Trauma-Informed Yoga

 Project Yoga is committed to providing these fundamental principles of trauma-informed yoga.

Why do we approach yoga in this manner?

While many regular yoga classes encourage students to move through emotional discomfort, trauma-informed yoga instead creates a safe space for students to pay attention to signs of dissociation and distress that may come up and to stop whenever they need to. The emphasis is neither on the perfection or appearance of any physical pose, nor the instructor’s approval. Instead, the focus is on the internal experience of students developing self-awareness of their bodies, sensations, thoughts, and feelings.

At Project Yoga, we believe that yoga should be:

• Inclusive and accessible to all students regardless of their categories of difference including background, race, ethnicity, gender identities, abilities, and financial resources.

• Trauma-informed and nurturing holistic wellness, which can occur through mind-body balance.

Therapeutic and Healing Benefits of Yoga and Mindfulness

Yoga and mindfulness are associated with improvements in emotion regulation, self-awareness, and feelings of self-efficacy, which benefit physical, social-emotional, and intellectual health. Consistent yoga practice improves strength, endurance, balance, and flexibility, while practicing mindfulness develops self-awareness, fosters self-compassion and gratitude, and supports a positive self-concept. Studies have shown that yoga and mindfulness reduce perceived stress, symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Research also suggests yoga and mindfulness can facilitate stress management and resiliency and improve academic performance among secondary students. Collectively, these indicators support the holistic social-emotional learning (SEL) wellness of adolescents, which can promote healthy interpersonal skills and lead to responsible life decision-making. They are foundational skills students need to support mental health well-being and have promising educational, career, and life experiences.

Project Yoga’s curriculum directly supports the Social and Emotional Learning Standards of the state of Ohio. Through the lenses of trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness, Project Yoga’s classes are safe and accessible to all levels of physical abilities. Class movements and instructions are designed to support a balanced autonomic nervous system, physical wellness and cultivate healthy breathing practices. These program components help participants develop a healthy routine of mind-body-breath awareness, encourage positive self-reflection and self-imaging, while learning to release negative self-talk and self-criticism.