Trauma-Informed Yoga

“The single most important issue for traumatised people is to find a sense of safety in their own bodies.” Bessel van der Kolk

Mental health professionals working with trauma and PTSD often point to movement and yoga as a powerful, transformative tool for survivors. Among them is Bessel van der Kolk, author of the bestselling book The Body Keeps the Score.

How yoga can help

Research suggests yoga can:

• Build resilience by helping to calibrate the nervous system
• Develop mindfulness and meditation, a way to reconnect with the body and breath with perspective and distance
• Deepen the body-mind connection, improving interoception (your sense of what’s happening inside your body)
• Release tension held in the body through somatic movement
• Give you techniques to cope with moments of overwhelm

Why practise with trauma-informed teachers?

Practising with trauma-informed teachers creates a space where safety, choice and respect are at the heart of the experience.

Trauma-informed teaching recognises that everyone carries their own history in their body. Classes are guided to support nervous system regulation, rather than to push or overwhelm it. Clear, invitational language, a predictable structure and permission to rest or adapt at any time help you feel at ease and in control of your practice.

This approach builds trust and a deeper sense of embodiment. It makes yoga more accessible and nourishing, especially if you’re looking for a gentler, more supportive way to reconnect with your body.

For yoga teachers, we also run a Trauma-Informed Yoga CPD.