Trauma-Sensitive Yoga and Mindfulness for Self-Healing

Trauma sensitive yoga is a form of yoga as therapy, adapted from modern postural yoga. It's a very gentle practice and differs from postural yoga in a few ways. Instead of achieving specific postures, students are guided to bring awareness to internal sensations in the body (interception) and to develop feelings of safety and self-acceptance.

The student is always in control of their movements and are invited to freely explore various shapes. Students learn to make choices in the moment and decide what's right for their body. Mind-body approaches help traumatized individuals increase awareness of, and attention to, bodily sensations while maintaining present-moment experience.

This can be helpful to counteract dissociative responses. It can also help in nurturing the body. When we connect to our bodies on a deeper level, we can regain ownership of our internal responses.

Current research shows that yoga can help reduce pain, anxiety, depression, a greater sense of interconnectedness with others, enhanced self-efficacy, self-esteem, and feelings of empowerment. Trauma can trigger a chronic stress response in the body (hyperarousal, hyper vigilance, and fear). This throws the whole nervous system out of balance.