What is Trauma-Informed Yoga? A Guide to a Mindful Practice

Beyond the Mat: Understanding Trauma-Informed Yoga

Ever wondered what makes a trauma-informed yoga class different from a traditional one? At Carve Your Own Path, our classes are designed with a trauma-informed and inclusive holistic wellness lens, focusing on a safe and empowering practice. Here’s a look at what that means and why it's a key part of our approach.

What is Trauma-Informed Yoga?

A trauma-informed yoga class is designed to help you become aware of what's happening in your body, providing a safe space to release stress and tension in your muscles. The goal is to listen to your body, not to be flexible enough to do a backbend. This practice focuses on connecting your mind and body into a conscious state of movement and awareness.

How is it Different?

Unlike a typical yoga class, our classes do not use hands-on adjustments, and your personal space is respected at all times as we practice breathwork and poses. The emphasis is on building a sense of agency, allowing you to choose what works for your body. If a pose or breathing exercise doesn't feel right for you in that moment, there's no shame in saying "no thanks" to it—that is an act of power and self-advocacy.

The Benefits of this type of practice can include:

• Reducing PTSD symptoms

• Focusing on the present moment and the breath

• Building a mind-body connection, helping you feel less like a stranger in your own body

• Gaining resilience and a sense of agency

Ready to experience this for yourself? We invite you to join us! We have different classes to meet different goals, so come find your path with us.

Join us for a mix of gentle flow and restorative yoga to experience the difference a trauma-informed practice can make. View our full class schedule and sign up online at www.cyopinc.org/events.