Trauma-Informed Care
Through Yoga & Embodied Meditation
A healing pathway for those recovering from trauma by creating a safe, supportive space for self-exploration, emotional regulation, and body awareness. My practice fosters a holistic approach to healing—addressing both the physical, emotional and historical aspects of trauma—and can support you in reclaiming your sense of safety, strength, and connection.
I guide you to heal at your own pace—no rush, no pressure, just deep, compassionate support for your unique journey.
Upcoming Trauma-Informed Events
Dharma for the Heart
April 14 - 18, join all or one session
Yoga Roots Odeceixe, SW Algarve, Portugal - 6-7.30pm
Join me for five days of meditation and dharma talks around cultivating the four brahmaviharas, heart qualities. We will explore metta/loving kindness; karuna/compassion; mudita/joy; and upekka/equanimity, through mindfulness meditation, discussion and teachings found in both Buddhist and Yoga Philosophy.
Soft Landings for Deep Rest
October 14, 15, 17 and 18 - join all or one session
Yoga Roots Odeceixe, SW Algarve, Portugal - 6-7.30pm
Join me for four days of gentle trauma-informed yoga asana designed to create a soft landing for yourself so that, no matter what you are going through, you can be kinder, gentler and more generous with yourself.
*Key aspects that make trauma-informed yoga different from mainstream yoga:
Safety and Consent
In trauma-informed yoga you are encouraged to feel in control of your body and its movements. You are always in your choice. Creating safety means providing a container for survivors to feel supported and at the center of their own experiences. All dimensions of safety are compassionately fostered, including the physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual.
Trust
We move at the speed of trust. Building trust refers to the rapport between the trauma-informed facilitator and the participant or survivor. This might mean creating a framework or protocol in the yoga space, that provides clarity around systems and processes; honours boundaries and practices ongoing, informed consent.
Choice
Trauma-Informed Yoga often includes softer, more restorative practices such as soft flows, breathwork and meditation. While physically challenging or fast-paced styles may help mobilise a frozen trauma response or state, and can be offered as a choice, my style tends towards what is considered more accessible or nurturing for someone with trauma history.
This framework of care prioritises survivor choice and decision making, by offering choices and using empowering language, all which can help trauma survivors regain a sense of power and control.
Collaboration
This pillar entails working in collaboration with trauma survivors, with the understanding of how power dynamics and identity location inform processes related to access to care and safety. It is essential that survivors are always involved in their own care and feel empowered to make choices that feel best for them.
Empowerment
Empowerment is a central theme in the care of trauma survivors under this framework, which prioritises practices and policies that foster healing and growth. A key component to this pillar is through the use of invitational and empowering language.
*Source: The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC, 2017) presents core frameworks of trauma-informed care.
Cultural Humility and Competence
This framework involves a lifelong process of creating culturally and historically affirming practices. This means honouring survivors’ various intersecting identities and lived experiences; and how they shape the way survivors move through the world, who they trust and what helps them feel safe and seen.
An essential component to this pillar means acknowledging systemic oppression, power dynamics and the ongoing impact of (neo) colonialism. Without this, we are simply individualizing trauma without addressing the conditions that create and sustain it. This is a red flag.
Free Morning Meditation
Begin Your Day with Clarity, Calmness, and Intention.
Mindful Breathing, Gentle Awareness, Positive Affirmations
For Beginners & Experienced Meditators