Celebrating three years of flourishing with purpose
February has arrived, and our yogic odyssey is now three years strong. We’re flourishing with purpose, and it’s time to celebrate. As we reflect on the inherent goodness of yoga and the profound ripples of the Yoga For Good Foundation within our yoga community, it’s obvious that we’re more than grants and programs – we’re a thriving collective united by shared well-being and a dedication to positive change.
At this special time, we are reminded of Ganesh Jayanti, the celebration of the birthday of Ganesha, the lord of wisdom and remover of obstacles. Since inception, we’ve awarded 42 grants to worthy recipients with kind hearts and big dreams of helping others, and we aren’t done yet. We have overcome numerous obstacles in our three years, and while there is much more work to do, let’s explore our foundation’s journey so far.
Taking a look at our roots
Our history dates back to 1976 with the establishment of the Satyananda Yoga Ashram on the Central Coast. While some regrettable incidents occurred in the ’70s and ’80s, the Ashram has long closed, and we have built the Yoga For Good Foundation on compassion and resilience. Our mission is to share the goodness of yoga and the wonderful tools, techniques and positive contributions that our lineage offers.
Yoga has a transformative power, from physical practice to daily life. We have undergone a powerful transformation and worked tirelessly to become a platform that is a force for good. We now offer innovative programs, events, and free yoga classes, and we award yoga grants that benefit individuals and communities through yogic principles and practices.
“We are trying to spread the goodness of yoga in an equitable and harmonious manner without favouring anyone,” says Board of Directors member Moira Gordon. “Anyone who meets the criteria can apply for a grant.”
Supporting your dreams and ideas
In 2023, we issued our third round of grants since our establishment in 2021, totalling 27 grants amounting to $235,343, ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 each. The initial two rounds, depicted in the graph, involved the allocation of 16 grants, predominantly for infrastructure enhancements such as marketing and website development. Our evolution in the subsequent year revealed a shift, with a notable increase in grants allocated towards expanding yoga programs.
The results highlight our unwavering support for individuals with creative ideas and dreams of using yoga for good.
Since June, we’ve sponsored over 500 sessions, spanning diverse styles and purposes like senior’s yoga, cancer recovery, youth mental health, stress relief, war veterans, trauma and PTSD, schools yoga, resilient mind and body, community outreach and more.
Some programs are ongoing in 2024. We also championed three retreats aiding the recovery of women from trauma.
In other categories, we assisted in publishing ‘The Relaxation Rainbow,’ a children’s book by Katie Brown promoting emotional resilience. In Yoga Education, we assisted Byron Yoga Centre’s Trauma-Informed Yoga Course and Dru Yoga’s ‘Essence of Yoga Course,’ providing online sessions and in-person programs for schools. In Northern NSW, we supported the restoration of Satyananada Yoga Infrastructure, among many other worthy causes.
Living our values
Integrity involves living one’s values, and it’s crucial for personal and organisational success. At Yoga for Good, we credit our growth and evolution to the practice of embodying values, ensuring actions align with principles and fostering authenticity, trust and a meaningful impact within the community.
Our values are our guideposts, our true north, influencing every aspect of our foundation.
We embrace NATURE for mind, body and nature harmony.
PRACTICE through mental reset and mindfulness tools.
DISCOVERY + SELF ENQUIRY to explore yoga’s rich philosophy as a way of life.
COMMUNITY + CONNECTION brings people together to cultivate inner connections.
Looking forward with positivity
Three years into our foundation’s journey, and really, we’re just getting started. In 2024, expect more community classes, events and another round of grants to spread the joy of yoga. We look forward to reading inspiring applications, hearing amazing stories and ideas, and ultimately enriching lives through yoga.
“We never know what the future holds, but whatever it is, we’re excited about it. Yoga For Good has already done so much good, and we have more to give.”
To stay informed on all upcoming classes and events and the opening of grant applications for this year, make sure you subscribe to our newsletter.
Showing gratitude for the journey
Gratitude cultivates positivity, contentment and wellbeing. And it is with grateful hearts that we acknowledge this three-year milestone. It’s not just about giving. It’s being true to our belief in karma and traditional yoga.
In saying that, we’d like to thank some of the people and organisations that have helped us create Yoga For Good, making it what it is today. Moonshot Marketing helped us compile and turn our ideas into a brand while staying true to our lineage.
We’d also like to thank our grant applicants, recipients and all who attend our free community classes. Thank you for being part of our yoga community and for sharing the joy of yoga with us. We love hearing from you and can’t wait to see what we can all achieve together moving forward.
Connect with your true self through the transformative power of yoga
As our journey progresses, we will continue to flourish with purpose as we continue to create opportunities for others to do good through yoga.
At Yoga For Good, we’re providing the tools to live your best life through yoga, whether you’re a yoga teacher, a yoga enthusiast or a beginner yogi.
