How the Yoga Lunchbox community can tangibly support the Christchurch holistic health community

Lori-Ellen Grant, owner of Christchurch small business Whole Body Health

Alrighty then loyal Lunchboxers. As we all well know, it’s been one helluva week here in New Zealand. Regardless of where we live, or what our personal ties are to Christchurch, we’ve all been feeling the grief and emotion of the earthquake.

Many of us have made donations to various appeals, including the Red Cross and the major bank appeals.

Many yoga studios and teachers have been donating funds from classes too.

But we still feel like we want to do something more… something tangible… something that makes us feel connected to the people down in Christchurch.

So here’s an idea.

I got an email newsletter from my sister Lori-Ellen on Monday. She’s owns a small business in Christchurch called Whole Body Health. Like many, she’s had a difficult week, but is grateful that her and her partner are a-ok, that their home hasn’t suffered major damage, and that the building which houses her acupuncture and massage therapy business has been given the all clear.

Yet it’s a really tough time for her still. Like many small business owners, she’s got to work to bring in money to pay the mortgage. But people have lost lives, limbs, homes, businesses and jobs. It’s really hard to open for business in the wake of so much loss. It almost seems disrespectful.

Lori-Ellen and her parter David are already donating their services to the Red Cross. Lori-Ellen is giving therapeutic massage to Red Cross workers, and David, a counsellor, is creating grief support groups. She’s also offering her services to a community acupuncture clinic set up by Riccarton acupuncturist Thomas Lin.

This is great work, but it’s not going to pay their living expenses. With so many people’s livelihoods destroyed, so many people leaving town, so many people dealing with grief and trauma – who’s going to be out spending money?

For businesses like Lori-Ellen’s, it’s not just about the money spent. Her business is holistic health. It’s one thing to heal from physical injuries after something like an earthquake, it’s something else to know how to heal from the emotional impact. And holistic health providers can make a huge difference to emotional trauma.

Now, more than ever, there is a pressing need for these kind of services.

As I read my sister’s short email message this afternoon, I remembered that after the last earthquake, a family friend of ours gave her some money. He told her to use it to provide services for those who needed treatment because of the earthquake.

It was a generous offer that helped Lori-Ellen get through financially in the weeks after the earthquake on September 4th, and it also provided much needed healing for people who otherwise would not have been able to afford it.

This got me thinking.

The Yoga Lunchbox community could put in place something tangible and direct to support holistic healing businesses like Whole Body Health, who in turn can support the healing of the Christchurch community.

It would therefore have a dual purpose – not only would Christchurch people get the benefit of healing treatment, but the small businesses would receive much needed income for providing something they want to offer anyway.

Anything like this would need to be easy and simple to organise – but I reckon we’ve got what it takes here at Yoga Lunchbox to make it happen.

It’s as easy as a holistic business elsewhere in New Zealand (or the world) choosing to sponsor a holistic business in Christchurch.

The two business owners could talk directly and decide what shape and form the sponsorship would take.

For example, a yoga studio might give students the options to pay for an extra class, and so provide classes for people in Christchurch. Or a massage business might ask clients to add $10 or $20 to their treatment which goes directly to the Christchurch business to provide massage.

Christchurch businesses would then be able to offer already-paid-for treatments to those most in need, plus they’d be assured of some income.

This would make a huge difference to the small business, and to the clients they’d be helping. Plus it will create more connections between the holistic health sector in New Zealand as we get to know each other. And we like more heart connections here at the Lunchbox!

So here’s what I reckon we Lunchboxers do.

We can use this article to collate a list of holistic businesses in Christchurch that are open and able to offer healing treatments, and match that against holistic businesses elsewhere in New Zealand willing to be sponsors. I’ll just keep adding to the list at the bottom of this article.

Remember, it’s totally up to the business owners to discuss exactly what form and shape the sponsorship would take. This is an idea for you, as the community, to pick up, shape, play with, and make your own. The Yoga Lunchbox will simply act as the instigator and connector.

If you’re a holistic health business in Christchurch able help people heal from emotional trauma, please contact me here, and I’ll add you to the list.

If you’re a holistic business elsewhere in NZ (or the world!) and would like to be a sponsor, please check out which business appeals to you. Give the business owner a call directly, and once you’ve made the connection, let me know and I’ll put your name down as the sponsor beside the Christchurch business.

And if you’re an individual who also wants to get involved, maybe do a whip around your family or friends and get together enough money to sponsor one treatment, or a month of yoga.

Yay! Let’s get connecting!

Christchurch Holistic Businesses looking for treatment, class sponsorship, or premises to work from:

Whole Body Health, owned by Lori-Ellen Grant | Offers Acupuncture, massage and counseling. Has specific experience in acupuncture for trauma and grief counseling | 03 332 8442 | Now being sponsored by Wellington business Bright Communications

Southern Insight Meditation | Offers meditation classes, retreats & course. Donations to sponsor people attending can be made directly to Support Fund, Account number; 12-3148-0078078-50

Berin Turner, Massage Therapist | Lost place of work and all contents. Has relocated to Wholebody Health  021 171 0166 berin.turner @gmail.com

Yoga Kula NZ | Anusara Yoga Classes & Workshops with Katie Lane | Dedicated to the support and upliftment of the Christchurch community – Soulful, dynamic, heart oriented approach to Yoga | 021  810 422
katielane6@gmail.com | Thanks to money raised by Yoga Sangha classes at Wellington Studio Yoga Unlimited

Lu Miln, Acupuncturist | NDA . MNZRA . ACC Treatment Provider Registered Acupuncturist . Chinese Herbalist | 021 895 004

Rebecca Boot, Yoga Classes | Rebecca teaches in around Lyttleton and the CBD. She’s lost her venues, and is looking for space to set up her classes again | yogaport@live.com

Positive Touch, Maarie Hutana | Workplace Massage Specialists, Workplace Yoga and Relaxation Classes | Contact on positivetouch@clear.net.nz | phone: (03) 383-4942> mobile: 021 261 4539

Christchurch Yoga Classes still running:

Yoga for You, Satyananda Yoga with Pavitra | 19 Bunyan Street, Waltham, Christchurch | 03 981 3228

Yoga Kula NZ | Anusara Yoga Classes & Workshops with Katie Lane | Dedicated to the support and upliftment of the Christchurch community – Soulful, dynamic, heart oriented approach to Yoga.