In the world of trauma recovery, innovative approaches that merge different disciplines hold immense potential. A notable example is the integration of Applied Polyvagal Theory with yoga principles. Join us in reflection of our recent conversation with Dr. Arielle Schwartz, a renowned somatics expert, as she shares insights on the polyvagal perspective and its implications for trauma healing and somatic practices.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapeutic approach that can be used to help individuals process and recover from traumatic experiences. It was developed by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s after she discovered a decrease in her anxiety while moving her eyes from side to side.

To use a wide repertoire successfully, we need to deepen our understanding of each tool without marrying ourselves to it. Widening the repertoire of tools creates choice points, introduces options, and cultivates cognitive flexibility and creative thinking, all factors that promote health for trauma survivors. A trauma-informed approach requires an integration of approaches.

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), also known as “tapping,” is a mind-body intervention that utilizes the capabilities of acupressure points to release anxiety and lower stress levels.

By understanding the crucial role of the vagus nerve in establishing balance within the autonomic nervous system and tapping into the mind-body connection through yoga, we can embark on a transformative journey toward healing.

Scrutiny of others who are in anti-oppression work with us can appear to be a beneficial element of our collective culture. Our desire to build an alternative to supremacy culture seems so naturally to lead us to vigilance. And yet, many of us have seen how our drive to hold accountability in ourselves and others can create a form of relating that is at a minimum corrosive, and at worst, a way of operating that can impact mental health, livelihoods, and remove all possibility for creating a liberatory collective.

Healing from trauma is a profound and intricate process that extends far beyond mere catharsis or storytelling. It involves re-patterning our experiences and transforming how we hold them.

Understanding the dynamics of trauma and its consequences is crucial, especially when it comes to the narratives we share and consume.

Navigating stress and trauma requires self-awareness, trauma-informed approaches, and a critical examination of the damaging effects of trauma porn. By prioritizing healing and acquiring new resources, individuals can embark on a journey of recovery and resilience.

When is it time to focus on healing - processing stuck emotions and changing old patterns of behaviour - and when is it time to focus on “doing”?

The physical experiences of conflict are often overlooked but can be incredibly painful and stress-inducing. Working with the bodily responses that can come up during conflict allows us to access a deeper perspective around processing the conflict in a healthy way.

Children’s big emotions can leave us scratching our heads. We want to nurture their young bodies and minds. We also want fewer meltdowns, easier bedtimes, and peaceful transitions. A somatic approach can help navigate challenging emotions and behaviors—especially for those moments when the spaghetti hits the fan.

Working with our triggers to re-tune our nervous system and re-write our story.

Part Two of Kai Cheng Thom’s explorative and empathic approach on the topic of Embodied Conflict Resolution.

We cannot practice embodiment without practicing awareness of who we are and where we come from, and we cannot practice conflict resolution without being aware of the metaphorical water in which we swim.
- Kai Cheng Thom

Love fills in the gap of loneliness and generates a euphoric sense of belonging, creating one of the strongest, naturally produced pain relievers. As humans, we are also hardwired to seek out and maintain these social bonds as a means of preservation. The irony for many of us is that just because we desire to be loved and have a biological drive for it does not mean that we can receive it—or for that matter—even tolerate the presence of it.

If we wish to transform the “I can’t” response into “I can," we are called to touch upon the cultivation of compassion for ourselves. We are called to tap into our courage and strength, to lean towards our own experience of suffering, both for ourselves and for the world.
- Atira Tan

The Gifts of Trauma, an excerpt from the book: Yoga & Psyche: Integrating the Paths of Yoga and Psychology for Healing, Transformation, and Joy by Mariana Caplan, PhD, MFT.