Introduction:
The traumatic events a person faces in life have a lifelong impact on one’s mental and emotional health. Most often, we tend to overlook the events of trauma, which affect one’s behavior and life in many ways. To overcome this scenario, people do various motivational and uplifting things like travel, therapy, yoga, etc. The specialized version of yoga for handling trauma is called trauma-informed yoga. In today’s scenario, almost sixty-one percent of adults have reportedly experienced trauma during childhood.
Healing from trauma is a very difficult process, particularly when trying to find the exact origin of its onset. The event takes a toll on both the brain and body, making it difficult to comprehend the events. This results in the muscles and brain tensing up, creating an overdrive in the body to protect oneself. The person goes through a roller coaster of emotions, ending up shutting themselves down or lashing out at others. The event of trauma may vary from person to person, from a minor to a major event.
Here, trauma-informed yoga is a customized form of yoga that is based on the person's needs and caters to surviving traumatic events. Considering people who have suffered trauma, yoga is considered a healing process. Yoga as a therapy calms a person’s mind and body, relieving him or her of their constant anxiety towards safety.
What Is Trauma?
The word "trauma" is almost always associated with the physical self and the damage caused to the same. The mental aspect of it is often overlooked and remains unspoken. The extent of damage mental trauma can inflict on a person is still not widely understood. The fact is that trauma is so widespread in society that almost every other person has either experienced it themselves or knows of someone who has. The main step in healing from trauma is the identification of it. Out of the many methods to handle trauma, the use of trauma-informed yoga is surely interesting and effective.
What Exactly Is the Role of Yoga in the Treatment of Trauma?
Yoga, by itself, is the practice of connecting oneself with awareness of the mind, body, and soul as one. Yoga has always been considered a method and means of healing one’s body and mind. So, it is not a surprise that yoga can be used as a tool, specifically to heal trauma. In trauma-informed practice, both the practitioner and the teacher have an awareness of the trauma the student has undergone. The therapy puts a specific focus on the healing of the effects of trauma stored in one’s body, too. It is like a safe healing space for one to comfortably heal their body and mind under proper guidance.
How Does Trauma-Informed Yoga Differ from Traditional Yoga Practice?
Trauma-informed yoga begins with creating an environment of comfort and making the students feel less vulnerable about their trauma. For a person with trauma, a few very normal practices and actions by themselves may seem very scary and difficult. To cite an example, a person with trauma may feel unsettled and uncomfortable when closing their eyes, even for a few seconds. While normal yoga may suggest and practice the same, trauma-informed yoga will give the student the option of just looking down or altering their gaze instead of completely closing their eyes. This gives the student a sense of calm and assurance that their discomfort and trauma are acknowledged and assuaged. In contrast to normal yoga sessions, where there is a common set of practices addressed to the body and mind of the class as a whole, trauma-informed yoga focuses on a specific issue that is the need of the hour. These sessions may be conducted as one-to-one sessions or as group trauma-release sessions.
What Happens in Trauma-Informed Yoga Sessions?
Trauma affects a person's body as a whole. It affects his or her mental health and the functioning of certain systems. Stress and trauma are stored in various parts of the human body. Trauma-informed yoga teaches the student methods to identify and heal trauma. It begins with the identification of triggers and practices that induce trauma and the understanding of the course and extent of the same. The main aspect of this type of yoga is to teach the student self-regulation strategies. It aims to assure and equip the student with methods to handle their trauma triggers easily and effectively.
The first step to the same is to raise awareness of one’s self. Help the individual to introspect in a controlled, safe, and comfortable manner. This process of introspection aims to help the individual develop a sense of physical, emotional, and psychological safety. Trauma survivors commonly experience feelings of nervous system dysregulation and dissociation from their surroundings and situation. The second aim of trauma-informed yoga is to help the individual overcome these and to hold on to their sense of self and awareness of themselves in any situation.
What Are Group Trauma-Informed Yoga Sessions?
Group sessions are when many individuals who have experienced some form of trauma come together to heal. In some situations, group sessions are very helpful in making the individual feel safe and comfortable surrounded by people. This creates an environment where they do not feel judged and feel at ease, as they are with people who have experienced trauma too.
Are One-on-One vs. Group Sessions Equally Effective?
One-on-one sessions may be more effective for a person who feels uncomfortable around the company. For a person who needs more personal space and exclusivity, group sessions may not work, as they may hesitate to open up. Group sessions may be effective in cases where people with similar traumas can gain from sharing their experiences.
Conclusion
Yoga, by itself, is a method and practice of healing a person as a whole. Trauma-informed yoga gives specific attention to healing the mental trauma of a person and the effects of the same on his/her physical system. With diligent methods of teaching and training, trauma-informed yoga can equip a person with immense strength to face their life and get back to normal. Though it may seem like a simple practice, it can be immensely effective and even life-altering in certain situations.
