Yoga 4Trauma: Project Haiti Update

So much is going on!

For the full rundown, check out Elephant Journal’s latest post as well as the Yoga 4 Trauma: Project Haiti blog.

Here’s a quick summary:

• The goal of Yoga 4 Trauma: Project Haiti is to establish a program of therapeutic, trauma-sensitive yoga that is sustainable by the local community going into the future.
• Partners in Health and Mercy Corps are on board and are working with Maggie of Sprout Yoga and Sue of Yoga Hope in conjunction with the Trauma Center and JRI Health.
• Project Haiti is starting to get national attention.  Sue Jones of Yoga Hope will be interviewed by Deepak Chopra on his Sirius radio show in the near future.
• the Kripalu Center is offering space for the first training session, planned for this fall.

Project Haiti is still in need of your support.  Mats, blocks, straps and other yoga equipment is needed.  You can also contact your local yoga studio and ask them to host a donation class to raise money for Yoga 4 Trauma: Project Haiti.

This is shaping up to be a watershed moment for the recognition and adoption of yoga as a serious part of recovery for primary and secondary trauma victims.

Be a part of where it all starts.

Project Haiti: Get the ball rolling

Not too far in the future, Haiti’s infrastructure will be coming back together and the world will begin to move on.  The aid organizations will pack up and move on to the next disaster.  And the people of Haiti will be left to deal with the emotional fallout.  That’s where you come in.

Boston yogis, friends and family are gathering and gearing up for Project Haiti!  yogaHOPE founder Sue Jones, Maggie Juliano of Sprout Yoga, David Emerson of the Trauma Center and Black Lotus Yoga, Mark Lilly of Street Yoga and Jennifer Cohen of Little Flower Yoga are creating a program to bring yoga to trauma survivors as well as  the secondary victims, like the people of aid agencies.  These yoga teachers already do amazing work in the local community bringing the healing effect of yoga to those with PSTD and trauma survivors … and now they’re bringing their expertise to Haiti.

For more information and to stay updated on the Project Haiti developments, please bookmark or subscribe to the Project Haiti blog.
Want to help?  Here’s what we need right now:

• If you want to teach yoga, David Emerson will be offering training for volunteer yoga teachers.  Email yogahope [AT] gmail [DOT] org to express interest. (Putting in “at symbols” and punctuation where necessary.)

• If you can help put Project Haiti in touch with supporters and fundraisers, please email yogahope [AT] gmail [DOT] org.
• Donate yoga mats and clothes to the project
• Donate studio space for teaching training
• Contact your local yoga studio to set up a donation class to help raise money for the project
• Donate frequent-flyer miles so we can get our yogis on the ground

This is a start.  As plans continue to shape up, I’ll post more information.  In the meantime, THANK YOU!

Questions?  Comments?  Leave ‘em here and let’s get this ball rolling!