Trauma Sensitive Yoga
Weekly trauma sensitive yoga classes in Lismore
You are welcome to join the weekly trauma sensitive yoga classes. No previous experience with yoga is necessary to join a class. You can just come, no need to book. Please bring a mat and cushion if possible.
Each class starts with taking time to arrive. You are then invited to try a series of movements or forms. The class ends with integration and rest.
Trauma sensitive yoga classes 2024
Thursdays, 9.30 till 11 am
Apollo Hall, 131 Keen street, Lismore
$ 20 per class, $ 18 concession
What is trauma sensitive yoga?
Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) is a form of yoga designed for trauma survivors. Dave Emerson and Bessel van der Kolk developed trauma sensitive yoga at the Trauma Center in Boston, USA.
To develop trauma sensitive yoga they combined traditional Hatha Yoga with modern trauma theory, attachment theory and neuroscience. They also used input from trauma survivors, yoga teachers and mental health professionals.
Yoga can help you reclaim or build a relationship with your body, feelings and emotions.
Practicing yoga forms might empower you, in a safe way, to notice what you feel in your body. Yoga might then support you to practice making choices about what to do with your body based on what you feel.
Who can benefit from practicing trauma sensitive yoga?
Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga is suitable for everyone, also for people with PTSD and Complex PTSD.
Since trauma is experienced in the body, practicing yoga might not always be easy if you are a trauma survivor. Therefore it is important that you have support in place, in the form of therapy, counselling or from family and/or friends to share what might come up for you while practicing yoga.
What can you expect in a trauma sensitive yoga class?
You are invited
You are invited to share a yoga practice with others, while making it your own unique yoga practice. There is no right or wrong way to do the yoga forms or movements.
We do our best to offer a safe and respectful space for practicing yoga together. Therefore the yoga class facilitator practices with you, does not walk around and does not touch your body.
You are very welcome to share any concerns you have about for example the space, the class, the way of teaching, the language used. The facilitator is there before and after class to listen to and address any issues you have.
Your choice
You always have choices. The first choice is always either trying an offered yoga form or movement, or deciding not to try something. You never have to do any form or movement, nor do you have to give a reason why you do not want to.
When you choose to try a form or movement, you will always be given some options how you could do a yoga form or movement. You are also invited to experiment with forms and movements in a way that works for you at that moment.
Practicing choice making in yoga might help you with making choices in daily life based on what is happening for you in the present moment.
Sensing your body
You will also regularly get the choice to pay attention to sensations you might feel in your body related to the yoga form or movement. Sometimes you might notice sensations in your body, and sometimes not. Your experience of your body is unique and always changing.
Exploring sensations in your body in a safe way might support you with understanding and regulating your feelings and emotions.