Image supplied by i love myself yoga
Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) is a form of yoga designed with and for trauma survivors.
Research shows that trauma-sensitive yoga can reduce the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex trauma.
Sam Voolstra, a certified and experienced yoga teacher with the lived experience of PTSD, offers six-week Trauma-Sensitive Yoga courses in Lismore. The next course starts on 15 May 2019.
Some of the benefits mentioned by participants of Trauma Sensitive Yoga are:
- Connecting with feelings and emotions in your body in a safe way.
- Increasing your tolerance to stay with challenging feelings and emotions.
- Being in your body in the here and now, not in the past.
- Building a safer, more positive relationship with yourself and your body.
- Learning to make choices based on what you are feeling in your body.
- Feeling empowered to find things out from your own experience and act on it yourself.
- Being able to be yourself while being in a group of others.
- Finding a safe space without having to talk about your trauma or talk to others.
Trauma-sensitive yoga is complementary to any type of medication, counselling or therapy you might be receiving.
The yoga classes are suitable for all. You can choose to sit on a chair or practice on a mat.
What can you expect in a trauma sensitive yoga class?
You are invited to share a yoga practice with others, while making it your own unique yoga practice. There is no right or wrong way to do the yoga forms or movements.
I Love Myself Yoga does its best to offer a safe and respectful space for practicing yoga together. The yoga class facilitator practices with you, does not walk around and does not touch your body.
You are very welcome to share any concerns you have, for example: the space, the class, the way of teaching, the language used. The facilitator is there before and after class to listen to and address any issues you have.
Your choice
You always have choices. The first choice is always either trying an offered yoga form or movement, or deciding not to try something. You never have to do any form or movement, nor do you have to give a reason why you do not want to.
When you choose to try a form or movement, you will always be given some options how you could do a yoga form or movement. You are also invited to experiment with forms and movements in a way that works for you at that moment.
Practicing choice making in yoga might help you with making choices in daily life based on what is happening for you in the present moment.
Sensing your body
You will also regularly get the choice to pay attention to sensations you might feel in your body related to the yoga form or movement. Sometimes you might notice sensations in your body, and sometimes not. Your experience of your body is unique and always changing.
Exploring sensations in your body in a safe way might support you with understanding and regulating your feelings and emotions.
“I can express my feelings more because I can recognize them more. I feel them in my body, recognise them, and address them.” – TCTSY student
“I make conscious decisions now about my son, to raise him differently than how i was raised. So i can see that there are choices and options. You can be gentle in the world and yoga helps you see that there are choices.” – TCTSY student