Trauma‑sensitive yoga is an approach to teaching yoga that considers the physical and emotional safety needs of trauma survivors. It supports people to gently listen to their body and, over time, perhaps find comfort there. This approach is informed by a wide theoretical foundation, including research conducted at The Trauma Centre in Massachusetts.
Unlike many open yoga classes, you will not be physically adjusted by the teacher or encouraged to make your body look a certain way. Instead, participants are invited to notice what is happening in their body (the felt sense) and to make choices about how they move and participate based on that awareness.
This approach cultivates personal agency, self‑awareness, self‑regulation, and — over time — a greater sense of ease.
You will never be told what to do in a trauma sensitive yoga class. You are always offered options and invited to choose what feels right for you.
No — it is not a replacement for trauma therapy. But it can be a supportive complement to therapeutic work, including EMDR. These practices offer gentle, body‑based ways to foster grounding, regulation, and integration alongside therapy.
"Trauma is really a somatic issue. It’s in your body and, because of that, yoga has great relevance, because it goes directly to sensing and befriending the body. While talking and knowing what happened and being able to articulate it is an important part of treatment, the most important part is starting to regain ownership of your body and be comfortable in your own skin".
Bessel van der Kolk M.D