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Lesson 1: What is Trauma?

gabrielle 17 June 2024

The Blue Knot Foundation defines trauma as “a state of high arousal in which normal coping mechanisms are overwhelmed in response to a threat”. Trauma can be an ongoing emotional response that stems from experiencing a life-threatening or highly distressing event. It can affect a person’s self-regulation, sense of safety and their sense of self. Most people accessing support from mental health sectors and community services have experienced adversity, interpersonal violence and overwhelming life experiences. These are the people The Yoga Foundation works with each week.

The prevalence of trauma:

  • There are over 5 million survivors of childhood trauma in Australia (Blue Knot Foundation)
  • More than 1 in 4 Australian adults are impacted by complex trauma (Blue Knot Foundation)
  • 1 in 3 girls experience sexual abuse by the age of 18 (Blue Knot Foundation)
  • 1 in 5 boys experience sexual abuse by the age of 18 (Blue Knot Foundation)
  • 90% of public mental health clients have been exposed to multiple forms of trauma (Jennings 2004)
  • 75% of people in substance abuse treatments report histories of trauma and abuse (Jennings 2004)

The thing is that you can talk about your experience. And it might help you process it, understand the workings of your neuro system, but it doesn’t heal you and it doesn’t help you to feel safe in your own skin again. Because that’s the experience of trauma… your body is no longer a safe place to inhabit.” – DV Survivor

Yoga can enable people to inhabit their bodies again and to start to feel physically and psychologically safe.

Trauma-Informed Yoga

Trauma informed yoga was designed to respond to the unique needs of trauma survivors. 

At a minimum it provides a safe, secure, and predictable environment surrounded by a supportive community. It is not really a style of yoga but a way of sharing the practice of yoga.

Current research exploring how the brain and body react to trauma and how trauma could be ‘stored’ in the body means body-based therapies like yoga are in demand. 

In-depth research and lived experience have established that an approach to recovery which includes the body, the emotions and the cognitive is needed for recovery from trauma. The Blue Knot Foundation – Australia’s National Centre of Excellence for Complex Trauma – states:

“This is important because complex trauma disrupts the connections between these different functions. The aim of therapy is to foster connections between them and to re-integrate (reconnect) emotions, sensations, awareness, and thoughts. Body-based approaches such as trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness can help the body and mind reconnect.”

The integrated system of yoga has much to offer trauma survivors.

In summary:

  • Recovery should involve all aspects of the person, including their physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being.
  • Yoga is designed to support people to manage life’s challenges and can provide them with the tools they need to self-regulate and cope.
  • Yoga, and other somatic practices, can enable the body and mind to reconnect after disassociation.
Healing and Recovery

There are lots of ways people heal from complex trauma but it can be hard to heal in isolation. 

Just as people are harmed within relationships, people also recover in relationship. This can be with family, friends, fellow survivors, in counselling or in a group, or a combination of all of these. 

Yoga provides an excellent opportunity for connection with self, and others, to heal.

Goal: The aim of all trauma-informed practices is to promote healing and minimise re-traumatisation.