MAKING MENTAL HEALTH
WHO WE ARE
FoundedinNewJerseyin2007,KulaforKarma wasapioneerinusingmindfulnesspractices tohelppeoplelearnabouttheirmentalhealth, calmtheirnervoussystem,regulateemotions, sootheanxiety,managedepression,build resilience,andunderstandhowtraumacauses mentalhealthdisruptionsandsymptomatic behaviors.Sincethen,Kulahasgrownintoa national501(c)3nonprofitorganizationwith programsaroundthecountry.
We believe every human being deserves the space, time, and tools to understand, manage, and improve their mental health.
Our experts provide mindfulness-powered mental healthcare programs through the framework of scientifically-proven somatic practices that will support and serve our clients the rest of their lives.
WHAT WE DO
Kulaprovidesmindfulness-basedmentalhealthcareto children,teens,andadultsexperiencingtrauma,addiction, andmentalhealthconditions.
Weutilizeamedically-endorsedcombinationofawareness, breath,andmovementtotreatallaspectsofmentalhealth: mind,bodyandspirit.Kulaprogramsincluderestorative yoga,guidedmeditationsandmantras,breathingtechniques, andeducationaboutthephysiologyoftrauma’seffectsinour bodiesandbehaviors.
OUR MISSION
Ourmissionistomakementalhealth ahumanrightbyprovidingequitable, inclusive,affordableandaccessible mindfulness-basedmentalhealthcare forourpost-pandemicworld.
Weareaneffective,scalablesolutionto thementalhealthcrisisplaguingour nation. Readaboutthementalhealthcrisis here.
Mental Health Is My Human Right
WHO WE SERVE
Wehaveapassionforunderservedand marginalizedcommunities,fillingthe seriousgapsinourtraditionalmentalhealth systembybringingmindfulness-based mentalhealthcaretothosewhoneedit most:theunemployed,theuninsured,the disenfranchisedanddisplaced,thehousing andfoodinsecure,thoseseekingshelterfrom abuseandviolence,andthosetraumatized bysystemicinjusticeandsocialviolence.We equippeopleinlife’scrisismomentswiththe skillstoregroup,regainstrength,andrebuild theirlives.
WhenyouchoosetoworkwithKulafor Karma,youarealsohelpingmakeitpossible forpeoplewhomayneverotherwise encountermindfulnessorreceiveeffective mentalhealthcaretobenefitfromour programs.
AddictionRecoveryCenters
Schools
Hospitals
CommunityCenters
DomesticViolenceShelters
JuvenileJusticeFacilities
Prisons
JobTrainingPrograms
GrouporTransitionalHomes
Spaceswherefirstresponders
serve:Doctors,nurses,EMTs, firefighters,police,etc.
Tolearnmoreaboutwhatwedo,visit kulaforkarma.org/what-we-do
OUR WORK IN ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTERS
Throughourextensiveworkinthetreatmentspace,werecognize individualsinaddictiontreatmentfacearangeofcomplex challenges,includingphysical,emotional,andpsychological barriersthatcanimpederecovery.Theroadtohealingisnotjust aboutovercomingsubstanceusebutalsoaboutaddressingthe deep-rootedtrauma,stress,andemotionalpainthatoften accompanyaddiction.
Manypeopleintreatmentstrugglewithemotionalregulation, battlinganxiety,depression,andfeelingsofisolationthatstem fromboththeiraddictionandpastexperiences.Thesemental healthchallengescanfeeloverwhelming,especiallyinearly recovery,whenindividualsmaylackthecopingmechanismsto managedifficultemotions.
Additionally,stressandcravingscan triggerrelapse,makingitharderfor individualstostayfocusedontheir healing.Theconstantbattlewithstress, coupledwithanoftenfragilesenseof self-worth,createsacyclethatishardto break.Mindfulness-basedpractices likebreathworkandmovementcan helpdisruptthiscyclebyproviding toolstogroundindividualsinthe presentmomentandreducethe intensityofcravings.
