaluated by the New South Wales Service for the Treatment & Rehabilitation of Torture & Trauma Survivors and led to a reduction in PTSD symptoms within 9 classes and a reduction in Depression within 12 classes.
We also support scholarships for people from refugee and asylum seeking backgrounds to become trauma informed yoga teachers.
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.”
- Iraqi Women's Yoga Group Participant
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The Yoga Impact Charity has been sharing trauma informed yoga with first nations people since 2019.
We also support full scholarships for people from First Nations communities to become Trauma Informed Yoga Teachers themselves.
Aboriginal Foster Carers who participated in our 8 week Pilot Yoga program in Sydney reported reduced stress & improved sleep as a result of participating in Yoga.
"It has helped me immensely with pain management." - KARI Yoga Group Participant
"I love the feeling I have after Yoga - focused and relaxed.” - KARI Yoga Group Participant
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Since 2015, we have been sharing yoga with people of all ages inside detention centres, including:
Refugee and asylum seeking women
Men in maximum security detention centres
Teenage girls in juvenile justice facilities
Participants in our detention programs have reported:
Improved sleep
Reduced pain
A greater sense of calm and relaxation
These programs demonstrate the transformative potential of trauma informed yoga in even the most challenging environments.
"I don't feel like I'm in detention. I feel normal.” - Villawood Detention Centre Women's group participant
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We partner with not-for-profit organisations, government agencies, and schools to deliver in person and virtual yoga programs for survivors of domestic violence.
In addition, The Yoga Impact Charity offers monthly trauma informed yoga classes in a retreat setting for survivors, in partnership with Govinda Valley Retreat Centre.
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Since 2015, The Yoga Impact Charity has been providing inclusive, evidence based yoga programs to thousands of people.
We recognise the profound impact yoga can have on psychological and physical wellbeing, supported by a growing body of research. Our methodology combines the wisdom of yoga with the latest science on mental health, informed by our program evaluations.
Our teachers are trained to teach people, not postures, and can tailor classes so that everyone feels comfortable participating. As we like to say: if you can breathe, you can do yoga.
We offer 10-week virtual and in person Staff Wellbeing Programs for workplaces. Each class runs for one hour at a time that suits your team, and programs are tailored to your workplace needs with impact carefully evaluated.
"I experienced improved mindset at the beginning of the day, or when I found that I did a session after work, I found it was a good way to transition out of work mode." - Batyr Staff Member