Trauma sensitive yoga is yoga for everyone. That is to say that even if you yourself have not been affected by trauma personally, many may experience “vicarious” trauma that’s societal or inter-generational. Especially if you are one of those Empaths, who has a high aptitude in Emotional IQ and Empathetic “to fault” then … we are affected. Or for some, it’s about living in a constant state of denial or unawareness (thus the need to stay busy at all times) and certain events or conditions may “trigger” an undesirable response. At the same time, the term Trauma often is indeed …traumatic, lol- because there’s so much stigma associated with that word that’s shaming – as though somehow you are a victim, weak and abnormal instead of a self-respecting strong and healthy “normal” person that you are really at the very core.
So Trauma – it need not be about battle zones and violence – it may be a loss of a close loved one; loss of health and freedom; surgeries even if not even life threatening … in fact, any loss great or small – for instance loss of homes and possessions in a fire, a natural disaster …or being a victim of theft… How we respond to these stress inducing events called just doing LIFE is dependent on various factors… but most decidedly how much care and love you received in your childhood. If you have the support and love, what could be framed as trauma in the eyes of some can be just merely a little bump on the road. perhaps some spirituality helps – like – everything happens for a reason, self-talk. It’s doing life. It’s really about how resilient and still empathetic you can be to live this life fully engaged with less fear. In Yoga, oftentimes it’s about beginning at a state of vulnerability and surrender, and with that, some students may feel discomforts arising … why is that vs. for some students, its the ultimate bliss, like burdens coming off the shoulders – feels carefree and light; not scary. Everyone is different. There’s no weakness or anybody doing anything wrong – there’s no victims and there’s no judgment in good/bad in being vulnerable. No longer on guard and in state of constant alert, being vulnerable can be cathartic if experienced in a safe container with truly loving and present teacher or a friend. I truly believe that.
When we practice Yoga, we open ourselves up and
psychological imprints are activated. Yoga teachers need
to be aware that material will come up during class and
they need to be prepared at all times to help people to
calm down their bodies, by working with the breath
and quieting poses. Teachers should create a safe space
in the class, keep the focus on the breath and the flow
of the asanas. It is best to refrain from excessive talking,
explaining or preaching during the class—the job of the
Yoga teacher is to help people to feel safe in every aspect of
their self-experience.– Bessel A. van der Kolk MD
And this from the same doctor:
It’s very striking that there’s nothing in western culture
that teaches us that we can learn to master our own
physiology— solutions always come from outside, starting
with relationships, and if those fail, alcohol or drugs.
Yoga teaches us that there are things we can do to change
our brainstem arousal system, our sympathetic and
parasympathetic nervous systems and to quiet the brain.
We are in charge of changing ourselves to recognize and close in towards that divine goddess within:) There are all kinds of yoga, myriads of different “brands” of yoga out there – it’s best not get caught up with the hype but rather, just go with what feels the best for you … As this one doctor who shared her own experience in trying a yoga class – she loves yoga but she went to a very “popular” yoga class; and just had to excuse herself out because she came to feel so anxious and agitated. The energy and tone of the class became unbearable and was anxiety causing where she felt the oxygen level of the room literally thinning with each breath she took. She made an exit. She did not give up on yoga though – she found what’s right for her – what brings her the sense of balance and joy. There will be that special class or that teacher who will accept you the way you are and meet you wherever you are.
This kind of talk made me think of what renowned master yoga teacher once said in her teacher training intensive – “do you want to be a good teacher or a popular teacher?” – laughing she then said, “because you know, the popular class isn’t necessarily the best class for that student.” There are poses we rather not do or skip over … we rather just flow through them … rather not hold for too long … BUT…what if you did. What if you did stop to smell the roses on this path of transformation.
IT’s empowering how we can now prescribe protocol that calibrates a balance needed for her to fully engage in life. There’s magic, sure, but it’s also science – AND it’s all dished up with sense of pure joy and wonder! Let’s practice the way that works for you because yoga … works.
