NEAMI National

Over 2 eight week programs in 2015 participants from NEAMI's support groups attended group classes at The Mind and Movement Centre in Redfern. The participants had a wide range of needs and various mental health diagnosis (predominantly schizophrenia related diagnosis, bi-polar and OCD) and included highly functional individuals and others without language and an extreme degree of focused behaviours. Students and were accompanied by 2 staff to assist. Hahra facilitated the diverse needs of this group through individual attention and a moderated class pace. All participants displayed a relaxed and open presence after the weekly classes and became more engaged with each other and the staff. For almost all participants this was their first time accessing yoga classes. All were surprised by how manageable the practice was for them individually and some continued to seek out yoga classes after the programs finished.