How does yoga help us move through deep rooted trauma?

Trauma comes in all shapes and sizes. Many of us don't even realize we have experienced trauma at some point in our lives whether it is big or little. 

It wasn't until several years ago that I finally realized I had been experiencing repeated trauma for most of my life and even tried to minimize the significance of it. I remember saying, "But it wasn't that bad..." Except it really was. 

Now I look at everything with new clarity and I have been expanding my tools to address the trauma that is deep rooted in my body. 

Soma refers to the body. Somatic Experiencing is a form of therapy aimed at relieving symptoms of PTSD and other forms of mental & physical health issues associated with trauma. It was developed by trauma therapist Peter Levine.

He explains, "Yoga has been shown extensively to be very effective with trauma, and, I believe, because it helps to move emotion out of the body,” Dr. Levine said....

Have you heard of Trauma Informed Yoga? It is starting to become a more common topic in the mindfulness community and it is a very important conversation we need to be having right now. 

2020 left common humanity confused, exhausted, and experiencing new ways of living in a socially distanced way. It was terrifying. 

We are experiencing collective trauma. Not only as a result of Covid, but also social and culture changes too. We witness injustice, racial & gender inequality, and political disputes.

This is peeling back the layers of trauma in ways we never realized are still present in our world today. 

I want share three qualities of what makes up a trauma informed yoga practice. Mindfulness is key when it comes to moving past the heavy weight of pain and suffering. 

1) Acknowledge that Every Person is Unique

Our individual experience and how we were raised will influence the way we see the world. It is important to realize that what we may not find...