The Mind and Movement Centre 

Hahra had a keen desire to create a studio location that offered those people interested in practicing yoga who might not easily access yoga, a beautiful and nourishing space in which to take part in classes. The element of PLACE holds a strong message that is integral to the safe foundation of a healing environment and welcoming practice.

Recognising that the therapeutic benefits of yoga are most often accessed by a narrow demographic, Hahra saw that there was no space in Inner Sydney at that time which specifically focused to Trauma Informed, Mental Health Aware Yoga and specialist yoga teaching. This led to the opening of The Mind and Movement Centre in the heart of Redfern the birthplace of Warrane/Warrang activism to retain an Aboriginal urban space and presence in the city. It is also the heart of Sydney’s community housing district.

The studio offered concessions, funded student places and community classes. It enjoyed collaborations with groups supporting disadvantaged people. This included people experiencing economic disadvantage, homelessness, mental health issues, chronic health issues, abuse survivors, veterans, frontline workers, physically different individuals and people with various disability. The Mind and Movement Centre offered excellent resources for finding support in times of need and in the time it operated for was a haven of community and compassion.