yoga as healing for survivors of sexual abuse & trauma

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The next group series begins 12 February 2025 in Nelson for 8 weeks & continue to run term to term throughout the year.

Yoga as Healing is a trauma sensitive yoga group series to re-connect with your body and find your way home to yourself.

Our past experiences live in our bodies and nervous systems. These experiences don’t just impact our mind but also our bodies and how we feel and experience the world and relationships. In the field of trauma healing, body-oriented treatment options are becoming a valuable part of treatment. Key trauma theorists including Bessel van der Kolk, Peter Levine and Judith Herman have explored how we can use somatic or felt experiences – including trauma sensitive yoga – as part of our healing process.

My Trauma Sensitive and Yoga for Healing programs are a body-oriented approach integrating evidence-based Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TSY) and Yoga Therapy specifically developed to support healing from symptoms of complex trauma, developmental trauma, PTSD and mental health challenges. I’ll guide you through a series of gentle breath and movement practices to provide opportunities to notice sensations in your body and make choices based on how you feel. The focus is not on achieving physical forms but of noticing and re-connecting with inner sensations as part of your personal journey towards healing. By building a connection to your body and how you feel in the present moment, you can consciously weave all the parts of yourself that feel fragmented back to a connected whole, the essence of self.

This program is thoughtfully curated over 8 weeks to provide a gradual introduction to the practices and to manage any discomfort that may arise. Weekly themes are offered such as orienting, (re)connection, self compassion, regulation and rest. A pre-group intake session is offered to answer any questions you may have and a workbook / journal is provided for further integration.

These classes are not therapy, nor a replacement for therapy you might currently be receiving.

You’re welcome to contact me at jenholmesbeamer@gmail.com to learn more or to sign up.

Inquire

Why is it useful to feel my body?

Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TC-TSY) has been developed by the Justice Resource Institite’s Trauma Center in Brookline, Massachusetts specifically for survivors of complex trauma or chronic, treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). TC-TSY draws on trauma theory, attachment theory, neuroscience and hatha yoga.

Research studies by Bessel A. van der Kolk and colleagues have shown that this particular approach to yoga (TC-TSY) significantly reduced PTSD symptoms in 8-weeks for many participants. This approach to yoga was also found to improve functioning by increasing tolerances to physical and sensory experiences and to increase emotional awareness and affect tolerance (Bessel van der Kolk et al, 2014).

In the face of traumatic experiences, disconnecting from and not feeling the body can be a useful strategy for survival. However, in the long term, not being able to feel or tolerate feeling the body can impact physical, social
and psychological well being, quality of life and relationship self and others.

Trauma Sensitive Yoga helps to reconnect with your body and to regulate your nervous system in a way that’s tolerable.

Each person’s journey is unique. Possible effects of the practice might include:

  • To reconnect with and befriend your body
  • To develop emotional awareness, emotional regulation skills & safe co-regulation
  • To tune into your body and tolerate sensations in a safe way
  • To improve functioning
  • Any other purpose unique to you

Sample Class.

“Contemporary neuroscience teaches us that our sense of ourselves is anchored in a vital connection with our bodies ” ~ B van der Kolk

Client Testimonials

Jen is a sensitive, compassionate and skilled therapist. In my time with Jen, we have focused on EMDR for PTSD and pain management. Jen always brings a depth to our sessions which is integral to continue healing beyond the sessions

~ K Fergusson

The reminders that everything was optional and the gentle, supportive nature of the facilitation put me back in control.

I really appreciate how there are always options given with poses and depending on what is right for you and your body, you can choose what feels right for you. Jen’s language that she uses is extremely empowering and enables me choice and autonomy about movement that is right for me. As someone that struggles to identify what is happening for me in my body due to dissociation, being able to connect to my body in a way that feels safe, and empowering has been so healing!

Jen has such a calming and welcoming presence which is reflected in the way she runs the session. At times when I was nervous or in physical pain and unsure whether I would attend the class, I was able to put nerves at ease by listening to Jen and letting her guide the session. To my surprise and immense relief through engaging with the yoga I was actually able to shift pain.

A yoga that reminds me I have choices and to listen to my body

A yoga that relaxes me, relieves stress, reconnects me to myself.

This is the only thing I have been leaving the house for besides food. Thank you for the opportunity. It was wonderful!

I can’t express enough how healing these classes have been for me and have enabled me to have a sense of empowerment about my healing and my body.

Jen offers a high degree of expertise and skill in the group classes. The safe environment that is created because of this and her level of caring. It's a safe spot for me to be able to be vulnerable. I also like the opportunity of being able to connect with others who are also on a healing journey. I feel validated and very much cared about.

I think that the yoga videos provided after class will break down/transform the disconnection I feel I have with my body because of needing to survive trauma. I can only imagine it will be a game changer for me. Healing from trauma is a thin thin line at times.

Details

  • Time: IN PERSON Wednesdays 9.15 am – 10:45 am OR 10.45 am – 12:15am / ONLINE Mondays 6:15 PM – 7:15 PM
  • Date: 8 weeks from 12 February 2025 (in person) or 10 February 2025 (online)
  • Location: Koru Studio, Nelson

This group series is offered for 8 weeks and funded under ACC Sensitive Claims (ISSC) (as Short Term Group Therapy) for survivors of sexual trauma if you have an approved claim.

Feel free to get in touch to explore options.

For more information and resources about TC-TSY click here.

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