How Yoga Helps Heal Trauma
What do you think of when you hear the word “trauma”? Have you seen “trauma sensitive” classes online and wondered how yoga helps heal trauma?
There is power in mindful movement and many misconceptions to address when it comes to trauma, healing, and mental health. Some of the biggest misconceptions I see in my trauma sensitive yoga trainings are how people think about trauma.
I personally was diagnosed with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). I remember hearing those words come out of my therapists mouth and I felt incredibly shameful, sad, embarrassed, yet relieved. Experiencing trauma can feel tremendously lonely and hopeless, but I am here to remind you that you are never alone. You can heal and there is always support.
Many tend to think about trauma as those who have been exposed to war, combat, natural disasters, physical and sexual abuse, and catastrophic accidents. While these are commonly referred to as big ’T’ trauma events and some of the most intense and debilitating experiences one can endure, there is also little ’t’ trauma which is talked about less.
Little ’t’ trauma is a situation where a person experiences a distressing event or an accumulation of smaller events that cause fear and a sense of helplessness over a period of time (i.e.-divorce, financial worries or difficulties, job loss, a big move, etc..).
I would argue that every person has experienced some kind of trauma in their life whether it is big ’T’ or little ’t’, and they are both significant and equally important to heal.
The Power of Safe Connections
Trauma specialist, psychiatrist, and author Bessel van der Kolk believes that ‘In order to change, people need to become aware of their sensations and the way their bodies interact with the world around them. Physical self-awareness is the first step in releasing trauma from the past.’
He then says, “Being able to feel safe with other people is probably the single most important aspect of mental health; safe connections are fundamental to meaningful and satisfying lives.”
How can yoga help aid in the healing process of trauma and support others on the path to meaningful recovery? It starts with present moment living.
How Yoga Helps Heal Trauma
In the trauma world, present moment living is practiced through a concept called interoception. Interoception are the feelings of sensations from inside the body (heart beating, throbbing, tingling) or anything that is feel-able, connecting one to the present moment.
For many people, it’s very normal to not always feel sensations in the body. The great thing about yoga is every posture has the potential to feel many different sensations (even Savasana!). The art of this work is slowing down and working with yourself to find something feel-able.
Let’s try interoception or a simple present moment practice.
Try a Present Moment Practice
Start by noticing where you are sitting and where your body is connected to the surface beneath you. Maybe you are seated in a chair or on a couch. Just notice where you are.
Begin to feel your contact points or areas of your body that are connected to the support beneath you. Feel where your legs are supported. Notice the support underneath your glutes and on the surface supporting your back (if there is one).
Next, begin to create some movement. Rock or move your weight to the right side of your body and notice those pressure points and maybe a heaviness on that side. Pause and get curious about how that feels. Just notice.
Switch movements over to the left side, and feel the weight and pressure points shifting to the left glute and hamstring. Notice your left thigh. When you maneuvered to the left, maybe your left thigh became tighter. Pause and feel.
Now come back to a neutral place and feel the evenness on both sides of your body as you find a supported seat. Feeling even pressure points underneath your sit points.
Pause here and breathe. Feel your breath and notice the beating of your heart. Stay here for 1 minute.
Congrats! You just practiced interception.
At Honest Yoga Studios our classes are trauma informed by using intentional language and empowering students to practice personal agency, all while creating a safe and supportive space where students have the freedom to make choices that feel right in their body.