We see a need.
Acute crises, such as the post-earthquake catastrophe in Haiti, cause intense suffering for the
immediate victims, as well as an accumulating deep-seated stress in relief workers striving to
ameliorate the situation.
Yoga has been found to ease both acute and long-term stress, decrease anxiety, counter depression and speed physical and mental healing through enhanced immune function and other benefits.
We have an intention.
This program seeks to cohere a nimble, effective team of yoga trauma service specialist to serve in areas of disaster and crisis. The team will place a small core staff on the ground within 1-3 months of the onset of crisis, and then rotate in subject matter experts for two week assignments to teach yoga, mindfulness and related self-care and stress-reduction skills to local community leaders, first responders, and orphaned or sheltered families and children. The teachings would be integrated into existing, successful body-mind practices already extant in the community, and would be aimed at an immediate reduction of stress and grief, with a long-term increase in strength, commitment and resilience. The team would always partner with existing agencies and successful local programs to ensure no unneeded replication of services no redundancy of overhead, and the greatest possible focus on meeting real needs of crisis survivors and rescuers.
Our Approach.
Core work for the team would focus on three crucial audiences:
• first responders, aid workers, and emergency medical teams on the ground
• local community leaders in the affected areas
• homeless, sheltered or orphaned children and families.
The initial focus would be on serving first responders within a few weeks or months of their arrival in country. Activities would be centered on helping caregivers move through accumulated grief, and releasing the accumulated stress of prolonged direct contact to situations of deep suffering. This base would give the team a chance to acclimatize and connect with locals.