Yoga as a therapeutic tool covers a broad range of modalities, incorporating elements from both mind-body approaches and psychotherapy.
Yoga therapy is a well established treatment for depression and anxiety. These disorders are often seen together; think about how they impact the whole system on a practical level; if the mind and body are sluggish, and energy is slow moving, then breath work and movements to uplift and energize the system will be offered. If the mind and body are overactive, racing and agitated, then meeting individuals where they are at, and then helping them to slow the system down is the goal.
Trauma informed yoga
(also called trauma sensitive yoga) TSY is working with an understanding that an individual who has been through a trauma and is experiencing symptoms of PTSD has a fight/flight/freeze system that is most likely experiencing a nervous system dysregulation, and the person cannot self regulate, in the way they used to. The person may experience extreme levels of over activation or on the other end of the spectrum, a shut down of the system. Trauma sensitive yoga can provide a physical experience that offers a safe environment, choice, empowerment, and a belief in the individual's capacity for self healing. It involves working with the breath and body to support the individual in starting to tolerate their internal experience, a greater body awareness and new patterns to allow them to live in the present moment.
