Trauma-Informed Yoga: What It Is and Why It Matters
Meet Anthea: Her Art Background and Love for Yoga
Anthea is originally from a small town in Connecticut, where she grew up around farmland and trees. She also has an art background, and her mom is an artist. In college, she studied cognitive neuroscience and international relations, and it was there where she discovered yoga. At first, she enjoyed yoga for its physical benefits, but she soon realized there was much more to it.
What is Cognitive Neuroscience?
Cognitive neuroscience is the study of the brain at a neurological level. Anthea’s classes covered neurogenesis, the creation of new neurons, and how different learning techniques can enhance memory. They also discussed how childhood experiences can shape how people act and how the brain physiologically forms in response.
Brain Plasticity and Resisting Change
Brain plasticity is the brain’s ability to grow and adjust. Unfortunately, many people resist change, even though it’s a natural and essential part of life. Trauma-informed yoga can help people learn to be more accepting of change and more in tune with their bodies.
Why Trauma-Informed Yoga Matters
Trauma-informed yoga is vital for yoga teachers to understand because many students may have experienced trauma in their lives. Yoga teachers need to be aware of how trauma can affect a student’s body and mind, and they need to create a safe and supportive environment for their students. Trauma-informed yoga can help students heal from past traumas and build resilience for the future.
How Yoga Helped Anthea Heal from Trauma
After getting out of an abusive relationship, Anthea rediscovered yoga at the age of 22. She found that yoga helped her reconnect with her body and her emotions. It allowed her to process her trauma in a safe and healthy way. She hopes that trauma-informed yoga can help others in the same way it helped her.
Final Thoughts on Trauma-Informed Yoga
Trauma-informed yoga is an essential practice for yoga teachers and students alike. It’s essential to understand how trauma can affect the body and mind and create a safe and supportive environment for healing. Yoga can be a powerful tool for healing, and it’s essential to have a trauma-informed approach to make it accessible to everyone.
Listen to the full episode to get the complete scoop!
- (00:00) Studying Byronology
- (04:07) Welcoming Anthea
- (06:14) What is cognitive neuroscience?
- (09:27) Defining trauma…
- (11:56) Big T and little t trauma
- (13:18) EMDR therapy
- (15:46) Right and left brain emotions and logic
- (18:00) Regulating your amygdala
- (19:04) Trauma triggers in yoga
- (22:55) Language and allowing space in your class
- (26:25) Consent cards for adjustments are powerful
- (29:00) Energetic and visual cues can be great alternatives to physical adjustments
- (31:06) One word check in’s for how people are feeling
- (33:24) Savasana can be triggering for PTSD and trauma
- (36:44) Pose awareness, which poses trigger you
- (40:02) We don’t all need to be perfect trauma-informed teachers
- (41:35) Bilateral stimulation poses
- (44:40) Metaphors and visualisations
- (49:27) Recap of trauma-informed yoga teaching skills
- (52:33) Acroyoga can be a powerful healing tool for trauma
- (55:54) How to get in contact with Anthea
If you want to connect with Anthea on IG: @antheataeuber
Related episode links:
Episode #68 – Trauma Informed with Rusty Price
Episode #43 – Benefits of Practicing Acro Yoga with Caspian Burrell