Free yoga for front line workers

EMERGENCY workers in Murwillumbah are being offered free trauma-aware yoga classes designed to support resilience, recovery, and mental health.”

Aimed at supporting personnel who serve or have served on the community front lines, Frontline Yoga classes are trauma-aware and culturally informed and assist in maintaining personal resilience, strength, and connection.

Yoga teacher Rob Bending holds Tuesday classes for all current police, fire, ambulance, military, healthcare and volunteer emergency workers.

Bending began holding the classes at the Murwillumbah Community Centre in late 2023 and said they were open to a wide array of people on the frontline, including community workers.

“Staff at the Community Centre are in constant contact with emergency services and dealing with all sorts of community members in distress regularly,” he said.

“Whilst Frontline Yoga is an established organisation, I have recently started this class and hope to grow the community so frontline workers can take advantage of this free offering.”

Founded in 2016 by veterans Chris Thompson-Lang and Brad Williamson and veteran spouse Kate O’Donoghue, the simple idea of supporting the people who put their lives on the line daily in emergencies grew to a wide network.

Bending found a deep purpose in yoga after three decades in the building industry and believes a similar connection exists with emergency personnel.

“I found healing and purpose in yoga, initially seeking physical maintenance but discovering its profound effects on the nervous system,” he said.

“Years of hard work in the building industry really take their toll on your body. I started for body maintenance yet stayed for nervous system regulation.

“Modern life throws constant challenges and expectations. This can, and mostly does, manifest itself in either unhealthy lifestyle choices or sickness and disease.

“With a tradie background, I approach yoga from a different angle and endeavour to make it accessible to everyone, no matter the shape or size of your body,” Bending said.

All classes are suitable for beginners and for people who may be experiencing chronic stress, depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress.

The free one-hour class is held at Murwillumbah Community Centre on Tuesdays at 4:30 pm.

For more information or to make a query, visit warriorstudios.com.au