Trauma & Yoga: Healing Your Mind

Past Trauma

Past trauma can trigger responses in our bodies and minds and affect how we live our day to day lives. When others feel stressed or anxious, they often have the ability to “shake it off”. This is not always the case for people who have experienced trauma in their past, and struggle with the lingering effects. Trauma can make you feel like a captive in your own body and mind. When something triggers you back to the feelings during your past trauma, it can cause your body to react based on the past. This feeling can be so overwhelming, especially considering that your body is responding in a way that you may not understand.

How Yoga Heals

So how does yoga really help these responses and ultimately heal our minds? Well, one of the greatest things yoga teaches us is how to breathe. Yep, seems so simple right? Just breathing deeply has vast benefits on our entire bodies. Slowing down and lengthening our breath can lower the stress hormones, cortisol and adrenaline. When we practice these slower and deeper breathing techniques, we can learn how to maintain a calmer body and mind.

Another way yoga can heal your mind is once again simple, just moving your body. We hold onto emotions, stress, and tension in various parts of our bodies. Trauma victims may hold on to emotions from their past and may fear releasing them because of the overwhelming experience it may bring on. When we hold on to these emotions, it may bring on feelings of soreness, stiffness, and extreme fatigue. In our yoga class we practice yoga poses that help release built up emotions, stress, and tension. During these poses, it is normal to experience immense relief as your body slowly learns to let go.

Beneficial Beyond Measure

There are so many more benefits of yoga, the list could truly go on and on. In my personal experience of teaching this style of yoga to victims of trauma, I have witnessed exponential growth. From things like reconnecting to their body to the release of blocked emotions, my clients have experienced it all. This class has helped them stay motivated, confident in themselves, and learn helpful breathing techniques to use in and out of practice. One of my clients even says it’s “her favorite day of the week”. Just know that healing your mind, your body, and your soul is possible and finding a safe space to experience these releases and realizations is real. We provide an energizing and relaxing style of yoga in a non-judgmental atmosphere full of love and compassion. At Restoring Minds in Midlothian, we offer an array of different classes from private one on one, groups, couples, and more. Visit our website to find more information and book your class today. We can’t wait to meet you!

Namaste
-Lauren Short

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