"Yoga is an art, a science, and a philosophy. It touches the life of man at every level, physical, mental, and spiritual... It lifts it's practitioners from the clutches of pain and sorrow, and enables them to live fully, taking a delight in life." - B.K.S. Iyengar
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"The most helpful aspects were the different yoga positions that maybe were not body strengthening, but mind strengthening."
"The yoga is beneficial to helping you connect with yourself and those triggers. Michelle is gentle and warm-hearted, understanding of how PTSD affects someone."
"Over half of the US population reports having experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. Physical or sexual assault, abuse, exposure to violence, armed conflict, car accidents, medical procedures, and witnessed traumatic events are just a few of many experiences that can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and a variety of other symptoms.
Research demonstrates that the effects of trauma are carried in the cells and tissues of the body. A traumatic event causes an individual's "fight, flight, or freeze" response to kick in involuntarily; if the energy generated by this response is not effectively discharged physically, the nervous system can be impacted. This dysregulation of the nervous system ultimately leads to symptoms of trauma, which include physical, mental, and emotional health challenges.
Trauma-informed yoga is specifically designed to promote the slow, controlled reintegration and release of this traumatic energy. By offering practitioners a safe and welcoming space, empowering them with choice and control over their experience, and inviting them to reconnect with their bodies, trauma-informed yoga can support individuals on their healing journey. For many trauma survivors, their body is no longer a safe place. They may be experiencing a range of symptoms associated with trauma's impact on the nervous system, such as depression, fatigue, anxiety, or panic disorders. A trauma-informed yoga practice can be a powerful complement to their health routine, as it offers an opportunity to directly release trauma that is held within the body."
“We just did a study on yoga for people with PTSD. We found that yoga was more effective than any medicine that people have studied up to now. That doesn't mean that yoga cures it, but yoga makes a substantial difference in the right direction.” -Bessel Van Der Kolk, Childhood Trauma Leads to Brains Wired for Fear