Last year, Caneland Central set the Australian record for the largest yoga class held in a shopping centre. This year, during Queensland Mental Health Week (4-11 October), the centre’s Stretch for Grapevine yoga class will be streamed online, to support Mackay’s local suicide prevention charity, Grapevine Group.
As a COVID-19 precaution, this year’s 40-minute beginner’s yoga class will be broadcasted on Facebook Live, on the Caneland Central Facebook page, and will take place on Saturday, 10 October at 7am.
The community is invited to join Mackay Mayor, Greg Williamson in the beginner’s yoga lesson, which will be led by Liz Eales, Owner of the local yoga studio, Yoga Fix. Customers can pre-register online and the first 300 people to register will receive a free yoga mat courtesy of Big W. Participants will also be in the running to win amazing prizes and a Caneland Central gift voucher.
Last year, Caneland Central set the record for Australia’s largest yoga lesson in a shopping centre with a total of 356 attendees
“I think now more than ever, people realise the need to prioritise their mental health,” said Liz Eales, owner of Yoga Fix Mackay. “Yoga teaches deep mindful breathing, self-awareness, meditation and connection with our bodies, which are helpful tools for promoting mental and emotional wellbeing.
“The online class will be a way for us to stay connected, check in on each other and ourselves. We look forward to seeing you online from the comfort of your home. The best part is pyjamas are totally acceptable,” added Eales.
The Grapevine Group is a locally founded, grassroots volunteer group that raises funds and awareness for suicide prevention in the Mackay region.
“Grapevine Group relies entirely on the community’s support to fund life-saving SafeTALK training and suicide prevention awareness. Our 2020 goal is to build a phone app that will give locals instant access to the Mackay region’s list of suicide prevention resources,” said Debbie Knight, President of the Grapevine Group. “This is vital information that all of us need on hand to either find help for ourselves or find assistance for loved ones. We also need help to fund 500 more SafeTALK places and four more SafeTALK trainers for our region.”
Caneland Central
Fundraising efforts will contribute to the provision of 500 places on the SafeTALK training program. Customers can donate when they pre-register for the session or during the Facebook Live event. Caneland Central will match the public’s donations, up to the value of $1,500.
“Proudly, we have suicide prevention trained over 5,600 locals but there is still more work to do to make our community safer from suicide. Our volunteers believe with the community’s support we can all work together to save lives,” explained Knight.
“Community is at the heart of what we do at Caneland Central,” added Simon De Barro, Caneland Central Centre Manager. “This year’s event has had to be different, but we wanted to still raise awareness about mental health and support the Grapevine Group’s great work in Mackay.
“We had over 350 yogis take part last year and we’re hoping to have more people participate in this year’s online yoga event,” concluded De Barro.
Last year’s record-breaking yoga event at Caneland Central
For more information and to register for Stretch for Grapevine, visit the centre’s website www.canelandcentral.com.au or follow it on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/CanelandCentral
You can revisit SCN ’s coverage of last year’s successful yoga event here.
