“Trauma, by definition, is unbearable and intolerable.”
(Bessel Van der Kolk, “The Body Keeps the Score”)
Period.
Have you ever experienced anything that was unbearable and intolerable? At any time, for any length of time and in any place or with anyone?
Every unhappy, sad, scary, or disappointing encounter may not be traumatic, may not be unbearable or intolerable. But, what is unbearable and intolerable is trauma, and is unique to each individual. So much of the way we integrate experiences is based on our childhood, resiliency factors and sense of well-being.
I imagine every human being has at some point had this kind of experience happen. It does not mean that every person traumatized is living with a form of post trauma patterns, habits or beliefs. It does mean that more than not are suffering. That trying to push what happened out of our mind, to act like it never happened or to just get on with it takes a tremendous amount of energy fueled by feelings and memories of shame, guilt, remorse, self-blame, self-hatred, anger, and grief, to name a few. These feelings prevent us from being able to authentically experience vulnerability, because the experience has been that to be vulnerable is contrary to survival.
Without healthy vulnerability, life looks and feels like a mine field, every step is measured, calculated and evaluated for potential danger. Protection, guarding, masking, incongruent behaviors, and an overall existence of feeling threatened are a way of life.
To open ourselves up to love, joy, success, and feeling our emotions from a traumatized point of view is to risk our very survival. This is not an exaggeration, this is a simple truth, that dare not be spoken out loud for the risk of ridicule, pity or fear of retaliation.
A great truth is that what we know in ourselves and bring forth will heal us and what we don’t know and cover up will harm (or kill) us. Kill, as in quash our innate desire for a joyful and contented life.
Trauma informed yoga acknowledges that every experience is taken into the mind/body/spirit complex and simply addressing only the mind or only the body and ignoring the spirit is incomplete and for whole integration to take place, the mind/body/spirit needs to be united according to each individuals unique needs.
Yoga is union, trauma informed yoga is to unite the damaged, torn, fragmented, wounded, absent, and missing parts of ourselves to make whole again. Trauma informed yoga allows all aspects of who we are to be a part of who we wish to be. The parts we hide, protect, and run away from are welcomed and shown love and understanding while they are gently integrated into the parts we show to the world.
The release of old holding patterns for survival produce
~phenomenal surges of energy and vitality for healthy and balanced decision making, relationships and creativity,
~joy for living
~renewed outlook on life and possibilities
~untold and before unknown potential for living
Releasing the old makes way for the new, with authentic awareness and natural positivity.
Join me starting March 6 for six weeks to not go into your trauma, but to go into the somatic (in and of the body) responses to trauma locked within you. Using the most innovative, simple and accessible research based tools for integrating and balancing ourselves we will:
~Create a safe, intimate and inviting environment (live on line) where the sacred is essential and recognized in each of us.
~Learn how to recognize what a trauma trigger/response is in our own body. (How, when and from where it comes).
~Develop a new relationship with this trigger, shifting our unconscious reaction based in the original trauma to a new conscious response to regulate our body, mind and heart.
~Integrate the old terrifying, paralyzing, and uncomfortable feelings into a fresh, aware and fluid response and relationship with our selves.
~Practice hands on techniques to balance ourselves from the moment unconscious triggers appear to restore balance, calm and especially an empowered new stance.
~Realize a kinder, more loving and joyful relationship with the part of us that was traumatized to who we are right now.
~Complete these six weeks with a radically shifted perspective on how we are able to move out into more of our life in the ways we desire.
If you took this course in 2020, I encourage and welcome you for a renewal of your practice. If you are new to this precious self-care practice, know that you will be held in a tender and strong container of safety, truthfulness and complete acceptance.
Register Here: Resources for Resiliency
Saturdays/ March 6th– April 10th
9:30 am-11:30 am, PST (12:30 pm-2:30 pm, EST)
Suggested Fee $135, sliding scale available for those in need.
Class size limited to 14 on line students, Zoom link sent on confirmation of registration.
Due to the intimate nature of the work, classes are not recorded to maintain the privacy of each student. Each student will receive a handbook of the curriculum for future use.or
Sign up now, payment on line, we begin March 6th.
Application on line.
I am genuinely glad to offer this again and hope you will reach out to me with any questions, concerns or comments. denise@divinelightyoga.com
See you soon and know, each conscious breath reminds us of who we are.
love,
Denise