22/03/2025
Yoga & Trauma Recovery: A Guide for Teachers & Practitioners.
MAIN LEARNINGS:
⛔I used to think that meditation and stillness were the best paths to healing. But for trauma survivors, turning inward too soon can sometimes reinforce disconnection instead of bringing relief.
✅ Yoga offers a different path. Integrating movement, breath, and awareness helps the nervous system regulate, restore a sense of safety, and reconnect us with the body.
Here’s how trauma-informed yoga supports healing:
✔ Cultivating Awareness & Non-Reactivity – Trauma responses often feel automatic. Yoga helps us pause, observe, and choose our response.
✔ Grounding & Embodiment – Many trauma survivors feel disconnected from their bodies. Yoga helps rebuild trust and presence in a safe way.
✔ Reintroducing Pleasure & Ease – Trauma can make it hard to feel joy. Yoga gently reminds the body what safety and comfort feel like.
✔ Restoring Rhythmicity – Trauma can disrupt our natural rhythms (breath, movement, emotions). Yoga re-establishes these patterns through breath and movement.
✔ Regulating the Nervous System – Trauma can leave us stuck in stress responses. Yoga teaches balance between activation (energy) and relaxation (stillness).
✔ Empowerment & Confidence – Completing small movements or poses fosters a sense of strength, capability, and control.
✅ Practice Tip: Orientation to Ease: If you struggle with feeling safe in your body, try this:
Keep your eyes open in a safe space and let them wander naturally. Notice what your gaze is drawn to—something interesting, comforting, or neutral. Let your attention settle there for a moment, then move on.
✨ This small practice trains the nervous system to cultivate ease and safety, creating a foundation for deeper healing.
❓What’s your experience with trauma-informed yoga? Have you felt a shift in your practice? Let’s talk in the comments! 💬👇