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“You can’t change the past, but you can change the present and the present creates the future.” Life Beyond Trauma’s programs in Colombia.  I've just returned from several weeks delivering talks, workshops and retreats on yoga for trauma recovery in Colombia, including to war victims and peace builders. It was remarkable to be with these courageous people at a time of great historical changes, challenges and opportunities. The many creative approaches to sustainable peace building that the transition to peace is inspiring are a tribute to the human spirit. The need for pathways to transformation of both individuals and communities from living in fear and violence to moving forward with renewal and hope is generating all sorts of projects, including the use of yoga for healing. I was invited to speak at a conference on Mindfulness and Yoga for Peacebuilding, held at the Los Andes University in Bogotá on May 19th and then travelled to regional areas to hold workshops and a retreat. The following article is a glimpse into my experience. Yoga for Peace Building in Colombia “You can’t change the past, but you can change the present and the present creates the future.”  Yoga Nidra gives an experience of deep relaxation. After five decades of civil war, Colombia is at a critical and vulnerable stage of its journey towards sustainable peace. At the political level the peace agreement negotiated with the FARC rebels is being implemented, including a six-month disarmament period during which the guerrillas remain in encampment zones before transition to civilian life begins. Inner Battles Meanwhile, there is a huge need to help both military and civilian individuals recover from the personal devastation that is the legacy of war. The long-term effects of trauma on this scale can undermine peace efforts at the individual, family and community levels, resulting in a society disturbed by ongoing dysfunctional and violent behaviour. The guns of war can be silenced, but while inner battles rage on and the unbearable burden of past trauma continues, true social peace cannot be stabilised. Yoga & Mindfulness for Healing Trauma Efforts to address this issue include NGOs providing yoga and mindfulness programs to assist trauma recovery. On May 19th this year, a conference on Mindfulness and Yoga for Peace Building was held at the Los Andes University in Bogotá. I was invited to give a presentation on yoga for trauma recovery alongside other international and Colombian speakers. Yoga as an Antidote to Trauma In my talk, I focussed on matching issues experienced in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with principles and practices in yoga that act as antidotes. For example, in PTSD the fight or flight response is overactive, while in yoga the relaxation response is strengthened. With regular practice of key yoga techniques, the nervous and endocrine systems are rebalanced and many symptoms of ongoing stress reduce or disappear. The conference provided a unique opportunity for people involved in peace building to gain insight into the role that yoga and mindfulness can play in strengthening outer peace by generating peace from within. War Victims' Workshop I held a number of other programs for a range of audiences in several regions. In the province of Antioquia I travelled to San Rafael, a remote valley several hours from Medellin. The beauty of the mountains, forests and rivers gave no hint of the horrific violence perpetrated during the conflict. The hearts and minds of the community, however, are haunted by the memory of mass killings and although the danger is passed, feelings of fear, pain and grief live on. A one-day workshop for war victims showed the power of yoga and sharing to transform tension and despair to smiles of relief and hope.  “I am healing my heart so that I can give love to others.” For me, the courage and beauty of the human spirit were embodied by a young woman whose father was killed when she was 15. She said that when he was killed she felt as if a knife had slashed through her heart. Together we worked out a positive resolve to use during yoga nidra relaxation – “I am healing my heart so that I can give love to others.” This courageous and generous resolve become a model for others seeking not only a way to personal peace, but to have the strength to enrich the lives of others. Healing the Soul with Yoga (and Nature!) A 3-day retreat at La Zafra Reserve entitled Healing the Soul with Yoga, gave more than 30 participants the chance for experiential learning, discussions, time to relax in nature and to make new friendships. In this environment each person found support for their process of transformation from the pain of the past to peace in the present and hope in the future.  Self-care for Peacebuilders Workshops in Cali and Bogotá were held for people active in peace building, including from the ACR (Colombian Agency for Reintegration). These focused on the need for self-care as well as care of others. The work of these people is challenging and confronting. They learned simple yoga practices to help restore and maintain energy and wellbeing. Learn more here. Colombia - world leader in yoga for peace I was deeply touched by the experience of working with these various groups. I was impressed by their sincerity, compassion, intelligence and desire to create lasting change in their beloved Colombia. They were open, receptive and welcoming. Colombia has the chance to become a leader in social transformation from civil war to a society that is constructive, inclusive and at peace with itself. With thanks to Ahimsa’s sponsors: Corporación Dunna, Respira, Universidad de Los Andes, PASO Colombia and Evolucionario.
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Helen Cushing
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