Yoga Therapy for Trauma:
Healing the Mind and Body Through Movement and Breath

Learn how yoga therapy for trauma can help individuals heal by reconnecting the mind and body through breathwork, movement, and mindfulness.

February 19, 2025

Healing Trauma:
A Mind-Body Approach

Trauma is both the body and mind’s response to deeply distressing events, which can range from physical and emotional abuse to accidents or natural disasters.¹

Research shows that up to 70% of adults experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime.²

If left unaddressed, trauma can have lasting effects on mental and physical health, contributing to anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic pain, fatigue, and digestive issues.

Traditional Talk Therapy and Its Limitations

While traditional talk therapies can be incredibly helpful for many people in their journey to well-being and control, these options may not be enough for everyone.

Talk therapy primarily addresses the mental and emotional aspects of trauma, but trauma is often stored in the body as well. For some individuals, healing cannot happen solely through verbal communication.

Introducing Yoga Therapy for Trauma Recovery

That’s where yoga therapy comes in. This body-based, holistic approach uses movement, breath, and mindfulness to help individuals reconnect with their bodies, process trauma, and find a sense of peace and balance.

Yoga therapy for trauma is a powerful tool that supports overall healing by addressing both the physical and emotional wounds.

New Life Recovery’s Promise to You

Our team at New Life Recovery is here to help you love your life again. No matter if you’re looking for yoga therapy for trauma, evidence-based therapies, or mental health help, we can ensure you get back on track to living a life you are excited for every day.

Understanding Trauma and the Mind-Body Connection

Trauma is not only a mental experience; it is also stored in the body. When a person undergoes a traumatic event, their nervous system shifts into survival mode, activating the fight, flight, or freeze response.

In many cases, especially when trauma is prolonged, complex, or unresolved, the body remains stuck in a heightened state of stress, even long after the event has passed. This is known as nervous system dysregulation, where the body continues to react as if the danger is still present.

How Trauma Is Stored In the Body

Trauma is recalled through thoughts, but it is also imprinted on a physical level, a concept known as somatic memory. This means the body holds onto past distress through muscle tension, posture, and even chronic pain.

Without intervention, these stored patterns can lead to persistent discomfort, emotional numbness, and a sense of being disconnected from oneself.

The Impact of Trauma on Mental and Physical Health

Unresolved trauma can manifest in a variety of ways, including:

Mental health challenges: Anxiety, depression, PTSD, and emotional dysregulation can result from untreated trauma.
Physical symptoms: Some physical symptoms that trauma causes include chronic pain, digestive issues, fatigue, and autoimmune conditions.
Substance use disorders (SUD): Furthermore, many individuals turn to substances to numb overwhelming emotions related to trauma or to regain a sense of control.

Why Trauma Healing Requires a Mind-Body Approach

Since trauma is both a psychological and physiological experience, true healing must engage both the mind and body. While talk therapy provides cognitive insight, yoga therapy for trauma helps regulate stress responses, release stored pain, and rebuild a sense of safety from within.

This integrated approach empowers individuals to reconnect with themselves in a way that fosters lasting recovery.

What Is Yoga Therapy?

Yoga therapy involves two distinct types – general yoga practice and yoga therapy for trauma, also known as trauma-informed yoga therapy.

General Yoga Practice vs. Yoga Therapy for Trauma

Yoga therapy for trauma is distinct from general yoga practice in that it is specifically tailored to meet the therapeutic needs of individuals dealing with trauma.

While traditional yoga can provide physical benefits such as flexibility, strength, and relaxation, yoga therapy for trauma focuses on healing through mindful movement and self-awareness.

This type of therapy incorporates healing elements that help individuals safely reconnect with their bodies without triggering past trauma responses.³

Key Differences to Note

Some of the key changes between the therapies to take note of include:

Pacing and sensitivity: Yoga therapy for trauma is practiced at a slower, more mindful pace to ensure individuals can engage without feeling overwhelmed.
Emphasis on empowerment: Yoga for trauma emphasizes choice and control, allowing participants to determine what feels right for their bodies while avoiding any forced or uncomfortable movements.
Focus on the nervous system: Techniques of yoga therapy for trauma are aimed at calming and regulating the nervous system, helping to restore balance.

