Yoga
Why Yoga?
The effects of trauma can be felt both in the body and the mind, yoga access both these domains. A common symptom of trauma is that the body is in a constant state of alertness and fear. The body still thinks it is in the traumatic situation, it is in a state of hyperarousal, fuelling the autonomic nervous system. Yoga can calm down the automatic nervous system. Trauma can lead to a disconnect between mind and body, survivors can even tend to numb out their sensations. Yoga teaches you to cope with these sensations and release the tensions created during trauma.
The fact is, all of us are living with the invisible wounds of some kind of war. Yoga helps you to let go of the things that don't serve you anymore
Dan Nevins
Yoga helps regulate your heart rate variability
The regularity of your heartbeats is very important for mental and physical health. For a distressed person heartbeats are normally out of sync. Below you see heart rate scans made by Bessel Van Der Kolk, and published in the book “The Body Keeps the Score”.
Heart Rate Variability in a person with trauma
Heart Rate Variability in a healthy person
How to start with yoga
- Join A Local Yoga class in your area
- Try some yoga videos shown below
- Try the following 7 poses
Yoga videos for trauma
Here are some yoga videos from youtube that are great for trauma and general wellbeing. Two favourite yoga teachers on youtube are:
– Cat Meffan
– Boho Beautiful