Service Description

What is Trauma-informed Yoga? Trauma-informed yoga is a type of yoga that is designed to be sensitive to the needs of people who have experienced trauma. Classes typically focus on gentle movements, breath work, myofascial work and relaxation. The goal is to help people feel more comfortable in and have more ownership of their bodies, to reduce stress and anxiety, and to share space with others in a low-pressure group environment. What does a class look like? A trauma-informed yoga class can look just like other gentle style yoga classes, but is taught in way that respects a student’s unique needs due to what may have happened to them in their lives. A trauma-informed yoga teacher is trained to be mindful of these needs and to understand how trauma and traumatic stress might be triggered. They are particular in their choice of language and postures. They use clear personal and group boundaries. They aim to ensure the student has full permission to practice in a way that feels right for themself; it isn’t about pleasing the teacher. While no one can guarantee another person has any particular feelings, a trauma-informed yoga class has, at its core, the intention to be as safe a space as possible for everyone in the room. It’s the teacher’s job to watch, guide, and take care of the folks in class. In addition to the way a trauma-informed yoga class is taught, there are practices and techniques that are introduced that help balance the nervous system, calm the mind, and decrease reactive, fight/flight physiological states. These techniques are not new. Many of them are those that have been practiced by yogis for thousands of years and are still effective in establishing an ever more graceful life for practitioners today. Scope of Practice Attending a trauma-informed yoga class can be a beneficial and even transformative experience for people; however, a trauma-informed yoga class is not a replacement for receiving therapy from a licensed mental health care professional. Practicing yoga compliments the work you will do in therapy, and can help strengthen internal resources you’ll use in your healing journey.