Subjects

Key Objectives

1. What is Trauma:

How it Interrupts and impacts Our Ability to Relax, React and Respond

• Learning the trauma-lens of unresolved trauma and how this commonly leads to states of anxiety, depression, anger, insomnia, addiction, and disembodiment.
• Learn the neuro/physiological model of the autonomic nervous system.
• Identify yoga students in reactive states vs. responsive states so as to teach in a way which is sensitive to individual needs.
• Learn how yoga and other somatic practices can help bring the body back into homeostasis and balance.
• Identify where we as teachers have unresolved trauma which influences our own ability to  be fully present and learn how to regulate our own nervous systems.
• Understand the dangers of working with unresolved trauma and how we can respond effectively.

2. Signs of Trauma:

How the body holds and shows signs of trauma.

• Explore in greater details the core areas of the body which typically store unresolved trauma.
• Recognise trauma in the body so as to be able to tailor classes, techniques and poses accordingly.
• Develop an awareness of bodily sensation to guide others in listening to their bodies.
• Understand the power of different yogic techniques for clearing trauma or bound energy in specific areas of the body.
• Practice teaching individual poses to target specific areas of trauma bound energy.

3. Touch and Trauma:

How It Can Harm or Heal

• Understand how trauma from violent or inappropriate touch impacts our capacity for self-protection or to ask for our needs to be met.
• Learn the “hot” areas of the body that can cause re-traumatization, and what this looks like, how it negatively impacts the physiology and mental health of students, and how it can decimate trust in the student/teacher relationship.
• Learn the importance of establishing consent, offering choice and ongoing dialogue to cultivate a safe environment in your classes.
• Practice teaching with clearly established consent which cultivates safety and develops trust in the student/teacher relationship.

4. Trauma Sensitive Language:

What to Say, What Not to Say and Why.

• Understand how specific terminology can influence the mental/emotional and physiological state of students. 
• Gain awareness of how language with connotations, and consciously explore creating a dialogue that seeks to support this group, many of whom may not even recall memories of the trauma.
• Practice teaching asana, pranayama and meditation using trauma-sensitive language.
• Explore ideas and methods for gaining feedback from students regarding trauma-informed teaching to continuously improve and adapt your dialogue, sequences and adjustments.

5. Cross-Cultural Sensitivity:

Taking Your Trauma-informed Yoga to the World

• Explore our own cultural sensitivities, ethics, barriers, problems, morals, religious principles and standards.
• Understand the specific geographic, cultural, religious and behavioral aspects of Nepal and how to safely approach and remain sensitive to the specific needs of the community.
• Gain cultural awareness regarding stereotypes and biases in working with different groups and learn to appreciate certain cultural phenomena that will build trust, a felt sense of safety and openness, which is key, particularly when working with traumatized populations.
• Learn how to maintain therapeutic engagement, presence and to effectively communicate in a cross-cultural setting.

6. Supervised Classes and Evaluation:

Observational sessions and teaching Trauma-informed Yoga to Abused Women and Children in Shelters

• Understand how to plan a class, or series using all of the trauma-informed yoga practices.
• Practice teaching trauma-informed yoga on fellow students to establish confidence, make mistakes, gain supervised feedback and experiment with the techniques learned in the training.
• Practice teaching trauma-informed yoga on a community of women and girls who’ve experienced the trauma of sex slavery, exploitation and abuse to develop confidence and practical experience in the field.
• Evaluate your experiences of teaching trauma-informed yoga to these different groups and identify areas of strength, weakness and how you can further develop your ability when you return home to teach within your community.