What is Trauma Informed, Healing Centered Yoga?

Trauma-informed yoga is an approach to facilitating, cueing, supporting and guiding that acknowledges the possible impacts of trauma on the entire mind-body system, as opposed to a singular / particular mental state, viewed in isolation from the physical body.

”Trauma” is not only or simply an isolated event / experience that took place at some point in the past; trauma is the “imprint” left by those experiences on a persons mind, physical body and life, and the impact of said imprint/s.

Whether in group or one-on-one settings, my personal approach to trauma-informed yoga is individualized and welcomes participants to access and meet their personal needs, on an ongoing basis.

Through intentional dialogue and cueing, participants are invited to bring awareness / presence back into their bodies, and to access the autonomy that they may have disconnected from, in response to the imprints made on their minds and bodies by their individual experiences.

One of my goals while teaching is to assist participants in rebuilding / repairing / reestablishing trust within / for themselves.

Within my offerings, participants are reminded that they are the wisdom-holders when it comes to their bodies; They have an inner knowing and understanding of their bodies needs and abilities, and that they always have a choice. My role is to continually echo this to them.

Through mindful, slow paced cueing, participants are called to establish / reestablish connection between their minds, their bodies, their breath and their emotions. Participants are invited to notice themselves with ease and care, rather than with hyper-criticism.*

This definition / explanation of trauma-informed yoga was crafted by Marlene M. Boyette, as an expression of her training, learning, understanding and interpretation of the approach.