Yoga For Trauma Relief
It’s an unfortunate fact that many people will encounter significant trauma at some point during their lives. For most, the weeks or months of upset in the aftermath of a traumatic event will eventually pass, and they will be able to move on. For others, the development of post-traumatic stress disorder stands in the way of a return to normal life.
Yoga as a science-backed treatment for PTSD has been an effective form of trauma relief for generations, instilling the sense of safety and community from which individuals can draw comfort and support. Trauma affects individuals physiologically, cognitively and emotionally, with the ramifications felt in both mind and body. Yoga therapy acts across all these domains, leading those with PTSD to increasingly turn to this mind-body practice in their journey towards recovery.
Trauma changes your brain, and yoga directly addresses those changes to the brain and nervous system using breath and movement. Some of the benefits include:
- Improves concentration, focus, attention, and interoceptive awareness
- Reduces anxiety, and anger
- Reduces the impact of exaggerated stress responses
- Provides emotional regulation techniques
- Assists with relaxation, sleep, and mood
- Allows access to the pause between reactivity and response helping to regulate behavior
The world is currently experiencing multiple high stress events, from COVID to Ukraine. It’s more important than ever to take care of our emotional and mental wellbeing, and to have the tools that allow us to manage and deal with challenges.
For more information about the science behind yoga for trauma relief, visit these resources:
Dr. Gail Parker: Empowered By Yoga https://www.drgailparker.com/
TCTSY https://www.traumasensitiveyoga.com/resources
Trauma Conscious Yoga https://traumaconsciousyoga.com/resources/