Trauma Informed Yoga

How Trauma Affects the Body

Trauma and chronic stress can have many physiological effects on the body, often leaving it feeling like an unsafe place to inhabit. Experiences such as PTSD, CPTSD, and ongoing stress can create a dissociative response within the body-mind system, leading to feelings of disconnection from the body—as though it no longer belongs to us.

How Trauma Informed Yoga Helps

Trauma Informed Yoga can support reconnecting with the body in a safe and manageable way, slowly rebridging into a sense of safety, stability, grounding, presence, physical orientation, location and connection.

Yoga can support the reconnection with the felt sense of the body slowly and carefully, which can help to access the body as a space of resource.

“Yoga-based approaches use a series of postures and breathing techniques to build a sense of connection to the self. Yoga practitioners are able to cultivate the ability to remain present, to notice and tolerate inner experience, and to develop a new relationship with thier body. This body-based pratice then has a ripple effect on emotional and mental health, on relationships, and on one's experience of living in the world” David Emmerson Founder of Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga

What I offer

I offer a six workshop course of 1 hour/1 hour 15 minute sessions, depending on the group and setting. These sessions offer a supportive and structured space to gently reconnect with the body through Trauma Informed Yoga Practices.

Key themes of the sessions involve:

  • Experiencing the present moment

  • Making choices

  • Taking effective actions

  • Creating steady rhythms

  • Centering

  • Grounding

  • Stability

  • Decreasing both hyper and hypoarousal

  • Manageable interoception (developing a safe felt sense of the body through the yoga postures)

Expereinces of trauma or chronic stress - whether from a single event or ongoing circumstances, can disrupt the body’s natural sense of safety, connection and regulation. Through Trauma Informed Yoga we can begin to restore these expereinces as lived, felt and embodied.

Suitable Settings for TIY

Trauma-Informed Yoga sessions can be adapted to a wide range of environments and may be especially supportive in settings where emotional wellbeing, recovery, resilience, or nervous system regulation are a priority. Sessions are always tailored to the needs of the group and delivered in an accessible, and compassionate way. These sessions may be appropriate in:

  • Mental health and wellbeing services

  • Counselling and psychotherapy settings

  • Addiction recovery and rehabilitation programmes

  • Domestic abuse and survivor support services

  • Refuge and supported housing environments

  • Schools, colleges, and universities

  • Workplace wellbeing programmes

  • Community centres and charities

  • Healthcare and social care settings

  • Women’s groups and specialist support groups

  • Retreats and wellbeing events

  • Private group or one-to-one settings

Trauma-Informed Yoga can be beneficial for people experiencing stress, anxiety, burnout, trauma symptoms, emotional overwhelm, or disconnection from the body. Sessions focus on creating safety, choice, grounding, and gentle reconnection, rather than performance or fitness.

Enquire for More Information

If you would like to learn more about Trauma-Informed Yoga sessions, discuss whether they may be suitable for you personally or your setting, or explore tailored workshops for your group or organisation, I’d be happy to hear from you.

Sessions can be adapted for a variety of environments and needs, with careful consideration given to the group, setting, accessibility, and therapeutic aims.

Please get in touch to discuss availability, pricing, or any questions you may have.

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