“The process of Trauma Healing is akin to WabiSabi”
Peter Levine
“Trauma sensitive yoga is body oriented (physical) and down-to-earth but does not deny the needs of the spirit. It is skill-based but not cold or joyless. It is structured but emphasises choice. Shifting our relationship to ourselves is a slow process that takes patience and repetition. A trauma-sensitive yoga practice can provide a structured approach that helps foster our internal sense of safety, personal agency, and choice and that cultivates our capacity for self-awareness and self-regulation” (David Emerson)
Therapeutic Yoga
Trauma Sensitive Yoga
Cost:
$170 (8 sessions)
$25 (Single session)
Day/Time:
Thursdays 11.30am - 12.30pm
Location:
Raw Wellbeing, 161D Kitchener Road, Milford.
***If you are unsure if this class is for you, please feel free to contact Nicole and have a chat.
Therapeutic Yoga / trauma Sensitive Yoga classes.
Trauma Sensitive yoga (TSY) is evidence -based intervention for complex trauma, PTSD and chronic pain/illness.
It is an adapted form of yoga to be more inclusive, supportive and empowering for those less able bodied.
Trauma Sensitive Yoga includes;
Gentle postures and movements that can be easily adapted to suit the needs of the individual.
A focus on breath awareness and functional breathing patterns to support the mind-body as a whole and help with nervous system regulation.
Breath and movement patterns that are slow and repetitive to help build pathways of safety and internal calm and awareness.
The introduction of yogic concepts in relation to the body and mind to help support mindfulness and ways to view adversity and physical limitations in a way that may feel safe and manageable.
Relaxation techniques such as yoga nidra to help mitigate some of the persistent symptoms that come from chronic pain conditions, illness, and trauma.
The foundation of all the sessions in TSY is building a sense of safety and self-awareness.
Trauma sensitive yoga is mainly practiced seated in a chair, there is little to no movement that involves the head below the heart. There is always a focus on personal choice, and cultivating more interoception and self-awareness.
Due to the complex nature of trauma and its limiting symptoms, safety can be elusive and so these sessions try to offer adequate time and space to discover the pathway to safety in a body that at times can feel scary and foreign.
TSY offers the opportunity to create a sense of safety, personal autonomy, and the ability to find more ease with what is going on in daily life. By allowing participants the opportunity to learn and integrate the practices into something that can be used daily to manage the stress and symptoms of chronic pain, illness and complex trauma.
What the Professionals are saying
Bessel van der Kolk
“When people think about trauma, they generally think of it as a historical event that happened some time ago. Trauma is actually the residue from the past as it settles into your body. It’s located inside your own skin. When people are traumatized, they become afraid of their physical sensations; their breathing becomes shallow, and they become uptight and frightened about what they’re feeling inside. When you slow down your breathing with yoga, you can increase your heart rate variability, and that decreases stress. Yoga opens you up to feeling every aspect of your body’s sensations. It’s a gentle, safe way for people to befriend their bodies, where the trauma of the past is stored.”
David Emerson
Overcoming Trauma through Yoga: Reclaiming Your Body
“Curiosity helps to create emotional distance in which people are able to “just notice” their internal states, without taking immediate action to try to shift these states.”
Bessel van der Kolk
“Our studies show that yoga is equally as beneficial—or more beneficial—than the best possible medicatons in alleviating traumatic stress symptoms. In the studies we did involving neuroimaging of the brain before and after regular yoga practice, we were able to show that the areas of the brain involving self-awareness get activated by doing yoga, and those are the areas that get locked out by trauma and that are needed in order to heal it.”
PsychCentral
Trauma-informed yoga is a grounding practice with less emphasis on the poses themselves. “I don’t think there are poses that are specifically trauma-informed since it’s more the way they’re taught that’s the key, says Heyman.”
What students are saying…
“Trauma Sensitive Yoga is the course you don’t realise you need until you attend a class. It is a holistic approach, centred around your soul to allow you the time, strength and energy to believe in yourself and start rebuilding and focusing on your inner strength. Nicole supports you on your journey and adapts her teaching to show in depth understanding of the challenges you face and your progress. Each lesson brings a new sense of self awareness and a way to acknowledge all that encompasses us. A healing journey of body and mind; a welcome non judgmental space supported with a beautiful smile and a loving cup of tea.”
TSY Student Aug 2023
“A calm relaxing atmosphere within a beautiful welcoming and accepting environment. Each individual's journey is catered for and supported. All exercises are inclusive and you are talked through each step and its significance for your body and wellbeing. Thank you for awakening my belief in myself and how best to move forward.”
TSY Students May 2023
“This class series is really great, I love the studio so much. It has a very warm and welcoming feeling and Nicole is an excellent teacher. 10/10. Highly Recommended.”
TSY Student May 2023
“Excellent, trauma sensitive yoga class in North Shore Auckland. Beautiful space and the most outstanding yoga teachers- professional, experienced and just so kind and gentle.”
TSY Student Nov 2023
“Thank you so much for the Trauma Informed classes! I’ve loved the different pace and perspective they bring and they have felt like a weekly “coming home” for me. It’s been so valuable! Thank you!”
TSY Student May 2023