Our Mission

Our mission is to provide healing yoga practice to survivors of domestic violence.

Our Vision

We envision a community that gives survivors of domestic violence and abuse access to a healing yoga practice that is compatible with their personal living circumstances and responsibilities.

our values

  • Integrity – our organization provides resources and conducts business in a way that is honest, transparent, and ethical

  • Community – we partner with community agencies and organizations to accomplish our goals and equitably offer our resources

  • Empowerment – our program promotes positive self-image and empowerment to develop respectful productive relationships

  • Positive Change – we are committed to breaking the cycle of domestic abuse by encouraging positive change through the healing power of yoga practice

The Project

Our primary focus is to provide support for survivors of domestic violence to promote empowerment and change. The stress of fleeing a domestic violence situation is traumatic and overwhelming. During this time the survivor may be experiencing major life changes such as decrease or loss of income, loss of residence or change in living situation, separation and divorce, increased childcare needs, need for counseling and therapy, fear of further abuse or retaliation from abuser, and so on.

Statistics show that survivors are less likely to return to a violent partner or repeat a domestic violence situation when they participate in regular physical activity. Yoga promotes healing of the body and mind, while providing a sense of power, strength and well being.

Yoga Class Descriptions and Benefits

Yin Yoga

Yin yoga works deeply into the body with longer held poses. It targets our deepest tissues of the body, the connective tissues – ligaments, joints, bones, and the deep fascia networks of the body – rather than the muscles. 

A Yin yoga class usually consists of a series of long-held, passive floor poses that mainly work the lower part of the body—the hips, pelvis, inner thighs, lower spine. In a Yin yoga class, the poses are held for up to five minutes and possibly longer.

Benefits of a regular Yin yoga practice:

  • Increase circulation and improves flexibility

  • Stillness: calms and balances the mind and body

  • Stress and anxiety reduction

  • Fascial release, deeper relaxation, greater joint mobility

  • Meridian stimulation brings balance to the organs

Hatha Yoga

Hatha yoga is usually slower-paced where yoga poses (asana) are held for a few breaths. A Hatha class will often include breathing techniques and meditation as well as asana. Through working with the physical body, releasing tensions and traumas stored in the body, you create space in yourself and, through that space and balance, the opportunity for spiritual growth. 

Benefits of a regular Hatha yoga practice:

  • Makes the body stronger and more flexible

  • Release tension and trauma stored in the body

  • Calms the mind

  • Creates space in body and mind and in that space you find ‘balance’ and the opportunity for spiritual growth

Vinyasa Yoga

Yoga poses are linked together with the breath in a flowing sequence. The term vinyasa refers to the alignment of movement with the breath, so although you may also hold poses for a few breaths, you’ll move from one pose to the next using the inhalation and exhalation.

Benefits of a regular Vinyasa yoga practice:

  • The steady cycle of inhales and exhales provides you with a calming, mental focal point

  • The continual movements, from one pose to another, gives you an added cardiovascular benefit creating internal heat

  • Increased strength and flexibility

Meditation

In meditation we practice being fully aware of our actions, thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Meditation is now widely recommended as a stress management tool. Meditation is about learning to observe our inner thoughts, feelings and emotions; gaining greater awareness and clarity without judgement.

Benefits of a regular meditation practice:

  • Mental vitality and happiness – Meditation increases brain activity in an area of the brain associated with happiness and positive thoughts and emotions, and some evidence shows that regular practice brings prolonged positive changes in these areas.

  • Stress management – When practicing meditation, your heart rate and breathing slow down, your blood pressure normalizes, you use oxygen more efficiently, and you sweat less. Your adrenal glands produce less cortisol, your mind ages at a slower rate, and your immune function improves.

  • Physical relief – Meditation can relieve physical complaints like headaches and can enhance our immunity.

Yomassage™

Yomassage™ is a fusion of relaxing and supported yoga poses with hands on massage therapy. Each pose is held for 5-8 minutes while a massage therapist performs manual massage on different parts of the body. Classes can range from 1-8 people and last for 60-120 minutes.

Yomassage™ not only allows your body to stretch and relax in restorative/yin poses, but to increase circulation, provide myofascial release, and trigger point therapy through massage. Yomassage™ is for anyone who values massage therapy and yoga as therapeutic and healing practice.

“The right kind (of touch) can lower blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels, stimulate the hippocampus (an area of the brain that is central to memory), and drive the release of a host of hormones and neuropeptides that have been linked to positive and uplifting emotions. The physical effects of touch are far-reaching.” The leading touch researcher, Dr. Tiffany Field, has conducted studies on the social and behavioral impact of touch. 

Her study with elderly participants showed that those who received massage and social visits saw greater emotional and cognitive benefits than those who only received social visits, thus showing the importance of not only the need for social interaction, but also human touch.

Fields has found similar results in “both premature and full-term infants, pregnant women, children and adults with chronic pain and emotional problems, and even health adults.” Her studies have concluded that even short instances of touch (15 minutes per day) have resulted in emotional, physical, and cognitive gains in adults.