The Main Principles of Yoga Therapy for Trauma

Yoga therapy for trauma integrates several core principles that are essential in trauma recovery, such as:⁴

Mindfulness: This involves staying present and aware of the body and thoughts, which helps individuals re-establish a connection with their bodies in a safe and non-judgmental way. Mindfulness practices in yoga help clients observe their sensations, emotions, and thoughts.
Breathwork: Breathwork helps regulate the nervous system. Individuals can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which calms the body and promotes relaxation.
Movement (Asanas): Gentle, intentional movements are used to release tension, increase flexibility, and strengthen the body. In yoga therapy, movements are often modified to help individuals gradually restore a sense of physical safety.
Self-Regulation: Yoga therapy empowers individuals to recognize their emotional and physical states and use techniques to regulate themselves. This helps individuals regain control of their nervous system and emotional responses.

How Yoga Therapy for Trauma Fosters Emotional Resilience

Yoga therapy for trauma creates an environment of safety by emphasizing autonomy, self-awareness, and non-judgmental acceptance. In a trauma-informed setting, individuals are encouraged to listen to their bodies and honor their boundaries.

Over time, these practices help build emotional resilience by teaching individuals how to manage distressing emotions, improve their sense of well-being, and develop coping strategies to use in their everyday lives.

The Benefits of Yoga Therapy for Trauma Recovery

Yoga therapy for trauma recovery offers several key benefits:

Improving Emotional Awareness

Yoga therapy for trauma fosters deep emotional awareness by encouraging individuals to reconnect with their bodies. Many trauma survivors disconnect from their physical sensations as a coping mechanism to avoid emotional pain.

Yoga therapy for trauma creates a safe space to explore bodily sensations, helping individuals become more attuned to their emotional states. This increased awareness allows individuals to better understand and process their emotions, ultimately leading to more effective emotional awareness.

Reducing Anxiety and PTSD Symptoms

Yoga therapy for trauma has been shown to significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety and PTSD. For example, a study found that 52% of participants with PTSD no longer met the criteria for the disorder after 10 weeks of trauma-informed yoga therapy.⁵

The calming effects of deep breathing, combined with gentle movement and meditation, can help individuals manage overwhelming feelings of anxiety or panic. These practices encourage staying present in the moment, preventing the mind from ruminating on past trauma or fearing future events.

Through regular practice, yoga therapy can help alleviate the emotional instability that often accompanies anxiety and PTSD, leading to a greater sense of peace.

Enhancing Body Trust and Empowerment

One of the key benefits of yoga therapy for trauma is its ability to help individuals regain trust in their bodies. For those who have experienced trauma, the body may feel like a source of fear or disconnection.

Yoga therapy promotes body acceptance by allowing individuals to explore their physical limits and boundaries in a safe and empowering environment. Over time, individuals begin to trust their bodies again, gaining a sense of control over their physical and emotional states.

This ultimately supports a stronger, more positive relationship with oneself.

Integrating Yoga Therapy for Trauma and Dual Diagnosis Recovery

Often, trauma can exacerbate other challenges, such as mental health or substance misuse.

Integrating yoga therapy into SUD and mental health treatment is a powerful tool for helping individuals through the stages of recovery and achieve long-term sobriety.

How Yoga Complements Evidence-Based Therapies

Yoga therapy is a valuable complementary tool to evidence-based therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).

The Benefits of CBT, DBT, and EMDR

CBT helps individuals identify destructive thought patterns that contribute to addictive behaviors. This helps them shift their perspectives and responses to challenges during recovery.

DBT helps individuals learn to be more aware of their thoughts and feelings without experiencing the distress that often accompanies it. It also emphasizes on accepting their experiences and emotions while encouraging change.

EMDR is a highly effective trauma therapy that involves guiding individuals through specific eye movements or other types of bilateral stimulation while they recall traumatic events. These movements help the brain process these traumatic memories, reducing their emotional intensity.

