IDOY 2026-NCNM - Southern Cross University

Published: 18 August 2026

The physical and health benefits of yoga are well documented, but people with mobility limitations can face barriers to accessing them.

As part of this year's International Day of Yoga celebrations, naturopathic medicine students and staff from Southern Cross University's National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM) introduced an accessible, chair-based yoga session for residents at Crowley Care in Ballina.

The event brought together around 100 aged care residents, staff and community members in Ballina for a program of accessible chair-based yoga and health and wellbeing activities.

Delivered in partnership with Crowley Care and supported by the Consulate General of India (Sydney) and the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, the event provided an opportunity to celebrate yoga in an inclusive and accessible way. Professor Jon Wardle, Foundation Director of the NCNM and Maurice Blackmore Chair of Naturopathic Medicine, said the partnership reflects NCNM's commitment to translating evidence-informed integrative healthcare into meaningful community impact, while providing authentic learning opportunities for the next generation of health professionals.

“These partnerships really support NCNM’s approach to developing integrative health for all. Yoga is for everyone, but often people with mobility or other issues are often overlooked, so we’ve been really happy to highlight how these different populations can access the benefits of these kinds of therapies.

“For a long time, there’s been a consistent struggle to get health practitioners focused on working in the aged care setting and by exposing students to this we’ve found a lot of passion and drive to support healthy ageing through integrative and holistic therapies,” said Professor Wardle.

A man in suit holding a laptop in a library

Crowley Care was chosen as the community partner in recognition of its leadership in delivering holistic, person-centred aged care, with a strong focus on supporting residents' physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing.

The partnership reflected a shared commitment to healthy ageing, with the International Day of Yoga theme, Yoga for Healthy Ageing, closely aligning with Crowley Care's approach to care. The initiative highlighted the growing role of accessible, evidence-informed practices such as chair-based yoga in promoting mobility, wellbeing and quality of life for older Australians.

“Crowley Care is committed to supporting the whole person, and this event was a wonderful example of how collaboration can enrich the wellbeing of our residents and community. The response from our residents was fantastic, with many asking if the yoga instructor could come back every week! Our Crowley catering team also embraced the occasion, preparing a delicious selection of Indian-inspired dishes that added a wonderful cultural element to the day.

“The opportunity to experience accessible yoga, learn about holistic approaches to health, enjoy new flavours and connect with the students made the day both meaningful and enjoyable. We’re delighted to be partnering with Southern Cross University and look forward to exploring further opportunities to support healthy ageing through education, innovation and shared learning,” said Kelli Potts, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Crowley Care.

Crowley Care residents during NCNM visit and chair yoga class

The collaboration delivered benefits beyond the aged care community, giving NCNM students the opportunity to apply integrative healthcare principles in a real-world setting while building meaningful connections with older Australians and gaining valuable clinical experience.

“I had a great time at Crowley Care supporting the residents and participating in International Day of Yoga! A highlight for me was connecting with residents through movement and experience as well as our conversations over a cup of tea following yoga! I would recommend participating in the International Day of Yoga to all my peers and residents!” said Master of Naturopathic Medicine Emma Stanley.

Aisha Mallon, who is also a Master of Naturopathic Medicine student, is looking forward to visiting more aged care communities in the future. “I felt privileged to be a part of Crowley Care’s International Day of Yoga and to meet so many wonderful people who were just as excited as I was to talk about mindfulness and the role of naturopaths. I hope we have the opportunity to visit more aged care communities in the future, helping to empower residents to live healthier lives through evidence-informed lifestyle strategies and herbal medicine.”

Adjunct Professional Fellow Zoe Turner, who was the clinical supervisor for the day, highlighted the importance of having practical experiences: “Real-life, hands-on experiences allow students to make meaningful connections with the people and communities they support. These experiences bring purpose to their learning and help them understand how their knowledge can make a genuine difference in the lives of others.”