“We are traumatized species.” Just think about that for a moment. Let it sit there. Ask yourself ‘Why?” How does that affect the way you might teach a yoga class or work with a client?
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Steven Porges asks us to try to understand that trauma is part of everyone’s life. The other part that he emphasizes is that trauma is not the event. Trauma is the personalized reaction, the response. By treating trauma as the event, we do a disservice to those who have survived trauma
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We live in a world replete with trauma. We are a traumatised species and would benefit from acknowledging this reality. Surprisingly, even in the ‘yoga’ or ‘wellbeing’ world there is little public or legal discussion about what our bodies need to feel safe. The social, cultural and legal definitions and expectations of safety and risk often have little to do with the unspoken and largely misunderstood needs of our nervous system
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It’s one of the many reasons we have stepped up our online offerings in terms of short courses and workshops training teachers and therapists to work in a constantly shifting environment and equipping them with the professional skills to work online with clients facing varying degrees of trauma, depression, anxiety, chronic pain. We are living through a pandemic with many of us still in, or facing future lockdown scenarios. And with that comes economic crises and mental health epidemics.
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We are collectively in survival mode. Individuals are struggling to stay safe, well and socially connected by using the technology we have at hand. Our work as yoga therapists and teachers is needed more than ever. And it’s vital we create and nurture environments of safety, while equipping ourselves with the necessary skills to nurture individuals facing the challenge of trauma and mental health issues. We hope the trainings and courses we offer can help you, whether as a therapist or teacher, to serve those we aim to heal, better and more safely ?