The Role of Yoga in Stress Reduction and SUD Prevention

Yoga therapy provides individuals in SUD recovery with practical tools to manage stress, reduce cravings, and build emotional resilience.

Yoga’s grounding techniques help reduce anxiety and promote relaxation, which can be especially useful during heightened stress or temptation. It also encourages self-reflection, which can help individuals prevent returning to SUD by addressing the root causes of it.

How Yoga Therapy Supports a Trauma-Informed Care Approach

At New Life Recovery, our trauma-informed care approach emphasizes safety, empowerment, and choice in the healing process. Yoga therapy aligns with these principles by providing a safe and non-judgmental space for individuals to explore and heal from trauma at their own pace.

It creates an environment of safety and trust, essential elements for anyone working through trauma, SUD, or mental health challenges.

More Trauma-Informed Therapy Approaches

There are many types of trauma-informed therapy approaches that treatment centers can provide, all of which prioritize safety, empowerment, and collaboration to create a healing environment.

Here are some other key trauma-informed therapies to consider if yoga therapy for trauma isn’t for you:

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): This helps individuals identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and beliefs related to the trauma, leading to a greater understanding and acceptance of their experiences.
Prolonged Exposure (PE): This involves gradually confronting trauma-related memories and situations in a safe and controlled manner, reducing anxiety and avoidance over time.
Narrative Therapy: This therapy focuses on how individuals construct meaning from their experiences. By reframing their narratives, they can develop new perspectives and reclaim their stories.
Somatic Experiencing (SE): This addresses the physical effects of trauma stored in the body. By gently releasing trapped energy and tension, individuals can regulate their nervous systems and reduce symptoms like anxiety and hyperarousal.

These therapies can be tailored to individual needs and integrated with other treatment modalities to provide comprehensive care.

The goal is to empower individuals to heal from trauma, develop healthier coping mechanisms, and create a more fulfilling life free from the grip of substance use or mental health disorders.

Yoga Therapy at New Life Recovery

At New Life Recovery, we recognize that true healing goes beyond traditional talk therapy. Our trauma-informed yoga therapy sessions provide a safe, structured environment for individuals to reconnect with their bodies, regulate emotions, and build resilience.

A Trauma-Informed Approach to Yoga Therapy

Our yoga therapy sessions are designed specifically for individuals recovering from trauma, SUD, and mental health challenges.

Unlike traditional yoga classes, our approach prioritizes:

Safety and choice: Individuals are encouraged to move at their own pace, with modifications that honor their comfort levels.
Guided breathwork: Breathing techniques help regulate the nervous system, shifting from survival mode to a state of calm and balance.
Mindful movement: Gentle, intentional movements support body awareness, emotional processing, and self-regulation without triggering past trauma.

How We Personalize Yoga Therapy

Every individual’s healing journey is unique, which is why our yoga therapy program is customized to meet each client’s specific needs.

Our approach includes:

Individualized assessments to determine the best techniques for each individuals’ trauma history and recovery goals
Integration with other therapies, ensuring yoga complements other evidence-based treatments
Adaptive sessions, offering chair yoga, restorative practices, and breathwork for those who may have physical limitations

At New Life Recovery, our goal is to help individuals rediscover a sense of safety, strength, and self-empowerment – allowing them to heal not just mentally but physically and emotionally. Through yoga therapy for trauma, we guide individuals toward lasting recovery and resilience.

Taking the Next Step in Trauma Recovery

At New Life Recovery, we integrate yoga therapy into our comprehensive trauma and SUD treatment programs, ensuring every individual receives the personalized support they need. If you’re ready to explore how yoga therapy can help you heal, we’re here to guide you.

Resources

Trauma & PTSD

Navigating Dual Diagnosis and Recovery

March 11, 2025

Trauma Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide to Healing and Recovery

March 10, 2025

Understanding Trauma: Its Impact on Well-Being

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Yoga Therapy for Trauma: Healing the Mind and Body Through Movement and Breath

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Healing Trauma: A Mind-Body Approach