Trauma affects us holistically, causing reactions in the mind, body and spirit. After a traumatic event, memories are stored in the body and our physiology may continue to react to perceived danger long after the threat is gone. This memory and the body’s reaction serves a purpose in survival because it is important to remember past experiences to protect ourselves in the future. For some people this reaction resolves on it’s own over time, but for others this reaction continues, leading to a possible diagnosis of PTSD. Because individuals who suffer from frequent traumatic reactions have continuous painful messages coming from the body, it is common for them to disconnect the mind from the body. This disconnection is an understandable coping mechanism but unfortunately it leads to other problems such as difficulty connecting with self and others and missing out on being fully alive in the moment. Individuals suffering from PTSD have difficulty experiencing life in the present moment since their mind and body are often bringing them back to the past. Individuals with PTSD also have a difficult time self-regulating and have lower heart rate variability (HRV) which is an indicator of the nervous system's ability to change states. They often have higher sympathetic nervous system activation, the part of the nervous system that controls the "fight or flight" response.
Recent research done at the Justice Resource Institute’s Trauma Center is showing a decrease in symptoms of PTSD when yoga is added to treatment. More information on their research can be found in the links below. Because yoga focuses on connecting to the body and breath and the practice of being present in the moment, it addresses many of the symptoms of PTSD. Yoga builds the sense of connection to the self and the ability to notice and tolerate the inner experience. Research has shown that the practice of yoga improves heart rate variability (HVR) and can reduce the sympathetic nervous system's activation. Therefore, yoga can be an important complement to traditional therapies for trauma.
Articles and research related to yoga and PTSD:
A Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Group is now forming at Midtown Psychotherapy Associates. Trauma-sensitive yoga is a specific type of yoga practice focusing on making yoga safe and accessible to trauma survivors. Trauma-sensitive yoga uses the themes of experiencing the present moment, making choices, taking effective action and creating rhythms. Through yoga we can experiment with breathing, moving, strengthening, stretching and resting. Education is provided in self-regulation skills, mindfulness and skills to improve the ability to direct attention away from the ruminative thought process. Care is taken to make the environment comfortable and the members are in control of their choices and what they are doing with their bodies at all times. Trauma survivors often face triggers to their trauma reactions in everyday life, and the yoga sessions may also be triggering at times. Therefore it is important that members are also working with an individual therapist with whom they can process any reactions from their yoga practice. This group is open to adult women only and will be held on Saturdays 12:00-1:15 PM at Midtown Psychotherapy Associates. Please visit www.midtownyogatherapy.com for more information or email info@bethzeigler.com.
-Beth Zeigler, LPC, RYT
-Beth Zeigler, LPC, RYT
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