Yoga for refugees class in London: Refugee Week

For this year's Refugee Week (June 16th - 22nd) I had the privilege of offering a yoga class for refugees and asylum seekers in Islington as part of Islington Refugee Week.

I’ve been working with refugee groups since 2018, mainly with Tools for Inner Peace, so I was excited to be part of Refugee Week. I shared gentle yoga practices with a group of enthusiastic participants, introducing them to simple ways to support their wellbeing. 

Through grounding and balancing postures like tadasana (palm tree pose) and tiryak tadasana (swaying palm tree pose) alongside more dynamic poses like kati chakrasana (waist rotating pose) and uttanasana (squat and rise pose) they were able to stretch muscles, mobilise joints and lift their energies. 

We finished with brahmari pranayama (humming bee breath) – a playful practice for beginners and all levels that, with time, can soothe the nervous system.

In my classes, I draw on teaching and techniques from classic yoga that can calm and balance the body and mind, helping to strengthen the body and nervous system. This allows people to access the relaxation response and step out of a constant state of stress or anxiety, easing symptoms like insomnia, anxiety and anger. 

Yoga, through mindful movement, breathwork and relaxation, can play a valuable role in supporting the wellbeing of refugees and asylum seekers, many of whom are physically inactive, holding the weight of trauma and socially isolated.

Being a refugee or asylum seeker is never easy, but in today's UK climate where there are hostilities coming from the government, media and anti-immigration groups, it is especially difficult. 

That's why it is so important to offer support wherever we can. Yoga is one small but powerful way to do this – low-cost, accessible and effective in building strength, resilience, community and wellbeing. 

Yanar delivering a yoga for refugees class in Islington, London