Trauma Informed Yoga

What is Trauma Informed Yoga?

Trauma Informed yoga supports trauma survivors to recover from the somatic (body) and psychological (mind) impact of trauma by making the practice more accessible and centred around cultivating a felt sense of safety. It is an empowering practice that prioritizes the lived experience and healing of each and every student.

Safety, trust, choice and control are some of the core components that guide the practice.

Trauma informed yoga can support students in building vagal tone which is a key component of the parasympathetic nervous system that regulates the body. Building vagal tone enables quicker recovery from stress and enhances overall health, wellbeing and resilience.

The practice often helps survivors build incremental shifts over time to widen their window of tolerance, strengthen their coping skills, feel affirmed and seen and most important feel empowered in their choices and become grounded in their worth.

The core frameworks of trauma informed yoga include: empowerment based language, supportive presence, self and community care for the teacher, always having a consent framework for assists, creating safety in the physical space, having a trauma sensitive approach to breathwork and mindfulness, supporting students who are triggered, and having cultural considerations and accessibility.

This can ultimately lead to a place where survivors can take powerful steps toward post-traumatic growth.

What is Trauma?

Trauma is an event that is monumental in its impact on the body. It can be an event, series of events, circumstance or accumulation of experiences that are life-threatening, cause extreme fear and distress that can impact one's physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual sense of safety in the world.

Trauma is also subjective and based on the lived experience of each and every individual. What is traumatic to you is traumatic to you. Your story is important. Your feelings are valid.

Who is trauma informed yoga for?

There is no one size fits all approach to recovering from trauma and many people will have intersecting experiences that compound to make the impact of trauma more difficult to manage e.g.. Racial trauma, sexual trauma, medical trauma and PTSD. It isn't necessarily the exact incident that happened but the disconnection and dysregulation that is left in the system because of what happened.

What effect does Trauma have on the nervous system?

Our nervous system is wired to keep us safe but the stress of life and/or the impact of trauma can lead to it activating hyper-aroused fight or flight state or going into a freeze shutdown. These responses are survival based and work to keep us alive in dangerous situations.

When someone has experienced a traumatic event, their whole system can be primed to detect threat in everyday life. This kind of chronic dysregulation in the system can mean being generally on edge, having less capacity to recover from daily stressors and feeling detached.

Tending to our nervous system to access safety in the body can help us to regulate and recover more effectively from triggers/stress and allow us to respond instead of react. A healthy nervous system is a flexible one, so the goal isn't to remain calm at all times but to be able to move between nervous system states so that the right parts are switched on and off at the right times.

What are the dates and theme of each class?

Each class takes place on a Sunday evening from 6:30-8pm.

7th June – Theme: Intention

21st June – Theme: Safety

12th July – Theme: Mindfulness and self-care

26th July – Theme: Boundaries and Assertiveness

9th August – Theme: Strength

23rd August – Theme: Trust

6th September – Theme: Self-Compassion

What is included in the price?

Each participant will receive their own workbook which I have lovingly put together for you to refer back to whenever you need it. Inside there are journaling activities, grounding exercises for tending to your nervous systems, reminders for when your nervous system is at capacity, compassionate reminders on honouring your boundaries, poems that I will weave into the classes, affirmations, mindful colouring pages and weekly check-ins.

I am also planning activities to release some of the weight you have been carrying, having some sensory materials available, intention stones and safety jars for you to keep as a reminder of your healing journey.

The price for this and all seven 90 minute classes is £140

What do I need to bring?

You are always invited to make the space yours and intentionally connect to what brings you comfort, safety and ease.

Whilst the room will be set up upon your arrival you are welcome to bring your own mat and any other props you might already have at home.

I recommend bringing a cushion and your favourite blanket as well as anything else that will help you feel more comfortable and supported.

In your workbook there will be journaling pages but if you wish to bring your own journal and pen along please do.

A note from me

It is an honour to hold this space for you over the next few months. I am deeply aware that this work requires an incredible amount of courage.

Some of the material might feel triggering at times. I am acutely aware that many of us come to this work with our own experiences of trauma. This requires us to me extra gentle with ourselves.

You are welcome to take breaks as you need them and please, honour the messages of your nervous system. You are supported and encouraged always.

If you want to participate but the idea of being in a group setting (max 8 participants) feels too overwhelming, I have a beautiful home studio that I can hold space from.

I invite you to get in touch if you have any questions, need reassurance or to gain greater clarity on anything.

Klaudia xx