When I arrived at the DSWD Sanctuary Center in Mandaluyong yesterday, I was only expecting a yoga class for the women there. Upon entering the gate, several kind women greeted me with “Good morning!” and even offered handshakes and hugs to the guests. What a warm welcome, I thought.

The Sanctuary Center is a safe house for women from 18 to 59 years old who are recovering from psychosis and other mental illnesses. According to head social worker Evangeline Lawas, apart from medical assistance, they also train the women in several occupational activities. “We don’t train for the sake of putting it on record. We want to give them materials for psychosocial rehab, something they can learn from long-term,” she said.

She added that it’s also important for the women to engage in recreational activities like soap-making, gardening, and fitness routines. This is where Certified Calm’s yoga class comes in as they wanted to celebrate International Yoga Day with the residents of the Sanctuary Center.

Around 20 women attended the class and were ecstatic to try. As Yoga+ teacher Ria Tirazona guided them with the basic breathing exercises, many expressed how refreshed they felt during the routine.

“When I was with the women in here, they were saying how their chests felt lighter, their body pain disappeared, and their minds were clearer. One of the participants even said that she felt like a calm sea,” Ria shared. “That’s what yoga and meditation is really all about. It’s about finding that stillness and freedom.”

Doing the poses wasn’t easy for some women, especially the elderly ones. We even heard that those with traumatic pasts were in tears because they felt vulnerable. Nonetheless, they were more than happy to complete the 30-minute exercise. They were all smiling by the end of it, thankful for the experience.

“One of the ways I can help the community is by sharing the practice of yoga, mindfulness, and breath work. Once we connect with the breath, the mind follows,” Ria said. “Things will just change; there’s this transformation within them.”

There are more ways to help out the women in the Sanctuary Center. Evangeline said they need committed donors who can help with their needs, especially with raising awareness to locate their families and find them a new home. She also wants to give them jobs like being an efficient household help.

“Families who are willing to adopt and hire at the same time can undergo an orientation,” added DSWD volunteer and donor Geraldine Chu-Santiago. “So they’ll be aware of the medication and needs of their help [because we don’t want them to relapse.]”

There is a lot that needs to be done for the clients and residents of the DSWD Sanctuary Center. After spending the morning with them, we saw that many of them has the potential to still contribute for society. If you’re interested in donating and/or helping out, you can contact them at (02) 532-1164 or visit them at Welfareville Compound, Jose Fabella Drive, Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City.

Photos courtesy of Certified Calm

Follow Preen on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and Viber