Restoring Hope Through Yoga: A Para-Counselor's Story

Jacqueline is a 33-year-old refugee from Burundi. She began her journey with RefuSHE after joining a Women's Ambassador Group (WAG) in 2017. Comprised mainly of fellow refugees, WAG members unite to save money, provide mutual financial assistance, and tackle community challenges. In addition to being a WAG member, Jacqueline is a trained community para-counselor, offering trauma-informed counseling to fellow refugees with mental health needs in Nairobi.

During her training period to become a para-counselor, Jacqueline diligently attended all of the yoga sessions offered by RefuSHE's Mental Health department.

Years ago, Jacqueline experienced challenges during the birth of her first child which left her with persistent back pain. However, after joining the yoga sessions, Jacqueline has felt a newfound sense of relief. “My back has always been painful and uncomfortable since the operation,” says Jacqueline. “But since I started doing yoga the pain has eased significantly.”

Jacqueline’s life as a refugee has been filled with challenges. While counseling has helped her manage most of her stress, yoga has provided a new space for her to continue healing. “When I do yoga, I get lost in the moment and forget everything that is stressing me on the outside,” says Jacqueline. “It is a time to just meditate and connect with my body.”

She also emphasizes the profound impact yoga has had on her role as a para-counselor in the refugee community as it is often difficult to fully detach from the challenges her clients face. “When you listen to their struggles, it can have an emotional toll on you,” says Jacqueline. “That's why I always do yoga when I get into the house in the evening. It helps me navigate through my emotions which allows me to provide better support the next day.”

Yoga has also deepened Jacqueline’s ability to empathize with others. “Yoga instills kindness towards oneself. It is the art of listening to both body and mind,” says Jacqueline. “Finding my own peace through yoga enables me to offer more genuine and supportive assistance to my clients.”

Jacqueline believes that yoga can benefit her community, and she regularly emphasizes the advantages of yoga at her monthly WAG meetings. Jacqueline is quick to highlight how yoga aids in stress management and encourages her fellow group members to incorporate it into their daily routines as much as possible.

Jacqueline is also eager to attend additional yoga sessions at RefuSHE in the future. “When the five sessions concluded, our bodies were just starting to adapt,” says Jacqueline. “I believe there is still so much more we could gain from yoga if we had more sessions.”

While she may not recall every exercise, Jacqueline still engages in yoga sessions at home where she focuses on deep breathing exercises that contribute to relaxation. “Certain techniques have left a lasting impression on me as they help me relax and manage my emotions,” she says.