When we first connected with Iguality, a Catalunya-based NGO dedicated to making mental health care accessible to all, we immediately felt a profound alignment in our values and mission.Iguality works to provide free mental health support for communities at risk of social and economic exclusion. Much like SOMA, they recognize that wellbeing is holistic, beyond their clinical support, they organize sports events and initiatives - such as the "Vuelta de Iguality" - using movement and community as vital tools for healing and integration.
To formalize this natural synergy, we are happy to announce that we have signed a collaboration agreement. This partnership is built on the shared aspiration to unite our capabilities in community- and sports-based initiatives. Together, we aim to:
Foster physical and mental wellbeing through specialized support and inclusive physical activity.
Create referral pathways and connect our participants with Iguality’s .
Collaborate on trauma-aware training and program adaptations.
During our Spring 2026 Muay Thai program, which ran from March to May in Barcelona, we had the privilege of hosting a psychology professional from Iguality. They joined our classes at Ruckus Athletics to evaluate our methodology through their professional lens. The feedback we received was very valuable, offering specific recommendations to enhance our trauma-informed care practices. These insights included:
Establishing Predictability: Sharing exercise sequences beforehand to remove uncertainity.
Consent and Physicality: Refined protocols for physical contact and clinching exercises that always allow opting-out of contact or modifying the exercise ensuring all participants feel in control and respected.
Psychoeducation: Integrating awareness of stress responses during high-intensity training by discussing possible emotional reactions and how to best answer them such as sitting out a round.
We are deeply grateful to the Iguality team for this exchange of knowledge. It is through these partnerships that we can truly elevate the quality of support we provide to our community.
As we look toward the future, we are excited about the many possibilities this collaboration holds. Whether it is through joint workshops, shared events, or continued program evaluations, our goal remains the same: to foster a more inclusive world where mental and physical health are accessible to everyone.
To learn more about the incredible work Iguality does in Catalunya and beyond, visit their website or follow their upcoming events like the Vuelta de Iguality.