Some thoughts on "trauma- informed yoga" and collective healing

I had a conversation with one of my yoga students the other day on the phone about “trauma-informed yoga”. She is a psychotherapist and we’ve been working collaboratively for the past 2 years on bringing together my approach to yoga, the body and land-based spirituality to her therapy. The topic of “trauma-informed work” is something that has come up a lot in both my work as a yoga teacher and as a community organizer. And with some more time to slow down and reflect at home lately I thought I would share insights and ideas that came up during my conversation with my student, since this is such a buzz word and I think there is a lot of confusion and curiosity around the topic, with little connection to “trauma informed yoga” as it lands on BIPOC and queer, trans and femmes specifically.

I don’t claim any expertise in this topic, I only am offering a small slice of what could be a huge book! Also, I’m sharing because this is something that I don’t have a choice to think about, living in this contested, unique, strange, wonderful brown body of mine, and teaching from a liberatory lens.

Also acknowledging that everything I do is built upon or in continuation of a lineage and tradition. It’s a collection of cultural, intellectual, action-oriented labor and spiritual teachings aimed at disrupting social, political & cultural norms originating in anti-colonial efforts, not owned by anyone person, or any entity in the U.S for sure, but is part of this larger transnational tradition of Black, Indigenous, South Asian, People of Color working towards a life-affirming practice of freedom and liberation.

For instance, one of my greatest teachers, Grace Lee Boggs, a Chinese American, activist who was politicized in Chicago and later spent decades organizing in Detroit alongside a number of Black leaders says that the revolution has to begin within us. She has a very clear understanding of the work we need to do as individuals in healing our own trauma, and how that contributes to the collective. That is what this tradition is about, with each generation and movement there is an evolution while staying rooted to the core teachings. This is integral to my spiritual practice and thinking about how do I situate myself in this work, how do I relate to my students and work for future generations to come while making my ancestors proud <3

How do I think about trauma?

In my experience, trauma is not just a one-time, catastrophic event. It goes beyond simplified understandings such as assault and “extreme abuse.” Trauma includes emotional neglect, lack of boundaries, having our realities denied, plus many other things that aren’t typically seen that way.

At its core: trauma disconnects us from self.

It conditions us to look outside of ourselves for worth.

It conditions us to believe that who we are (or are not) isn’t acceptable, and we must play the role or perform to be safe, to belong or be lovable.

So, we overthink, people please, engage in codependent relationships, + stay paralyzed in our own indecisiveness because we lack self trust.

So, to practice being in our bodies, getting to understand ourselves as we move on the yoga mat is about healing, and its about reclaiming ourselves.

The mindful breathing and meditation practices are us engaging with the work to become aware of our habits, patterns, + behaviors. Not from a space of judgement, but from a place of self observation. That’s how we learn how we’ve been/are socially conditioned.

Once we are aware, we can begin unlearning. Begin to take apart pre-prescribed narratives we’ve been sold. To question the erasure of whole truth and our stories.

We can begin to say no + have clear boundaries.

We can begin to choose ourselves and accept that will disappoint others sometimes.

We can begin to attract relationships that are based on mutual respect and evolution.

We can begin to reclaim and reframe to find things that were lost and hidden on purpose, then reclaim them in our own bodies! <3