Connect with your true self on a regular basis by attending our free community classes.
For additional insights on yoga, as well as other valuable tools for self-connection, explore our Yoga For Good Foundation articles.
Community yoga classes
We are passionate about sharing the joy of practising yoga and offering you an opportunity to connect with your true self on a regular basis.
View previous classes or book now for our next class.
Free
17th September 2024 - 12:00 to 1:00pm
Sandra Taylor – Transformative Yoga Community Class
Online Yoga Community Class Link
Join Sandra from Be You Yoga for this Spring Yoga Class, designed to de-stress and reset your digestion, metabolism, immunity, and overall health. Spring is the best therapeutic season for a natural and holistic cleanse.
We will begin by gently warming up your joints and proceed with a pranayama designed to calm your system. This will be followed by gentle movements that promote mobility and fluidity in your body, instilling a sense of nurturing and self-love throughout the practice. We will conclude with deep relaxation and a short meditation to integrate your practice on multiple levels: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.
Sandra is a master of spirituality and blends the practices of yoga in an adventure of self-discovery. She has a series of books on Be You Yoga that deepen the understanding of yourself to cultivate a heightened sense of self-love, with easy-to-follow yoga guide with meditation exercises and inspired quotes.
Free
9th November 2024 - 11:00am to 12:00pm
Suze Male - Transformative Yoga Community Class
Online Yoga Community Class Link
Join Suze from 42 Yoga for a transformative yoga class focused on balancing the sacral chakra, the centre of creativity and passion. She believes yoga is the key to body, mind wellness and healing. After practicing for many years and teacher training in Bali and India, she is using these skills with children’s and trauma-informed yoga.
Her new book, a yoga-for-kids adventure called Ursula the Roly Poly Unicorn, helps children develop strong self-esteem, through story and yoga as a positive and empowering tool.
In this class with gentle flows, breathwork and mindful practices, we will cultivate energy, release blockages, and ignite the creative spirit, as well as explore the profound connection between body, mind, and creative expression.
Free
22nd January 2025 - 12:00 to 1:00pm
Reetu Verma – Transformative Yoga Community Class
Online Yoga Community Class Link
Meeting ID: 859 1833 4994
Passcode: 171949
Join Reetu for an immersive meditation session into the depths of our energy centres. Nourish the systems of your physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, ready for the year ahead. Be guided by her inspiring voice to relax into meditation and reconnect with and balance the subtle energies within.
Reetu Verma has 25 years of experience as an academic, teacher and coach, providing support, help and guidance to thousands of people from all walks of life from all over the globe.
During a traumatic near-death experience, she experienced pure light and pure love and embarked on a transformational, personal healing journey. Inspired and totally committed to making a positive difference in the lives of others, helping them on their healing journey to live a healthier, happier life.
She founded Healing, Health and Happiness to expanded her teachings of personal development, into finding life purpose and spiritual growth. Reetu has developed a systematic, practical approach to bring more harmony and a sense of joy into life.
Free
22nd October 2024 - 12:00 to 1:00pm, Tuesday
Amy Brooks – Trauma Informed Yoga Community Class
Online Yoga Community Class Link
Join Amy for a trauma-informed gentle flow Community Class with a particular focus on noticing internal sensations and making choices.
Amy Brooks is a qualified social worker, mental health clinician and yoga facilitator certified in Trauma Centre Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) based in the Shoalhaven, NSW. She has been practicing yoga for over a decade and passionately believes in its healing qualities for the mind and body, making it an effective adjunct therapy for mental health work. Amy completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Om Sweet Om Milton in 2022.
She is offering yoga classes to the community, combining her professional training and lived experience as a source of strength to guide others on their own journey towards recovery.
Testimonials
Our sole mission is to create opportunities to do good for others through yoga.
And we’re making an impact.
A huge thank you to the Yoga For Good Foundation...
…for their incredible contribution to our Life Now Yoga and meditation programs!
This generous donation will mean we can buy new yoga equipment, run a new yoga class in Broome, and enhance our meditation program for cancer patients and their primary carers.
Cancer Council Western AustraliaSending out gratitude to the Yoga for Good Foundation.
Their grant is enabling me to offer FREE trauma informed therapeutic movement and relaxation to frontline mental health and social services staff in Bega.
Participants are really valuing the time out for themselves and experiencing integrated poly vagal theory. And I get to be in a teaching space, yay!
PremKranti CounsellingThe generous grant we've been awarded from the Yoga For Good Foundation...
…allows us to reach more underserved and vulnerable community groups who can benefit from a trauma-informed yoga and embodied mindfulness practice at zero cost to the participants.
Some of the community groups we’ll be serving in the current months include 000 Foundation, Men’s Walk and Talk and WAGEC.
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