Amal is a non-profit association dedicated to empowering Moroccan women at risk of social exclusion. Through training in traditional Moroccan and modern cuisine, its objective is the personal transformation of women and achieve their employment and economic and social stability. The Amal Association was founded in November 2012 by Nora Fitzgerald, a Moroccan with American origin, in response to the difficulties faced by many women from disadvantaged backgrounds: widows, divorced, single mothers, orphans, victims of labor exploitation. Which started as a hopeful idea to help some women has become a structured organization that employs 15 people full time and offers training to groups of 10 women every four months.
These women spend their days learning and improving as professionals. Yoga Without Borders believes that it is part of the feminine empowerment that they can also dedicate some time to connecting themselves with their bodies, closing their eyes and breathing.
BENEFIT YOGA WOMEN AT RISK OF SOCIAL EXCLUSION
Yoga and meditation can relieve the symptoms of depression and stress of women at risk of social exclusion.
– Relaxation
Amal women have to deal with a lot of stress in their life. It has been shown that yoga can help cope with problems through meditation and the practice of different positions and exercises, as well as relax the body and mind.
-Flexibility
From 40 years the flexibility of women decreases considerably, yoga is characterized by increasing flexibility and increasing the conditioning of joints, tendons and ligaments, helping to avoid injuries and have better health.
– Social integration
Practicing yoga in a group allows you to interact with other people who have similar situations
– Concentration capacity
Meditation and yoga exercises increase the ability to concentrate allowing women to be more productive in their different activities.
– Menopause or menstrual cramps
Yoga helps to balance a woman’s endocrine system, in addition to softening menstrual cramps or hormonal changes caused by menstruation or menopause.
– Self-esteem , one of the main benefits of yoga is the ability to silence the mind and the ability to identify negative thoughts. Learning to connect with the present significantly decreases anxiety and depression. Feelings of empathy, relaxation and gratitude are experienced, helping the woman to have a feeling of brotherhood or sorority, thus generating greater self-esteem and confidence in herself.
* Meritxell Martorell was able to teach only two yoga classes to the women of Amal. Now Yoga Without Borders has created a volunteer program (minimum 15 days) where different teachers can go to collaborate and teach yoga daily to the women of the center. If you are interested in collaborating write to: info@yogasinfronteras.org