Furthermore,traumaisacommon experienceformanyindividualsin addictiontreatment,whetherit’s physical,emotional,orpsychological. Traumacanbeasignificantdriverof addictivebehaviors,andwithout addressingit,recoverycanfeel elusive.KulaforKarma’straumainformedpracticesofferasafe, non-judgmentalspacefor individualstobeginhealingfrom theirpast,buildingafoundationof trust,self-compassion,and resilience.
Ourprogramsarenotjustanaddedbenefit;theyareacrucialpartof recovery.Byincorporatingawareness,breathwork,andmovement, KulaforKarmahelpsindividualsintreatmentfosteradeeper connectiontotheirbodies,emotions,andinnerselves.Thesetools empowerparticipantstomanagetheirmentalhealthmoreeffectively, reduceanxietyandstress,andbuildsustainablehabitsforlasting recovery.
THE KULA SOLUTION
Weprideourselves mindfulness-based programsspecifica uniqueneedsofind treatment.Ourpro toaddressthechall thoseinrecovery,s regulation,stressm traumahealing.
Weworkcloselywith staffandcounselors specificneedsofthe uniquedynamicsof collaboratingwithst theprogramswedev effectiveinsupportin throughtheirrecove themthetoolstheyn buildresilience Itallbeginswithac outtoustoday:
JenniCrumptonRos jenni@kulaforkarma 917-456-2222
LISTEN TO SOME OF OUR CLIENTS TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE AND SATISFACTION WITH THE KULA SOLUTION:
Sam Waterston introduces the work and impact of Kula for Karma.
Justafewofthemanystatisticsandstudies highlightingtheissuesandrecommending mindfulnesspracticesforrecovery:
In2022,84.2millionadultsand6.1million adolescentswerediagnosedwithamentalhealth disorderorsubstanceusedisorder.[CDC]
Complementaryapproacheslikemindfulnessand yogaareoftenusedalongsidetraditionaltreatments toimproverecoveryoutcomes.[NIH]
Peoplewhoareinvolvedwithsometypeofregular spiritualpracticemayfinditeasiertomaintain recoveryfromalcoholusedisorderorother addictions.Formanypeople,gaininggreaterinsight intotheirspiritualsideisakeyelementinrecovery. [MayoClinic]
Yoga,meditation,andacupuncturearetechniques thatmaybehelpfulifusedincombinationwith conventionalmedicaltreatmentorpsychotherapyfor alcoholusedisorder.[MayoClinic]
Engaginginspiritualpracticescansupportrecovery byprovidingadditionalcopingmechanismsand supportnetworks.[VA]
OUR WHY
WHY MINDFULNESSBASED MENTAL HEALTH?
TIMErecentlypublishedanexpose reportingthattraditionaltherapyand mentalhealthcareisnotsolvingour mentalhealthcrisis.Asseminal traumaexpertsDr.Besselvander Kolk(TheBodyKeepstheScore)and Dr.PeterLevine(Somatic Experiencing)haveshown,trauma livesinthebody.Forthisreason, Kulabelievesthemissinglinkin mentalhealthcareisaddressing traumaimprintsstoredinthebody.
Traumatypicallyisnotprocessedby themind,becausetraumatic experiencesbypassthefrontalbrain (theseatofreasoning)andthesignal goesstraighttotheprimitive amygdala(theseatoffightorflight andsurvival).
Thisnaturalprocesskeepsusalive underunthinkablecircumstances. Yetthesympatheticnervoussystem getstriggeredtofight,flee,fawnor freeze,andthoseunresolved instinctsgetstoredinthebody,down tothecellularlevel.
That’swhyourmemoriesoftrauma areoftenblurryandfragmented,or evenremainhiddenforyears.And that’swhytherapyonlytakeshealing sofar.Traumaisn’tthenarrativein themind,it’simprintedinthebody.
Wehavetensofthousandsof neuronsinourhearts,gutsand throughoutourbodies.Thetrauma experiencetrappedinourmuscle memorycreatesdiscomfortinour bodiestoalertusthatuntilitis released,oursystemstilloperatesas ifitisinimminentdanger.
Thisiswhy,whenleftunattended,we developunbearablefeelingsinour bodies(anxiety,depression,fear, grief,pain,etc.),then,notbeingable toreasonwhyorchangeitwithour thinkingminds,oftenbegintoactout inuncharacteristicways.Thisleads toultimatelyengaginginunhealthy orriskymaskingoravoidance behaviorsthatimpactourhealth, relationshipsorjobs.
