I am home, I am in my body.

GUIDING SURVIVORS TO EXPLORE THEIR BODIES ON THEIR OWN TERMS

Trauma sensitive yoga is a non-verbal, whole-body practice, helping trauma survivors build practical tools and resilience as they navigate their recovery journey.

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"No intervention that takes power away from the survivor can possibly foster recovery."

- Judith Herman

• Key elements of TSY

beautifully captured by @wabi.sabicollections.

Welcome to my little corner of the yoga world.

In constant dialogue with yoga’s roots, this sādhana (practice) lives at the meeting point of tradition and lived experience.I’m Maxine, and if you’ve found your way here, you may be seeking a safe, welcoming space to reconnect with your body. As a facilitator of (Trauma-Sensitive) Yoga, I’ve been supporting individuals navigating trauma recovery since 2020. This work is both professional and personal; as someone living with CPTSD and ADHD, I understand how vulnerable it can feel to step into a yoga space while carrying the imprint of trauma. This understanding shapes my commitment to creating inclusive, regulating, and deeply human environments.Yoga, as I practice and offer it, is not about achieving idealised shapes, nor is it obsessed with alignment. It is about cultivating a sense of safety in one’s own skin, and rebuilding the capacity to remain present in a body that may be more familiar with dissociation, numbness, or overwhelm.My approach centres around acknowledging and addressing the impact of trauma on our bodies. I prioritise a collaborative journey of shared decision-making with participants—recognising that choice and agency are central to embodied experience. While this work is not outcome-driven, my intention is to support a balance between exploration and boundaries, with permission to move slowly and adapt as needed.Whether you are taking your first tentative steps onto the mat, or you are a seasoned sādhaka (practitioner) seeking a gentler, nervous-system-aware practice, you are warmly welcome here.

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The Power of Trauma Sensitive Yoga.

TSY is one of the first yoga-based approaches to be supported by research as a valuable tool for addressing complex trauma and chronic PTSD.It's grounded in years of study and is recognised for its effectiveness, comparable to traditional therapeutic methods like talk therapy.

• academic research

What is Trauma Sensitive Yoga?

Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TSY) sits at the meeting point of classical yoga and contemporary therapeutic understanding. It is a carefully adapted form of modern postural yoga, offered in a way that honours yoga’s ancient roots while responding skillfully to the lived realities of trauma.Grounded in classical yogic principles—such as āsana (posture), prāṇāyāma (breath regulation), and dhyāna (meditation)—TSY is informed by current research in trauma theory, neuroscience, attachment theory, Polyvagal theory, and Somatic Experiencing®. This integrative approach allows the practice to remain both traditionally respectful and clinically informed.This is not a conventional yoga class. TSY is intentionally slow, gentle, and relational, designed for individuals who experience chronic nervous system dysregulation to reconnect with their bodies in a way that feels safe, supportive, and choice-led. I place careful attention on interoception (felt sense/bodies internal awareness), proprioception (orientation in space), and the exploration of personal boundaries. Movement progresses gradually—from more accessible, gross movements toward subtler experiences—at a pace that supports regulation rather than overwhelm.Practices such as prāṇāyāma (breath regulation), dhyāna (meditation), and extended stillness are approached with sensitivity. For some trauma survivors, these practices can initially feel intolerable or destabilising. For this reason, they are introduced in small, optional, and manageable ways—or at times omitted altogether—always prioritising safety, agency, within our capacity.Trauma-Sensitive Yoga is adaptive and relational, shaped around the individual needs of each participant. It is offered as an adjunct therapeutic support alongside traditional psychotherapy or counselling, not as a replacement. TSY is an evidence-based practice that supports individuals living with the effects of complex trauma by fostering safety, trust, self-agency, and an empowered relationship with the body.

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Collective rest in a safe, supported space.

Our TSY group class, outdoors, at The Center for Healing and Life Transformation.

shared with participant consent.

Key Elements of Trauma Sensitive Yoga.

Interpersonal Dynamics

In any yoga setting, there’s an inherent dynamic where the facilitator may be seen as the ‘leader’. In Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TSY), we consciously work to soften this power imbalance. The facilitator's role is not to direct, fix, or prescribe—but rather to create a space where participants can safely explore their own embodied experience. This approach requires an awareness of being seen and felt and sensitivity in how we non-verbally and verbally communicate that you are the expert of your body. This intentional shift in dynamic can be empowering, particularly for those who’ve experienced a loss of control or agency in the past.

Adaptability & Inclusivity

No two bodies are the same—and TSY honours that. Every shape and movement is offered with adaptability in mind, making space for diverse bodies, abilities, histories, and levels of comfort. Participants are always encouraged to modify, skip, or reinterpret shapes in ways that feel supportive. There is no expectation to conform to a particular aesthetic or sequence. Instead, the emphasis lies in cultivating personal agency through accessible, inclusive shapes, movement or non-movement

Creating Rhythms

Trauma can make time feel jagged and the body’s signals hard to trust. Creating Rhythms uses simple, repeatable patterns—swaying, rocking, shaking, gentle breath, or self-massage—to help the nervous system feel safe and supported. In yoga, this is similar to Kriyas, or intentional movement-breath practices. We also notice the rhythms already present in the body, then invite new, nourishing ones. These cycles of “move → notice → rest” gently build regulation, presence, and trust in your body.

Choice-Making | Restoring Agency

Choice is at the heart of trauma-sensitive practice. In TSY, we prioritise creating an environment where participants feel both safe and in control by giving options—encouraging them to tune into what feels right and valuable in each moment. Rather than focusing on performing movements or shapes 'correctly', making choices becomes a practice in itself: noticing internal cues, exploring boundaries, and engaging with the body with curiosity and compassion.

Non-Directive & Choice Based Language

The words we use matter. In TSY, I intentionally move away from language that could be perceived as commanding, corrective, or hierarchical. I favour consistent, invitational phrasing that fosters curiosity and autonomy. As a facilitators, I ask myself: Why am I offering this? Is it truly helpful? What might this feel like in someone else’s body? This kind of inquiry helps ensure that my guidance is grounded in purpose—not habit or dogma—leaving space for participants to make choices based on what they feel, not what they’re told.

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- David Emerson

"Trauma is not a pathology; it’s about adaptation and survival - we are capable of surviving unbelievable things, but there is a price."

• academic research