The importance of training on somatic-relational aspects related to trauma for yoga teachers

In the acceleration that characterizes the digital age, our body remains constantly hyper-activated. We live at the mercy of the flow of events, constantly struggling to process the experiences we go through. These experiences remain in the body, and clinically, we observe alterations in the sleep-wake cycle, appetite, tolerance to waiting, and so-called "psychosomatic" symptoms.

Hyper-modernity continuously proposes this somato-psychic dysregulation, which predisposes us to trauma. In fact, trauma is not only the result of dramatic events but rather the intersection of adverse conditions or dysfunctional relationships with the difficulty of restoring a sense of experience.
 

Therefore, it is of utmost importance, especially in an intimate and deeply focused setting like a yoga class, to consider that each student brings their entire story onto the mat, including both recent and ancient traumas. The role of the yoga teacher can be crucial in determining how the student inhabits their traumatized body.

A teacher who faces such complexity needs to be able to prevent and manage critical situations where trauma resurfaces in its disorganizing force.

For a yoga class to be trauma-informed, the teacher must have a deep understanding of the neurobiological and psychological processes underlying trauma and be familiar with their own traumatic experiences.
 

Our goal is to support yoga teachers who aim to care for their students with an integrated approach that takes into account the delicate body-mind connection.