Finding Peace in the Tents: PS4L Brings Yoga for Resilience to Over 100 Girls and Women in Gaza  

 

In the heart of displacement and uncertainty, a breath of calm is being cultivated—one pose at a time. Palestine Sports for Life (PS4L) recently initiated a powerful program: “Al-Amal” in collaboration with Free to Run and with support from Choose Love, bringing holistic healing to over 100 women and girls across six different groups in Gaza’s temporary tents.

The sessions take place in Mawasi Khan Younis, Gaza City, and Deir Al-Balah, where women and girls live under constant pressure due to displacement and lack of basic services. Held under the program’s theme “Peace Begins Within,” the sessions aim to reduce anxiety, improve focus, and build emotional strength for women who have endured months of distress due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

 

Each group engages in a series of calming and empowering activities that include yoga movements, breathing techniques, and guided meditation. These sessions provide not just physical activity, but also emotional refuge offering participants tools to face daily stress with a renewed sense of calm and confidence.

"Yoga helped me feel like I have a space just for me, even if everything around me feels unstable," said Alaa, a 33-year-old participant from Khan Younis. “After every session, I felt lighter. I stopped feeling like I was carrying everything alone.”

The decision to divide the women into small groups created an atmosphere of intimacy and safety, encouraging self-expression and mutual support. Coaches trained in trauma-informed approaches and yoga for emotional regulation, ensures each session is accessible and responsive to the needs of the participants, many of whom have experienced displacement, loss, and daily instability.

 

By placing an emphasis on mental well-being and body awareness, Free to Run and PS4L’s Al-Amal program is helping women reclaim control over their inner worlds—no matter the chaos surrounding them.

As PS4L continues to implement psychosocial support programs across Gaza, this program stands as a testament to the healing power of movement and mindfulness—reminding women that strength and serenity can coexist, and often begins with a single breath.