Three local organisations have come together in a unique collaboration to offer free yoga classes to homeless people in Worthing in memory of a local yoga teacher – the Jill Jones Memorial Yoga Programme. The first class will be on Tuesday 25 May.
Turning Tides[1], Salt Water Studios[2] and the Brighton Yoga Foundation[3] are launching the class on 25 May, returning weekly until the end of the summer. The class will be taught by Nathalie Wilhelm, a yoga teacher from Littlehampton with specialist training and experience for such classes.
Jill Jones was a much-loved yoga teacher from Worthing who sadly died in 2019. She had taught yoga classes in the area for 40 years. At the funeral and subsequently, a number of family and friends made donations to Brighton Yoga Foundation, who decided to establish a yoga community outreach class in Worthing in her name.
Davy Jones, chair of trustees at Brighton Yoga Foundation, said: “We were deeply moved by the unexpected donations we received following Jill’s death and felt it was appropriate to put the money to good use to create a suitable memorial for her in the form of a yoga community outreach class in Worthing.”
Turning Tides were very keen to develop the wellbeing support offered to their clients and will be referring them to the project. Ross Webb, Recovery Group Work Co-ordinator commented: “Attending these yoga classes will be really beneficial for our clients on so many levels. Not only will there be the physical and psychological benefits, promoting positive wellbeing, it will be a great opportunity to socialise and engage within the community”.
Katie & Ross Robertson, owners and founders of Salt Water Studios added: “We are absolutely delighted to be collaborating with the Brighton Yoga Foundation and Turning Tides, in memory of Jill, to support local people. Community is at the heart of Salt Water Studios and so to be able to welcome in people who may not normally have access to the healing power of yoga is something we are very passionate about. We are grateful for the opportunity to be able to do this. Nathalie is a fantastic teacher and we are sure that these classes will be a huge success.”
Huw Jones, son of Jill Jones, added: “ My mother would have been delighted that a yoga outreach class was being set up at Turning tides. She was a great advocate for the benefits of yoga for wellbeing. We commend Davy and the Brighton Yoga Foundation team for their superb work and dedication to the advancement of Yoga in the community”.
[1] Turning Tides is the largest homeless charity in West Sussex. They have been supporting rough sleepers and homeless men and women for over 29 years.
[2] Salt Water studios offer a range of yoga and well-being activities in Worthing
[3] Brighton Yoga Foundation is a registered charity that works across Sussex to bring yoga to those who would benefit greatly from yoga classes but do not normally have access to it.