What is Trauma-Sensitive Yoga?

Journey To A Trauma Informed Life, 201 W 11th St, Erie, PA, offers trauma-sensitive yoga on Thursday at 10:30 am and Sunday at 5pm. What is trauma-sensitive yoga? It is facilitated by a yoga instructor with extra training to be aware of how movement and positioning of our body sometimes brings up 'old wounds.' Each class is supported by at least one trained therapist who is available to assist people with processing should anything come up during the class. People often wonder if it is any different than the yoga classes they have been to or have seen. Some differences are:

• The yoga instructor takes time to ask you what your needs are before the class. Do you have an old injury or a disability which needs to be accommodated? Do certain positions make you uncomfortable or bring you distress?
• Billy, the yoga instructor we work with here, also reminds us that everyone's practice is different. If you remain seated in your chair the whole time and the person next to you is standing, that's okay. If you want to rest in place and just 'be' in a safe and calming environment, you are welcome to do so.
• Our classes are small, there are up to 6 participants for each class. People don't need to worry about a dozen super-fit people bending like pretzels while you're trying to reach your hand above your head.

We are particularly encouraging of LGBTQ+ folks, 'neuro-spicy' peeps, those who are HIV+, and people with differing abilities to participate. We know that it is difficult for many of us to learn how to exist in our body. Maybe our whole lives we have been avoiding any feeling because it was the wrong body, it was when we were in our body when we felt betrayed, abandoned, shamed, or hurt. Will Koehler, one of the therapists who supports the TS-yoga classes shares, "So often in my work with those transitioning or nonbinary, I see people struggle with trauma-focused treatment because they have grown used to living in their head. We know though, that stress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms happen IN our bodies. To heal from our stored-up trauma, we need to learn that it is safe to get out of our head and take up residence in our body. Trauma sensitive yoga is designed to facilitate this type of gentle healing.

Thanks to a generous donor, every class for the rest of the summer is reduced to $10/person/class. To sign up or if you have any questions, you can email Jessica at jmorell@4urjrny.com We hope to see you soon!