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
Tuesday 3rd June 2025 - 12:00nn to 1:00pm
Leah Cooper - Winter Water element Kidney Meridian Class
Online Yoga Community Class Link
Meeting ID: 837 8021 3576
Passcode: 546998
This class uses Japanese yoga therapy to tune into the kidney energy, support the spine, and help regulate the nervous system. With exercises to squeeze into the kidneys, we bring tone and support the organ’s function, helping to release stagnation. Followed by kidney meridian stretches, energy is able to flow more freely, helping to achieve a deeper sense of peace and calm as a result. Try this class to reduce symptoms associated with stress and to improve sleep.
Leah Cooper is an accredited Level 3 Yoga Teacher (Yoga Australia) who brings her passion for health and healing to the mat. She teaches meridian-based yoga therapy and owns The Centre of Ki, a yoga and wellbeing business based in South Australia. She enjoys sharing her health and wellbeing knowledge and experience with others via her YouTube channel and podcast, The Wellbeing Room.
Free
14th July - 12:00nn to 1:00pm
Gemma Perry - Autumn Metal element Lung Meridian Class
Online Yoga Community Class Link
Meeting ID: 812 3780 7403
Passcode: 872606
This Yoga for Good Community class includes gentle movement and meditative sound techniques. You’ll be guided through simple movement and breathing practices to prepare the body and mind for meditation, followed by a sound meditation (including vocalisation and visualisation).
Dr. Gemma Perry, PhD, is a yoga teacher and researcher specialising in mantra meditation. Gemma completed her Honours, Master’s and PhD on the psychology of chanting at Macquarie University, and continues her research at Bond University, Australia. She aims to establish mantra and chanting as practices recognised by health practitioners, scientists, educators and industry to promote psychosocial wellbeing and peace and reach our full human potential.
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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