A research project that looks at the benefits of yoga in helping women and children heal from trauma caused by domestic violence is coming to Castlegar and Creston. The program is called Reaching Out with Yoga and is already offered in 21 transition houses in BC. It’s a five-year project and a joint partnership between BC Society of Transition Houses and Outreach Yoga. It’s funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Delanie Dyck, Executive Director of Yoga Outreach, shares some of the positive impacts they’ve heard to far. “So it’s really just about creating that safe space for the women to come to and a place for them to have some peace, have some quiet, feel good in their bodies. That’s another piece of feedback we get, you know, they have some moments that are maybe pain free for them. They’re sleeping better, those kinds of things.”
Dyck adds that the project also helps in their goal of removing the barriers of access to yoga for some of the most vulnerable community members.
The research project is in need of volunteer instructors to teach classes at Castlegar and District Community Services Society and at Kootenai Services Society in Creston. To volunteer, Dyck says qualified yoga teachers must complete the Yoga Outreach Core Training which will be offered next month. “[It’s] training that we require all of our volunteers to complete which just equipts them with some basic tools that they can use to deliver trauma informed classes.”
If you’re interested in signing up for the Yoga Outreach Core Training, click here.
About BC Society of Transition Houses: BC Society of Transition Houses is a member-based, provincial umbrella organization that, through leadership, support and collaboration, enhances the continuum of services and strategies to respond to, prevent and end violence against women, children and youth.
About Yoga Outreach: Yoga Outreach has been providing weekly trauma-informed yoga within mental health programs, addictions recovery centres, prisons, transition houses, youth centres, and other social service centres across the Lower Mainland, since 1996.