Free yoga classes offered through southern and central west Queensland in June aimed to enhance the accessibility of wellness for those who “need it most”.
The Rural Yoga Roadshow instructed face-to-face yoga, meditation and mindfulness sessions in St George, Surat, Roma, Injune, Emerald, Blackwater and Biloela.
“It was very special,” said Beth Burgess of The Yoga Partnership, which hosted the 11-day tour.
“I’m very new to yoga – I only trained in 2020 – and, I guess in doing that, realised the inequities in yoga, who had access to classes and who didn’t.
“I just felt it wasn’t reaching those who needed it most.
“Marginalised populations, for example, would never be seen in a yoga studio because it’s just so inaccessible for them resource-wise.
“Then COVID-19 happened and I started teaching a rural friend online. And, like any good country girl, she started inviting friends along.
“We talked to her about when you go to town in these small communities, you never do something for yourself. You’re going for tractor parts and groceries.
“We just realised there’s a huge, huge part of the Australian population that lives rurally. And, they don’t prioritise their own wellness.
“Health care just doesn’t happen. It’s like a luxury for them.”
As such, Mrs Burgess, alongside fellow instructor Amy Booth, formed The Yoga Partnership in 2020 and began teaching remote rural residents online.
They now instruct their home-based students three times a week, regularly attracting up to 30 participants per class, with more courses being added each term.
“The program has just continued to grow and grow and grow,” Ms Burgess said. “We will continue to seek funding for ongoing classes from the end of 2023 because we have so many dedicated participants.
“The numbers are amazing.”
The Rural Yoga Roadshow from June 5 to 14, meanwhile, held classes in community halls, hospitals and schools to all ages; from pre-schoolers to pensioners.
Ms Burgess said one class in the library at Thallon – a town with a population of 257 people that neighbours St George – attracted 10 participants who had all driven in from far-flung properties.
She said a “great attitude” was the secret to successful yoga practice.
“Nothing fancy is required but we are often met with resistance to yoga.
“People will say, ‘I’ve never done yoga before and I can’t touch my toes’.
“But, I think a lot of people surprised themselves during our roadshow and sort of floated out of the room saying, ‘Oh, that was great. I liked that’.
“The interest was there. It’s definitely something we would do again.“
Ms Burgess said she hoped participants in The Yoga Roadshow would now continue to practise with them online.
“Yes, absolutely the State Government wanted to ensure that this was a sustainable program.
“A long-term course is also important to Amy and I. That people are able to come and go as they would to a studio in the city.
“Of course, they don’t have to attend a yoga class every week, just as long as the option is there when they need it most.”
Health and Wellbeing Qld (HWQld) chief executive Dr Robyn Littlewood said the initiative was “delighted“ to support The Yoga Partnership’s Rural Yoga Roadshow to encourage more people in rural communities to begin their journey towards better health through low-intensity yoga.
“The roadshow aligns with the HWQld objective of empowering Queenslanders to live a healthier life and address health inequities by providing more regional Queenslanders with the opportunity to access to physical activity and build social connectedness through yoga.”
* For more information please visit: theyogapartnership.com.au.
