Yoga for Healing Trauma
Yoga and counselling are a combination I think work beautifully together. I have been practicing Yoga for around 15 years, Meditation much longer. In 2020 I decided that I wanted to study Yoga as I could see a strong connection between Counselling and, Yoga and Meditation. I chose to study a 500Hr Teacher training - Advance Diploma of BioMedical Yoga, Meditation and Lifestyle Medicine which I completed in 2022.
I studied Yoga and Meditation with the intention of it being part of my counselling. I have offered Yoga to my clients ever since, including face to face on a mat, when I worked for a Family Violence Organisation, where we would often do outdoor sessions together which was a beautiful way to heal Trauma - a combination of Yoga, Counselling and Nature. It was well received as it offered the space to focus on healing without having to talk about the Trauma that sometimes people are not able to talk about.
I offer Yoga in a variety of ways, so you can choose which way works best for you
Online Yoga - Self -Paced - Healing Trauma
Research supports Yoga as a Trauma Healing Practice - The study listed below (1) found that Yoga is effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD. And this review of multiple studies found (2) The identified studies indicate that yoga may have an important role to play in the field of trauma recovery, equipping individuals with the tools to claim control over their symptoms. Healing from Trauma is often about feeling that you have some control, the confidence that you have the tools to manage situations that may arise, as they do in life.
What to expect if you choose to practice Yoga with me to Heal Trauma
The first step is to reduce the symptoms so we can connect to our body - The word 'Yoga' is derived from the Sanskrit root 'Yuj', meaning 'to join' or 'to yoke' or 'to unite'. Yoga is essentially a spiritual discipline which focuses on bringing harmony between mind and body.
I have 7 sessions that I created specifically for those wanting to heal after trauma. They are...
Yoga to reduce Adrenal Fatigue,
Yoga to reduce Anxiety,
Yoga to reduce Stress,
Yoga to improve your Sleep,
Yoga to increase Balance,
Yoga to increase Self-determination,
Yoga to increase Self-compassion,
When we work together we can change the order we do these in, we can also tweak the poses to make you more comfortable, and take into account any injuries or other limitations. It is a good idea to do the 3 "reduce" Yoga's first as these will support you as we move to the "Increase" sessions. The Sleep one can be done at any time that Sleep is a concern, Often this is the one we start with.
There is no need to have any prior experience of Yoga. There is no need for any special clothing, we can also use pillows and other things from around the home as props. Pets are also welcome - I couldn't even take the photo without Hugo getting involved. It is suitable for all fitness levels. Sessions are via Zoom; you remain in your home so you are safe and comfortable and I provide you with a printable workbook so you can continue to practice between sessions.
You may choose to have a talk session prior to starting the Yoga, or move into Yoga from session one. There is a little bit of intake that we must do at the commencement but if your trauma is something you can not or do not wish to talk about that is Ok, you can always choose to have a talk session part way through or at the end if you wish. Sometimes you may want to start by sharing some of your story, others like to have 15 minutes of talking at the start of each session.
The most important thing for you to know is these are your sessions and so long as you are safe we can hold them as you know you need. Each session will start with a check in, throughout the session you keep me updated that you are feeling safe and held, and at the end there is always time for feedback.
If you are not looking for "Healing Trauma" Counselling you may want to book in for one session that meets your needs Eg, you may be having trouble sleeping, or want to increase your clarity and confidence because you are at a cross roads in your life and want to make some big decisions, or you may want to find a practice you can do to help you reduce your stress.
(1) van der Kolk BA, Stone L, West J, Rhodes A, Emerson D, Suvak M, Spinazzola J. Yoga as an adjunctive treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized controlled trial. J Clin Psychiatry. 2014 Jun;75(6):e559-65. doi: 10.4088/JCP.13m08561. PMID: 25004196.
(2) English A, McKibben E, Sivaramakrishnan D, Hart N, Richards J, Kelly P. A Rapid Review Exploring the Role of Yoga in Healing Psychological Trauma. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Dec 3;19(23):16180. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192316180. PMID: 36498254; PMCID: PMC9741324.
I would like more information about Yoga
Get in touch so we can start working together.