It’samyththatmentalhealthisall aboutthemind.Mentalhealth conditionsdon’tnecessarilyarise fromourthinkingminds,they developfromthisbiological processinourbodies.Soitmakes sensetheconditionscannotbe resolvedonlybytalkorcognitive behavioraltherapy.
Cultivatingawarenessofourbodies andthefeelingswithinthem, combinedwithyogamovementsand controlledbreathingtechniques, havebeenscientificallyshownnot onlytoregulateandreleasethe nervoussystem,butalsotoimpact theexpressionofourDNA (addressingintergenerationalor inheritedtrauma)andcreatenew neuralpathwaysthathelpus developnewskills,perspectives,and habits.
HOW WE IMPLEMENT
Kulaconductstransformative programsintreatmentcenters thatempowerindividualsin recoverywithessentialtoolsto managestressandcravings, enhancesleepquality,cultivate self-esteemandself-acceptance, andultimatelyfindpeacewithin themselves.Thesepractices supportaholisticrecovery process,fosteringemotional balance,resilience,andlong-term well-being.Ourprogramshelp participantsconnectdeeplywith thepresentmoment,learnto self-regulatethroughbreathwork andaccessiblemovement,and develophealthiercoping mechanismsforemotional challenges.Bycultivatingthese skills,individualsareabletomake moremindfuldecisions,build emotionalresilience,andbreak thecycleofstressandnegative patterns.
AtKula,wealsoprioritizeemotional supportbyremindingparticipants thattheyarenotaloneintheir journey.Theyarenottheonlyones facingthesefeelings,andseeking helpisabraveandessentialstep towardrecoveryandself-discovery.
Toensurethegreatestimpact,we offercustomizedclassestaughtby trained,trauma-informed teacherswhoarespecifically placedtoconnectwiththeneeds andexperiencesofindividualsin treatment.Ourinstructorsare carefullyvettedbyKulatoensure theyresonatewiththeunique challengesofrecovery.Wealso providebilingualteacherstofoster inclusivityandbetter communication,ensuringthat everyparticipantfeelsseen,heard, andsupported.
OUR TEACHERS
KulaforKarmaspecificallytrainsourteacherson mindfulnessfortrauma,addiction,andmentalhealth. All RegisteredYogaTeachers(RYT),manyofourteachersalsohave additionalcertificationsinmultiplemindfulnessand breathworkpractices,aswellasdegreesandexperienceas mentalhealthprofessionalssuchaslicensedpsychologistsor licensedsocialworkers(LCSW).
Ourteachersestablishtrustandcreateengagementwiththose weserve,addressingeachgroup'suniqueneedswith compassion,patienceandnonjudgement.Theycreate customized,turn-keysolutionsformindfulness-basedmental healthprogramstailoredtoindividualsandcommunitiesin theirenvironment,andmakethepracticesaccessibletoall.
WebelievetheKulateacherwhoworkswithyourclientsshould reflectwhotheyareinasmanywaysaspossible,sothatthey canseethemselvesinthatbalanced,thoughtful,resourceful person.Weworkwithyoutoselectateacher(s)whobestreflects thepopulationandwithwhomtheclientscanidentifyand connect.Therelationshipwiththeteacherbecomesahealing centerpieceoftheprogram.
Thosewhoteachourrecoveryclassestypicallyhavebeenin recoverythemselvesforalongperiodoftime,deeply understandandempathizewiththejourney,andhaveused mindfulnesspracticesintheirownhealingandrecovery process.
Learnmoreaboutourteachers
OUR IMPACT
KulaforKarmaisanessentialpartofthesolutiontoournational mentalhealthcrisis,anduniqueinourfocusonincludingthemissing linkinmentalhealthcare:addressingtraumainthebody.
Inthefaceofmonumentalneed,ourprogramsarehavingamore dramaticimpactthanever.Ourmindfulness-basedmentalhealth programsaremeetingpeoplewheretheyare,breakingdownbarriers,and providingdesperatelyneededaccesstoknowledgeandhealingpractices. ng
