Duncan is one of the final communities to join a five-year province-wide research project looking at how women and children can heal from trauma caused by violence.
Researchers are hoping to prove that yoga can reduce anxiety and help survivors gain control over common trauma symptoms such as panic attacks or insomnia.
Delainie Dyck of Yoga Outreach said they’ll be working with the Cowichan Woman Against Violence Society to deliver classes here.
“We are really providing, in a lot of cases, just some basic practices that people can take with them, in this case, women can take with them so that they have some really solid tools in their toolbox that they can use to help deal with the stress that they are encountering in their everyday lives.”
Dyck said they are currently looking for volunteers, who will have to take an 18-hour course to learn more about delivering classes to individuals who are facing multiple barriers, including domestic violence, PTSD, addictions, and mental health challenges.
The initiative is funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada
