Are you a yoga teacher interested in working with populations who have experienced trauma?
Have you ever felt worried you might "trigger" a student by saying or cueing the wrong thing?
Specialized "trauma-informed" yoga classes can offer those who've experienced trauma with the tools to support healing and post-traumatic growth.
But what can teachers who don't have this specialized training do in their general group classes to create a safe and supportive environment for anyone who walks through the door?
In this workshop, Lauren Turner calls upon her experience working with Veterans and First Responders to share
key strategies for how to incorporate trauma-informed principles into general group classes.What we'll cover:
- A shared definition of what "trauma-informed yoga" is
- An overview of the anatomy of stress and the relationship between yoga & PTSD
- Outline the differences between a "trauma-informed" yoga class and a general group class
- Identify key principles when working with those who experience trauma and discuss how best to incorporate into a public class setting
- Discuss strategies to promote safety in public group classes
- Work as a group to share specific examples of how these strategies can show up in our teaching
The goal of this workshop is to increase the confidence of yoga instructors working in public group settings and give them tools to support their students.The session is not designed to be a replacement for trauma-informed yoga techniques. It may however serve as a stepping stone for those who are interested in continued education in the topic.
The session will combine lecture (60%) with group discussion (40%)
More on the presenter:Lauren Turner is a trauma-informed yoga instructor and the Founder & Executive Director of nonprofit, Warrior Within Yoga Project. After managing and owning a studio, Lauren shifted her focus to working with those who have experienced trauma. For the past four years she's worked directly with Veterans and First Responders in Massachusetts, providing mind-body tools to build resilience and support post-traumatic growth.
