bring trauma informed yoga to communities in need

Hi! My name is Joni and I’m an Ambassador for the Yoga Impact Charity.

The charity aims to improve psychological and physical well-being through evidence-based trauma-informed yoga in diverse communities.

I created this page to raise funds and expand the charity’s trauma-informed yoga programs for the upcoming year. The average program costs $4000 annually, and my goal is to raise funds for 5 new programs.

I’m personally hoping to start pilot programs with communities and responders working through disaster recovery, as well as individuals recovering from burnout - something that many of my colleagues and I have experienced or continue to suffer from.

Since I began practising yoga, I've noticed a marked improvement in my own ability to self-regulate my nervous system and to shift my relationship with stress, where it's no longer the enemy but a recognition of my body helping me rise to a challenge! I recently graduated from the YIC teacher training and hope to make yoga more accessible so it can help others the way it has helped me. I want to debunk the stereotype that only certain bodies or abilities can do yoga because that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Since 2015 we’ve shared over 1,500 programs with thousands of people and diverse communities all over the world! Examples of current programs include:

You can read about the impact evaluations of the programs here. The programs have also been evaluated by the New South Wales Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors and found to reduce Post Traumatic Stress Disorder within 9 classes and reduce Depression within 12 classes.

Thank you so much for reading about this cause! Your contribution would mean the world to me. I will be hitting the road with my van Free Willy to spread the word about this fundraiser between Sydney and Perth and you can follow along for updates on Instagram if you wish! @shavasanavan

​The Yoga Impact Charity Ltd is a Health Promotion Charity registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission and has been endorsed a Deductible Gift Recipient by the Australian Tax Office.