Empowering Rural Communities with Tailored Yoga Classes

A group of people doing a chair yoga class

A new community of yogis has come together in Roma, thanks to the support of the Queensland Government, through Health and Wellbeing Queensland.

Gathering together in-person, and using technology to follow along to the online guided class, the moment represents an exciting new chapter for both the Roma community, and The Yoga Partnership (TYP).

The Yoga Partnership, a not-for-profit organisation designed to increase the capacity and reach of yoga in Australia, first connected with this community during their Rural Yoga Roadshow, which brought yoga to southern and central western Queensland towns in 2023.

“We immediately bonded with these wonderful community members, and they reached out for help with their yoga needs,” said Amy Booth, Co-Founder & Director of TYP.

The Roma group, consisting of 20-35 students aged 40 to 96, practices a blend of chair and mat yoga. Until now, they had been using YouTube classes, which left many feeling uninspired, and made it difficult for students with hearing impairments to follow along.

Beth shared that while TYP typically prefers to deliver and support live classes for both safety and social connection, the very active and connected Roma community group me this preference as they meet in person at their local hall and stay for morning tea after class.

To meet their needs, TYP created a pre-recorded session tailored specifically for them, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. The students were thrilled to access a variety of classes presented by an Australian organisation (and voice!), which resonated with them on a personal level.

This initiative is part of a larger partnership between TYP and Health and Wellbeing Queensland, which supports free weekly online yoga classes and a Rural Yoga Roadshow (scheduled for late 2025) in regional and remote Queensland locations.

Dr Robyn Littlewood, Chief Executive, Health and Wellbeing Queensland said, ‘I am delighted to hear how the support we provide has made a meaningful impact on the health and wellbeing of rural Queenslanders.

‘It’s rewarding to see a solution that not only addresses the group’s concerns but also strengthens their sense of community’ added Dr Littlewood.

The free online Yoga and Mindfulness Program and Roadshow align with Health and Wellbeing Queensland’s goal of empowering Queenslanders to live healthier lives, no matter who they are or where they live.