The practice of coming back to your body, on your terms.
Trauma-informed yoga is a way of practicing that prioritizes choice, safety, and the slow restoration of trust between you and your own body.
Most yoga classes are built around a sequence. The teacher leads; the room follows. That works for plenty of bodies. It does not work for every body — especially not for bodies that have learned, for whatever reason, that being told what to do isn't always safe.
This practice runs differently. Cues are invitational. Adjustments are off the table unless you ask. The pace is built around your nervous system, not a class plan. There's always time for stillness.
Movement is medicine. Stillness opens pathways. That's the work.
How this practice runs
Four things that make trauma-informed yoga different from a standard class — and what they look like in practice.
Invitational language
Every cue is an offer, not a directive. "If it feels available, you might..." instead of "now do this." The grammar carries the consent. You stay the one in charge of your body.
No physical assists
Hands-off by default. I will not touch you, adjust you, or come close without explicit permission. If you ever want adjustments, you can ask and I'll respond. Until then, your body stays yours.
Predictability and pace
You'll know roughly what to expect — a check-in, breath, movement, stillness. Predictability is part of the safety. Pace is built around your nervous system, not a class plan. If you need to stop or slow, we stop or slow.
Time for integration
Most Westernized yoga skips the part where the practice actually lands — shavasana, stillness, the quiet at the end. That part isn't optional here. It's where the nervous system finds the new baseline.
Lineage
Where this comes from
The trauma-informed framework I teach is grounded in Transcending Sexual Trauma through Yoga (TSTY) — a teacher certification developed by Zabie Yamasaki. TSTY is rooted in polyvagal theory, invitational language, and the lived realities of working with survivors of sexual trauma.
It's the most rigorous trauma-informed yoga training in the field. The framework shapes everything about how I work — the language, the pacing, the consent-based approach, the refusal to make claims this practice can't keep.
I came to this work through my own lived experience, then formalized it through training. The certification is the proof. The lived experience is the reason. More about my training and credentials.
Common questions
What is trauma-informed yoga?
Trauma-informed yoga is a way of practicing that prioritizes choice, safety, and the slow restoration of trust between you and your own body. Cues are invitational, not directive. Physical assists are off the table by default. The practice is structured to support nervous system regulation rather than peak physical performance.
How is trauma-informed yoga different from regular yoga?
Most yoga classes use directive language — "now do this, now do that." Trauma-informed yoga uses invitational language — "if it feels available, you might..." The practice is paced to your nervous system, not to a sequence. There are no hands-on assists unless you specifically ask. And there is always time for stillness and integration.
Will you offer hands-on assists?
Hands-on assists will be offered each session, but it's at your discretion. Trauma-informed practice means hands-off by default. Cues are verbal and invitational. Your body stays yours.
Do I have to talk about what I've been through?
No. You can share as much or as little as you want. Most clients don't go into details — they don't need to. The work happens in the body, not in the story.
What is TSTY (Transcending Sexual Trauma through Yoga)?
TSTY is a teacher training program developed by Zabie Yamasaki for yoga teachers and clinicians working with survivors of sexual trauma. It draws on polyvagal theory, invitational language, and choice-based instruction. I'm TSTY-certified — it's the lineage this practice comes from.
Can trauma-informed yoga replace therapy?
No. Yoga is most useful as part of a larger constellation of care — therapy, community, recovery support, medical care when needed. The practice can support nervous system regulation and help you reconnect with your body. It cannot replace what a licensed clinician offers. Clinicians can refer here.
Is trauma-informed yoga only for survivors?
No. The principles — invitational language, choice, no unsolicited touch, time for integration — make the practice safer and more accessible for everyone. Anyone whose nervous system runs hot, who carries chronic stress, who has been through any kind of hard thing, can practice this way.
What does a trauma-informed session look like?
A brief check-in, breath practice, movement paced to your body, and time for stillness. Sequences vary by what your nervous system needs that day. Predictability is part of the safety — you'll know roughly what to expect. More on private sessions.
What is invitational language?
Invitational language offers options instead of commands. Instead of "now lift your arms," it might be "if it feels available, you might explore lifting your arms." The grammar matters — every cue holds space for you to choose differently.
What's the difference between trauma-informed yoga and somatic yoga?
There's overlap. Somatic yoga focuses on internal sensation and slow, mindful movement. Trauma-informed yoga emphasizes choice, safety, and the principles of working with people who have experienced trauma. A class can be both. Most of mine are.
Where to go next
Wherever you came in, there's a path that fits.