Trauma-Informed Yoga: Beyond Buzzwords—Empowerment on the Mat and in Healthcare
By Anne Catherine Spear
“Teaching yoga is about empowering people to explore their own mind, body, and spirit—it isn’t about imposing a design or method onto someone else. Yoga is not a discipline you force others to follow; it’s an invitation to self-discovery, choice, and embodied wisdom.”
We hear trauma-informed everywhere now—on studio schedules, in doula trainings, even in hospital policy statements. But trauma-informed isn’t a trendy badge. As Michelle Cassandra Johnson writes in Skill in Action, it’s part of a larger movement to radicalize yoga—using its ethical roots to foster equity, healing, and justice. Dr. Gail Parker, in Trauma-Informed Yoga for Survivors of Racism, reminds us that without acknowledging systemic harms like race-based trauma and gendered violence, our yoga is incomplete.
What Trauma-Informed Really Means
Trauma isn’t just “big events.” It’s anything that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope—birth experiences, medical procedures, discrimination, violence, chronic stress, or grief. Trauma-informed care recognizes these realities and works to avoid re-traumatization.
SAMHSA describes trauma-informed practice through the “Four Rs” and six key principles—Realize, Recognize, Respond, and Resist re-traumatization, guided by Safety, Trustworthiness, Peer Support, Collaboration, Empowerment, and Cultural Humility. Johnson calls this practicing yoga as collective care, while Parker highlights the need to center communities historically harmed by racism and inequity.
Language Matters: Invitational vs. Directive Cues
Johnson notes that language can either reinforce hierarchy or invite agency. Parker adds that casual comments about appearance or ability can carry racial or gendered weight and inadvertently re-traumatize.
How We Carry Ourselves as Teachers
Trauma-informed care isn’t only about words—it’s the energy and posture we bring into a room.
Recently, I observed a male teacher prepare for class, then settle into constructive rest pose—knees bent and splayed open—while greeting arriving female students. Even for a female teacher, such an exposed posture can feel inappropriate. For many—including survivors of sexual assault or abusive relationships—this can trigger discomfort or a trauma response. Parker’s work reminds us that subtle cues—body language, positioning, tone—speak volumes.
Trauma-informed teaching asks us to:
Choose neutral, non-exposing postures when students enter or leave class.
Consider sight lines and vulnerability.
Model professionalism and boundaries. Johnson writes, “The way we show up—before the first breath—is already teaching.”
Creating Physical Spaces that Signal Equality and Safety
In my perinatal classes, I arrange mats in a circle so students face one another. This quietly communicates equality and community—there’s no “front of the room” where authority resides, just a shared circle that says, we are in this together.
When moving into more vulnerable postures, like Supta Baddha Konasana, I guide students to turn their heads toward the circle’s center. Facing away preserves privacy and nervous-system safety while still maintaining connection—an approach Parker champions when teaching groups impacted by race-based trauma.
Women, Marginalization, and Trauma-Informed Care
Women’s experiences—including sexual assault and intimate partner abuse—are often under-acknowledged. Even in wellness spaces, a casual comment or unexpected touch can evoke memories of powerlessness. Johnson emphasizes that ignoring these realities perpetuates harm, while Parker calls for centering all marginalized identities in trauma-informed work.
Here in Lafayette, MESA (Moving to End Sexual Assault) offers advocacy, survivor support, and education. Partnering with or learning from organizations like MESA deepens our understanding and reminds students and patients: Your dignity and safety matter here.
Other Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Speaking about a single student without permission.
Commenting on non-essential details like clothing or body shape.
Using humor or teasing at someone’s expense.
Assuming ability or experience (“This should be easy”).
Trauma-Informed Teaching and the Eight Limbs of Yoga
Trauma-informed teaching is yoga philosophy in action. The Eight Limbs of Yoga provide the moral framework:
Yamas (Ethical Restraints):
Ahimsa (Non-harming)—create physical and emotional safety.
Satya (Truthfulness)—be transparent in choices and limits.
Asteya (Non-stealing)—don’t take agency or trust from students.
Brahmacharya (Balanced Energy)—hold healthy boundaries.
Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)—release control over others’ journeys.
Niyamas (Observances):Śauca (Purity)—maintain respectful spaces.
Santoṣa (Contentment)—accept each student’s process.
Tapas (Discipline)—commit to self-regulation and growth.
Svādhyāya (Self-study)—reflect on bias and privilege.
Īśvara Praṇidhāna (Surrender)—trust the greater unfolding.
Breathwork, inward focus, and meditative states—Pranayama through Samadhi—support nervous-system regulation and liberation (moksha). Johnson calls this “skill in action”: applying yoga’s ethics to dismantle harm. Parker shows that this includes race-based and gender-based trauma, ensuring no student is left unseen.
Why This Matters
Trauma-informed approaches improve patient adherence, reduce staff burnout, and create inclusive yoga communities . By including women’s and racialized experiences and drawing on resources like MESA, Johnson’s Skill in Action, and Parker’s Trauma-Informed Yoga for Survivors of Racism, we uphold yoga’s deepest teaching: unity, compassion, and liberation for all.
Further Reading & Resources
SAMHSA. Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach. Link
SAMHSA. Trauma-Informed Approaches and Programs. Link
Yoga Journal. “22 Ways to Use Invitational Language in Your Yoga Classes.” Link
Michelle Cassandra Johnson. Skill in Action: Radicalizing Your Yoga Practice to Create a Just World. — Uses yoga ethics to confront systemic injustice and create equitable spaces.
Dr. Gail Parker. Trauma-Informed Yoga for Survivors of Racism. — Essential reading on race-based trauma and inclusive, healing yoga practices.
MESA (Moving to End Sexual Assault). Lafayette-based advocacy and survivor support. Link
📦 Need Support or Want to Learn More?
Need Support or Want to Learn More?
MESA – Moving to End Sexual Assault (Lafayette, CO)
24-Hour Confidential Hotline: 303-443-7300
Website: movingtoendsexualassault.org
Offers survivor-centered advocacy, education, and community outreach to end sexual violence and support healing.
Even a single trauma-informed action—listening without judgment, sharing a resource, or adjusting your classroom environment—can help someone feel seen and safe.
