What is Trauma-Informed Yoga?
This type of Yoga is based on the belief that we, as human beings, all carry trauma and that Yoga is a way to help manage or heal from traumatic events.
Before going any further, let’s take a moment to understand trauma. Many people understand it as having gone through a negative significant life event, like war, a bad accident or an assault. However, the truth is that we have all experienced some level of trauma- big or small, isolated or ongoing. Trauma is any deeply distressing experience that overwhelms a person’s capacity to cope. This could be from an emotionally difficult relationship, discrimination, chronic illness, divorce, loss of a loved one, burnout, financial stress and so on.
Trauma-Informed Yoga is where the teacher creates a safe, supportive space for their student(s) to learn how to regulate their emotions through breath and body awareness.
Who is it meant for?
There is considerable research that shows how effective Trauma-Informed Yoga (TIY) is for those experiencing PTSD. However, TIY is not meant for any particular group more than another- anybody can benefit from these practises as we have all experienced some level of trauma in our lives.
What we do in these classes helps us to better understand our own nervous systems and our own life journeys, allowing us to be more resilient and secure human beings who are better in tune with ourselves.
These sessions are completely individualised. Every part of the class is about choice, whether it’s the venue, format, style, content, dress or environment in which the sessions are held. You are the focus and the teacher is your guide.
We also incorporate other facets of self-discovery that are not specific to Yoga, such as art therapy, journaling or any other actions that may be therapeutic to you. Yoga is done not just on the mat, but in all aspects of our lives. So, practices that are both on and off the mat are encouraged during our time together and apart.
How is it different to other styles of Yoga?
Trauma can affect all parts of our life and leave lasting impressions on our minds, bodies and brains.
If a person experiences a traumatic event, the body tries to protect itself by using its resources to survive or cope. Some examples are fighting back, running away, freezing, emotionally withdrawing, being a workaholic, smiling even when upset etc. These responses get stored in our nervous systems as a stress response, even when the potential threat has been resolved. These stress responses can result in long term effects which dysregulate our nervous system.
Yoga helps to recalibrate the nervous system so you can get out of survival mode and train your mind and body to learn when it is safe. On a neurological level, Yoga can help improve the brain’s neuroplasticity by effectively rewiring the brain’s signals and reducing our stress responses.
How does Yoga help with Trauma Recovery?
Increased body awareness
Breath awareness and learning tools to use our breath to help regulate and calm us down
Sense of curiosity towards our internal experiences
Larger ‘window of tolerance’, where you are neither too much or too little stimulated
Access to the space within yourself to meet discomfort with courage and compassion
