Namaste Clean & Connected Yoga Retreat

Aim

Namaste Clean and Connected is a new social enterprise that takes individuals who are in recovery from addiction on yoga holiday retreats.

Namaste!

I'm Dr Lou Prendergast, a social entrepreneur and yoga instructor working with people who are in recovery from addiction. This brand-new venture offers people an opportunity to travel; to deepen their recovery in calm and nurturing surroundings. 

The Issue

Imagine having been in active addiction for 20 or 30 years. Imagine the adverse childhood experiences and/or other social or emotional circumstances that might lead a person into seeking escape or comfort through drugs and/or alcohol. 

Imagine the devastation on a person's physical and mental health, the breakdown of family relationships, the social isolation and stigma and the soul-destroying lifestyle and/or criminal activities that a person can get caught up in to feed their habit. 

The Vision 

Imagine a person gets 'clean'. Being among the worst cases of addiction, they might secure a place in a residential drug rehabilitation facility. Now they have the support they need to begin to heal. They undertake a strict programme of structured activities, they become yoga practitioners. They discover that they are capable of finding the strength to face their emotional demons and discover their spiritual self.

Now picture practicing yoga by the pool, meditation on the roof terrace. Imagine sharing experiences and supporting each other through stories of hope and strength; setting daily intentions to renew the sprit and restore one's positivity. Picture blue skies, the vast ocean, the warm sun on the skin and an inner peace.

The Mission

I've invested £1000 for a five-day break to the beautiful island of Majorca. This covers half-board accommodation for three people. My mission is to secure match-funding to make this project happen. With another £1000 we can buy passports and flights and provide a budget for lunch and maybe even some trips and excursions.

With your kindness and generosity, we can give two former heroin addicts this beautiful gift. Meet Andy and Terence, both of whom were addicted to heroin. Help me to reward their incredible recovery with this short break. Read their stories here:

https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/17897345.former-glasgow-gang-member-beats-27-year-addiction-yoga/?fbclid=IwAR2Jj_YTlJydx6TjJ-yHnywrdUiSIqz4fiGoKCIrzZzA_qc0IwfL0ugkByM

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/how-bikram-yoga-helped-turn-9557893

This project successfully funded on 3rd October 2019