Above: Sue (far right) and Janyce (front right) with other chair yoga participants.
and loneliness that we all may feel from time to time,” said Janyce. “We hoped that it would get people laughing and sharing and be a bit of fun,” said Sue. Sue, who is the current chairperson of our Advisory Committee of Tenants, applied for funding through our Small Sparks Fund to get the sessions started. The Small Sparks Fund supports tenants to join or start their own community activity by providing financial help and guidance. Sue researched and found an experienced yoga teacher, Maria, to lead the sessions to ensure a safe experience for her neighbours. With support from the Small Sparks Fund, Sue and Janyce have now held a weekly guided chair
yoga class with Maria for the past six weeks with between 9 to 14 attendees at each session. Following the yoga session, the group has a healthy homemade lunch which provides another opportunity to chat and connect with each other. The gatherings have been fun and filled with laughter, and the community feels more connected. “It has been a positive experience, and we may not have started it without the fund. Now, we can try keep it going on our own,” said Sue. If you are interested in starting or joining a community activity through our Small Sparks Fund, contact Tenant Engagement Officer Alex on 0437 887 675 or via alex.kepes@hcau.org.au.
Chair yoga sparks community connection Rockingham tenants Sue and Janyce have brought their community closer together by organising chair yoga sessions for neighbours and local community members. Sue and Janyce said they wanted to help their neighbours connect and improve their health. “We wanted to run a community activity to help keep people moving, especially as we all get older. We also felt socialising more would help with the isolation
Above: Chair yoga class in action.
Above: Yoga instructor Maria.
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