SOMATIC YOGA TEACHER TRAINING Student Testimonials
Read our student’s reflections. Each voice reflects a lived experience of embodied learning, inquiry, and trauma-informed practice.
Student Testimonial: Corinn | Online Training
Her Experience in Our Online Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher Training
Prior to participating in the Trauma Informed Yoga teacher training, I had never taught a yoga class. I have had my own personal experiences with quite a few mental health services (as a client) in my youth and young adulthood. I am now a 30 year old, queer female identifying, neuro-spicy individual who has overcome and worked through trauma using a variety of modalities.
I also am a firm believer in a mutli-disciplinary approach that looks at the whole human and sees them as a unique, worthy individual who can heal from even the most traumatic of circumstances.
One of the concerns addressed during the training was the use of inclusive language, with freedom to explore within different poses finding what feels “right” in individual bodies.
This makes the practice not only more enjoyable for everyone, but it also makes it more approachable as a practice that can help individuals who have been through trauma (acute or chronic) who may not know what it means to connect to their bodies.
I enjoyed not only the extensive knowledge both Brooke and Jeanine brought to the space, but also the safety, inclusivity and creativity that I felt throughout the training and with other members in the group. This provided an ideal space for learning, exploration and further self-reflection and discovery. This was the biggest piece missing from (non-trauma informed) yoga classes/practices that I had attended previously. An element or “vibe” that gives space and permission to make mistakes, get a little messy, and to find out what holds us back from being the beautiful, multi-dimensional, worthy human beings that we all are.
I have benefitted significantly from the TIY training, as an individual, as an employee at a Sexual Assault Centre in Canada, as a mom to a son with special needs (ASD), and as a human being who sees the need and benefit within my own community. I have learned how to normalize and validate various perspectives, emotions, frustrations that can come up for individuals sometimes. I can use statements like, “preferred shape” or “maybe” or “if it feels right for you today,” to put others at ease. Having regulation be part of the conversation and activity helps to inform and make it easier to understand or access for learners who learn best by doing or feeling in their own bodies. My son learns best this way.
More inclusive, accepting, open-minded, compassionate.
I am excited to bring true, authentic yoga practice through a trauma-informed lens to my home, work and community. I have observed barriers and gaps that certain individuals fall through, which I believe can be minimized or addressed with movement therapies like yoga. I also believe that I am an approachable individual with lots of knowledge about interacting with people of different cultures, values and beliefs. Everyone is worthy of love, care and support, and we need to find creative ways of creating these spaces and places.
I also was given more learning material and resources to continue to increase my knowledge and advance my ability to teach others. I discovered an interest in anatomy, which I am still learning, integrating and appreciating the complexities of. I know areas that I did well in, and areas where there is room for (compassionate) growth.
I’ve worked in the mental health, addiction, sexual violence and trauma related fields (frontline) for the past 10+ years. I have participated in my own individual yoga practices as part of my own physical and mental well-being and engaged with others in classes offered in my community.
Currently, I work with Sexual Violence Survivors at a local Sexual Assault Centre in Canada. To say that trauma-informed care and consideration are part of my daily life would be an understatement. I view my world with a compassionate lens of understanding that everybody has trauma, and everyone is worthy of dignity and respect (and healing when/if they’re ready). Being able to learn and provide an additional tool for clients/staff to utilize will be invaluable. My hope is that I can do it more regularly at my agency, eventually so I can (ideally) transition from a primary crisis/stabilization role to a more healing-based tool/service which values slowing down, taking time for self, connection of mind and body, and non-judgement of the present moment. These are more aligned with my personal values and I feel that I can do the most good through providing movement-based therapies like Trauma Informed Yoga. Yoga itself has shown significant promise in connecting individuals to their bodies again – a barrier I see all the time with sexual violence trauma.
A missing piece that I notice in my work – is social support/connection with other human beings. Some people find comfort in connecting with people online, others prefer to get together one-on-one or in small groups, and others seek out and need socialization in order to thrive. Our society has learned to “work from home” and “social distance” due to the pandemic. We may have forgotten what we are missing when we isolate and distance ourselves from others emotionally, physically, socially and spiritually. Finding spaces where we can be authentically true to ourselves, have others hold compassionate (appropriate space), hold space for others (appropriate) and to learn how to be able to connect with ourselves and others in healthy, appropriate, and safe ways. I feel more informed about how to facilitate this within myself and others, and am hopeful that I may be able to do so through movement.
I am excited about facilitating, even though I get anxious and second-guess myself frequently. Throughout the training I challenged my own limitations and expectations of myself, and slowly integrated showing kindness and compassion and PATIENCE to myself first, so that I can do so authentically for others. I feel like I have a support team/group that will be cheering me on and able to support with some of the challenges that may come up. I hope that I can use what I’ve learned to navigate the uncertainties of life – I’ve already benefitted so much.
Forever grateful to Brooke and Jeanine for developing and facilitating such a needed addition to the Yoga practices – making it more accessible for everyone. I hope that I can make them proud and contribute to a community that holds immense value and appreciation in my heart.