We welcome you to join us at AYU Community Space in the heart of Dunedin, for this 10 day somatic journey where you will explore how to build a resilient foundation for restoring, supporting, and nourishing the nervous system through the practice of yin yoga.

 

A Trauma-Informed & Nervous System Centered Approach to Yin Yoga

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Through personal practice, embodiment workshops, and educational lectures, you will learn about functional anatomy, in-depth fascia study, nervous system regulation, the science behind yin yoga's impact on stress and mental health, as well as how to facilitate a somatic experience for others from a trauma-informed lens.

 

SomaPsych approaches yin yoga with the intention of helping to regulate, balance and restore one’s nervous system. Throughout this training, students will learn about the guiding principles of yin and how to weave in somatic tools to help support one’s nervous system. These principles help us move from reaction to response on and off the mat, enabling us to foster our innate resilience by regulating the nervous system through polyvagal-informed practices. Through this method, which integrates trauma-informed practices, students can create a supportive environment for practitioners to explore their present moment experience on a somatic level whilst enhancing autonomy, choice, and resilience. Through growth-based discussions and explorations, students will navigate trauma-informed concepts that explore how to make this practice more accessible to those we’re working alongside. 

 

In today's fast-paced world, yin yoga provides a sanctuary for slowing down and cultivating stillness. Students will be able to create an environment where practitioners can fully immerse themselves in the gentle, introspective energy of yin yoga on the mat. Equally important is the integration of this yin energy into the world beyond the mat, fostering a more regulated nervous system as individuals navigate their daily lives. 

 

SomaPsych teacher trainings advocate for social justice and systemic change, recognizing that nurturing both body and mind empowers individuals to effect positive change in their lives and communities.

 

This training offers a valuable opportunity for self-exploration and personal practice enhancement, alongside the development of skills for creating supportive spaces for others. We recognize the significance of equipping teachers with tools to regulate their own nervous system, enabling them to seamlessly integrate these techniques into their classes to support the wellbeing of practitioners.

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Why should Yin Yoga be Trauma-Informed?

 

The body holds trauma to different degrees and complexities. As a teacher, you are creating space for individuals to explore and connect with their breath, body and mind. Therefore it is important to be sure we are able to hold students in the wholeness of their experience, understand what may be happening for them on a physiological and neurological level, without needing to alter or change their experience. We are here to bear witness, allow, and hold space for transformation in their own time and way.
 

Trauma-Informed Yin Yoga does not aim to heal or "release" trauma. Instead, it prioritizes supporting individuals' nervous systems by offering tools and practices for regulation. This training provides the knowledge and facilitation skills necessary to empower practitioners to manage emotions during practice through regulation tools, while also guiding students to recognize when it's appropriate to modify or step back from a pose.