TRAUMA INFORMED YOGA

“Through gentle body-based practices, yoga allows trauma survivors to reconnect with their innate power to heal" — Linda Sparrowe

Yoga and movement that is trauma informed means that the practice is facilitated from an awareness of the experience of trauma.

Trauma informed practitioners respect and are sensitive to the ways mental and/or physical trauma may show up for people. And in a world where we are collectively experiencing increasing levels of trauma, this awareness has become more and more necessary.

There is no one way to support trauma, no one practice or approach that will suit all trauma survivors. In trauma informed yoga and movement you get to define the boundaries, and we co-create ways you might want to move and experience your body.

Trauma informed Yoga & Movement is an invitation for people to bring their experiences of trauma into a brave and authentic relational-space, instead of armouring themselves against it.

Trauma Informed Yoga & Movement can help us to:

  • increase body awareness and feel more present in our body

  • develop breath awareness and skills to regulate our emotions

  • better support your overall well-being

  • develop curiosity and compassion to our internal experiences and external reactions

  • cultivate self-trust to deal with discomfort or challenges with more ease

Who is Trauma Informed Yoga & Movement for?

Trauma Informed Yoga & Movement may be suitable for anyone that has experienced trauma that isn’t defined as complex (see TCTSY). Each of us experiences trauma differently — perhaps you have experienced or witnessed life-threatening trauma, you are navigating emotional loss, or you live with a mental health diagnosis. Maybe you identify as neurodivergent or you’ve experienced bullying, or harassment, bias, or societal stigma . . . These are all examples of trauma but there are many more.

Those for whom Trauma Informed Yoga & Movement would be suitable includes but is not limited to:

  • mental health difficulties (anxiety, depression, OCD etc.)

  • disordered eating

  • loss of a loved one

  • discrimination

  • chronic illness or injury

  • marginalised individuals/groups

  • trauma after a serious accident, event or natural disaster

  • witnessing a traumatic event

  • indirect exposure to abuse and/or addiction

  • witnessing or being present to community or cultural abuse

  • working within the field of trauma or witnessing/supporting trauma on a regular basis

If you’re unsure whether Trauma Informed Yoga would be suitable, feel free to reach out to me to explore the options. Contact me

About Trauma Informed Yoga sessions

As a qualified practitioner of Trauma Informed Yoga & Movement, we co-create the boundaries that will make your exploration of yoga and movement feel more comfortable and less triggering than a typical yoga or movement class. I am here to support you wherever you are in your experience of trauma. Some of the elements of a Trauma Informed Yoga session include:

  • invitational cues and language of inquiry to explore movement and stillness at your own pace/comfort

  • always offering choice with suggested modifications/variations and the freedom to direct your own practice (including leaving at any time)

  • fully accessible movements and postures

  • no hands-on assists/touch

  • sensitivity of external stimuli (eg. deciding whether to have music or scents, bright light or darkness, being aware of tone, pitch and volume of voice)

Trauma Informed Yoga Offerings   FAQs

Testimonials

After S’s father died suddenly we looked at lots of ways to support her.  Ashley was recommended to us.  She has such a great nature with kids, making movement fun whilst very safe.  What I noticed immediately was a greater sense of confidence in S.  She always left sessions with Ashley smiling and wanting to do more”

— Anon