Teaching
Trauma-Sensitive Yoga

Online

Wednesdays, May 15 - 29
6-7:30 pm
*YA CEUS available

This three part series is geared towards yoga teachers, yoga therapists, and mindfulness guides who want to learn more about teaching trauma-sensitive group classes and individual sessions. In a post-pandemic world where we collectively experienced global trauma, this work is more applicable than ever. This series will provide the groundwork to help you support individuals across the spectrum of trauma - from the individuals who might show up in your group classes to working in populations with high trauma exposure such as jails/prisons, mental/behavioral health centers, recovery centers or medical facilities.                                                                       

Each class will begin with a 30-minute trauma-sensitive practice. This is intended not only to offer a teaching example, but also to connect as a group and ground the nervous system. The following hour will be devoted to discussion to create a deeper awareness and understanding of trauma and what it means to be trauma-sensitive. The final class will allow space for you to integrate your learnings through a brief practice teaching exercise in a supportive environment of your peers. Following the completion of this course, you’ll receive resources for continued learning.

May 15: Trauma and the Nervous System: Why Yoga?

Learn about different types of trauma and their effect on the nervous system, as well as the ways that yoga can be helpful in trauma recovery - as well as how it can potentially be harmful in trauma recovery.

May 22: Trauma-Sensitive Teaching: What Might it Look Like?

Discuss specifics of trauma-sensitive teaching, including use of space, language, and touch. Learn how a trauma-sensitive approach to teaching can make a yoga practice more accessible for a variety of populations, regardless of the style of yoga (i.e. hatha, restorative, vinyasa, etc.). Explore trauma-sensitive variations of common postures, and discuss why options within the practice are so important. Go over the practice teaching assignment for the final week.

May 29: Putting it Together:  Holding Space while Teaching

Discuss what it means to hold space for a group or an individual.  Practice teaching short sequences (15 minutes each) in pairs, and receive feedback from your partner. Come together for final questions and a closing meditation.

Course Overview

This series is supported by a tiered pricing structure. We encourage you to choose the option that best fits your financial situation!

Community Rate - $100/for folks seeking financial assistance

Sustainer Rate - $120/base cost of this series - what it takes to run this workshop and pay the facilitator a fair wage

Supporter Rate - $140/for folks who can afford to pay a bit more, you'll help provide access to to this series for folks experiencing financial difficulties

Investment

Who you’ll learn from

Whitney Pasch (she/her) is a registered yoga teacher, certified Yoga of the Heart® teacher, and certified yoga therapist. She has been practicing yoga since 2008 and teaching since 2012, and she completed Inner Peace Yoga Therapy's 800-hour training in January 2018. Whitney approaches teaching through a therapeutic lens; she takes into account each student's abilities, current conditions, and goals. Her public classes are gentle but strong, and they emphasize breath awareness, safe alignment, and a compassionate mind-body relationship.

  • Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT, E-RYT500, YACEP)

    Whitney guides Gentle Rise + Energize every Friday morning on our weekly schedule. Learn more about Whitney on her website.