By Megan Hussey, Times Correspondent Megan HusseyTampa Bay Times In Print: Wednesday, October 17, 2012

DADE CITY

In her nine years of teaching the art of yoga, Nancy Hamory has heard plenty of positive affirmations from students who tell her they are now breathing, walking and living better.

Some of her highest praise, however, comes from the survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

"Some of them tell me that they haven't left the house in five or more years," said Hamory, 50, owner of Sun & Moon Yoga. "They haven't always felt safe at home. They feel safe here."

Through a special partnership with Sunrise of Pasco domestic and sexual violence center, Hamory has been offering free yoga classes to the agency's clients and staff members for the past few years. She'll be among the nine honorees recognized at a luncheon today for their efforts to help the victims of domestic violence.

"Our slogan is Know Your Peace," said Terri O'Brien, director of community education and Delta project coordinator at Sunrise. "We are honoring people who do their part to bring peace to the community."

Those free yoga classes help the victims through the healing process, said O'Brien.

"Sometimes, the victims of domestic violence and sexual assault feel like they're going crazy," said O'Brien. "We assure them that their mind is like a filing cabinet that has been turned over the information is still there, it just needs to be organized. Yoga helps them organize by enabling them to breathe and think more clearly, to release their stress. Yoga can help to pull them back together."

She said some clients even said the yoga reduced their need for pain medications and therapies. O'Brien has experienced those benefits first-hand.

See the article here:
Dade City yoga studio honored for work with domestic violence victims