And so, as in all good stories, I saved the best for last. I am currently beginning a new phase in my yoga chapter with teaching at the YMCA, in a pathway toward eventually teaching yoga as an alternative therapy to domestic violence survivors in Cochabamba, Bolivia. As my vision has only clarified since coming back to the United States and thinking of my loved ones in Bolivia on a regular basis, it has come to my attention that the ways in which I am able to serve the community while working at the YMCA are giving me hands on training to work on my goal to inspire and empower survivors of trauma wherever I go and whatever I do. For example, working with students who would not otherwise have access to water while teaching SPLASH classes has given me the opportunity to pull aside and dedicate more time to students who are struggling emotionally, whether on or off of the spectrum, and let them know that someone is willing to validate their feelings and show them that they care. In smaller swim lessons, I am able to work with students at their own pace and provide positive reinforcements to allow them to find their own solutions to problems and celebrate victories, large and small. And in our Early Learning Community (ELC) swim lessons, I am able to work with classroom teachers and the program director to ensure that potential trauma response moments are addressed immediately and communicated effectively and in a way that is beneficial to the student and their families, Although my current class offerings are geared toward adults, I am in the early planning stages to offer children's yoga to the preschoolers who currently attend Gym and Swim classes with us, and I can't wait to begin the journey to provide yet another resource to children who are just beginning to learn self and emotional regulation. Notwithstanding my preconceptions about what lifeguarding would entail, I have also had many "come to church" moments with adult patrons, discussing everything from life histories of being raised in generations that tolerated violence and even hearing a sexual violence disclosure that was one of the first times that the survivor shared her story with anyone. In my current yoga classes, I am offering a spiritual practice focused on the seven chakras, and beginning each class with intentions that focus on creating a safe space, valuing the dignity and honor of each human being, and providing a place for a mind, body, and spirit connection that is holistic in its approach to accompany individuals to find their own way to healing and peace. It is my intention to always live my life from a place of integrity, transparency, and holding true to my convictions of character while working on creating the best possible version of myself, and I am happy to say that I have found the opportunity to do so in my current journey, with the goal of doing so for the rest of my life.
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AuthorValerie Ellis, who is in alignment with the Black Lives Matter Movement and everyone whose life is impacted, now or before, by times of social injustice. Archives
July 2022
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