Healing the wounds of trauma

Supporting Ukrainians through trauma-sensitive yoga

We’re launching a brand-new pilot programme to train Ukrainian yoga teachers and mind-body specialists in trauma-sensitive practices. These teachers will have a huge impact on their communities in Ukraine, helping them to heal from the psychological wounds of war and begin to rebuild their lives.

But we need your help to make it happen. We need to raise £40,000 to bring this project to life and would love your support!

Healing the wounds of war

It’s been over two years since Ukraine was invaded by Russia. In that time, loved ones have been killed, families have been torn apart as they search for safety, and cities have been destroyed. The longer the war goes on the deeper the trauma becomes.

Even once the war ends and Ukraine can finally rebuild structurally and economically, the mental scars will be slow to heal. As governments focus on ending the war and begin to rebuild, we know how important it is to also care for Ukrainians’ physical and mental wellbeing.

For centuries, yoga has been a tool to heal both body and mind, and has proven to be a powerful instrument in peacebuilding. That’s why we are launching a new programme, HEALING THE WOUNDS OF WAR, to help Ukrainians begin the long journey of recovery. We will train Ukrainian yoga teachers, therapists and mind-body specialists in trauma-sensitive practices, giving them the tools to help both themselves and their communities heal from the effects of prolonged conflict.

Project strand 1: Yoga training retreat

  • 16 Ukrainian yoga teachers
  • 1 week retreat in Corfu, Greece
  • Online trauma-sensitive yoga programme prior to the retreat

16 specially-selected Ukrainian yoga teachers will join a face-to-face training retreat focused on trauma-sensitive yoga.

They’ll be chosen based on the impact they have already made in their communities and their ability to expand and develop their services. These professional yoga teachers will already be qualified and working. By having knowledge of trauma-sensitive practices they will be able to make an even bigger difference for their students.

During the retreat, the group will attend yoga classes, talks, meditation and chanting sessions led by world-renowned yoga and trauma specialists. Following the retreat, each student will hold at least 6 free yoga sessions in their communities. This will allow us to reach around 2000 Ukrainians through this strand of the project alone.

Project strand 2: Online training

This strand of the pilot programme will have the greatest reach and will focus on building community and resilience. 100 yoga teachers, therapists and mind-body practitioners from Ukraine will take part in monthly online workshops for 6 months.

The training will be a mix of seminars with expert teachers and guests, peer-to-peer study sessions to discuss learning materials, and open-forum discussions to share experiences with others going through a similar situation. Students will also have access to a library of professional resources.

The aim of these online workshops is firstly to deliver teachings with experts in trauma-informed practices but also to create an active community where students can build relationships, exchange ideas, and offer peer-to-peer support.

HEALING THE WOUNDS OF WAR is a joint initiative between AZAHAR Foundation and BHSU.

AZAHAR Foundation is a non-profit organisation working with post-conflict communities to help them heal and grow through mind-body practices including yoga, mindfulness and the arts.

BHSU (British Homes and Schools for Ukrainians) is a non-profit supporting Ukrainians in the UK and at home through education and language training.

The teams at AZAHAR and BHSU have a long-standing relationship and belief in the transformative power of yoga. BHSU co-founders Valeria and Tetyana have been devoted yoga practitioners for many years and have previously worked with Yogeswari (founder of AZAHAR) to bring Jivamukti masterclasses and seminars to Kyiv. AZAHAR were a great support when Valeria and Tetyana had to flee Ukraine in the early days of the full-scale invasion and awarded them scholarships for the Jivamukti Teacher Training in Spring 2022.

Having experienced the power of yoga first-hand during a deeply traumatic time, Valeria and Tetyana want to share this with the wider Ukrainian community as they continue to live through war and try to rebuild their lives. It is also an opportunity to thank AZAHAR for their generosity and expand the impact of their scholarships.

Project teachers

Yogeswari
Yogeswari is a world-renowned Jivamukti Yoga teacher. With over 20 years of experience, she is regarded as one of the most senior teachers in this method and was named by Sonima as one of the 100 most influential teachers in the US. She leads teacher trainings and continued education for Jivamukti certified teachers. Yogeswari is also president of AZAHAR Foundation. Yogeswari will lead the face-to-face training programme in Corfu.
Candida Vivalda
Candida Vivalda is a senior trauma-sensitive yoga (TSY) facilitator and mentor at Rādika Foundation. She is also an advanced certified Jivamukti yoga teacher. Candida is trained in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (Brown University), Compassion Cultivation Training (Stanford University), and Mindful Self-Compassion. Candida will teach at the retreat alongside Yogeswari and also lead the online training.
Anna Vershebeniuk
Anna Vershebeniuk is a Ukrainian-speaking psychologist with over a decade of experience specialising in trauma, crisis intervention, anxiety and depression. She will be present throughout the yoga training retreat to help students work through any challenging emotions or experiences in 1-2-1 sessions.
Ravi Ramoneda
Ravi Ramoneda is an internationally-renowned musician and Kirtan artist. Born into a community dedicated to yoga, he has spent his life learning the practice and deepening his spiritual journey through music. Throughout the retreat, he will lead Kirtan sessions, a chanting practice that helps release stress, tension and anxiety.

Project partners

Rādika Foundation was founded in 2016 in Barcelona, with the aim of spreading the trauma-sensitive yoga methodology in Spain. Rādika offered the first TSY training in Spanish and have trained more than 500 professionals in the TSY methodology.

Maria Macaya
María Macaya is the founder and CEO of Rādika Foundation. She is a leading specialist in trauma-sensitive yoga. Maria is a key advisor to our programme and is generously providing free access to Radika’s online trauma-sensitive yoga training to prepare students before they attend the retreat.

We need your help!

We are looking to raise £40,000 to bring this project to life. Your support will help us give thousands of Ukrainians the tools to manage the effects of trauma, strengthening minds and whole communities.

We are able to accept Gift Aid donations through our fiscal sponsor, Prospero World. This means we can claim an extra 25p for every £1 donated – at no extra cost to you!

If you’d like to learn more about how you can help, please contact us at support@bhsu.co.uk.

Support us and help to heal the wounds of war.