Gaza Yoga Classes for Trauma
Teachers in Gaza are offering yoga classes to help children recover peace and normalcy amid ongoing conflict. Recreational activities combined with yoga help traumatized children relieve stress, process emotions, and build resilience in an extraordinary example of yoga's global healing reach.
- Studies indicate that 54% of children in Gaza suffer from PTSD, with many also experiencing depression and anxiety. UNICEF has noted that mental health professionals in the region often avoid the term "post-traumatic stress disorder" as the trauma is continuous. - One instructor, Hadeel al-Gharbawi, learned yoga online specifically to help children recover from trauma and now teaches in a makeshift classroom in Gaza City. Children in her classes have shown improvements in their mental health and even practice the techniques with their families in their tents. - These yoga sessions are a form of "trauma-sensitive yoga," which is adapted for individuals with complex needs by empowering them to choose movements that feel safe. The practice is combined with other creative and therapeutic activities like drawing, coloring, and lessons in Arabic, math, and English to help restore a sense of normalcy. - The use of mind-body techniques for trauma in Gaza is not new; organizations like The Center for Mind-Body Medicine have been training counselors in the region for over a decade, reporting up to an 80% reduction in trauma symptoms. The Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF) also began a pediatric mental health program after the 2014 conflict. - Instructors face significant challenges, including a lack of proper yoga mats and quiet spaces for practice. The children's fatigue and malnutrition can also make even gentle yoga practices difficult. - A variety of other psychosocial support methods are being used in Gaza, including storytelling, art therapy, and play therapy. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) runs a six-session program designed to help children process emotions and identify safe spaces. - According to a 2024 report, 96% of children in Gaza feel that death is imminent, and nearly half believe they will die because of the war. This widespread psychological distress highlights the critical need for mental health interventions. - International and local organizations like UNICEF, UNRWA, and the Community Training Centre for Crisis Management (CTCCM) are working to provide mental health services, but displacement orders and the ongoing conflict make access to these programs difficult for many children.
