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Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY)

I am an official facilitator of the original yoga for trauma. Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) is rooted in trauma theory, attachment theory, and neuroscience, and is recognized as a clinical intervention for complex trauma and PTSD.

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Trauma Sensitive Yoga Certified

Evidence and Research

TCTSY is the first yoga-based empirically validated, clinical intervention for complex trauma or chronic, treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

TCTSY Methodology

The TCTSY methodology is based on central components of hatha yoga where participants engage in a series of physical forms and movements. Elements of standard hatha yoga are modified to maximize experiences of empowerment and to cultivate a more positive relationship to one's body.

Why is TCTSY different

Unlike many public yoga classes, TCTSY does not use physical hands-on adjustments to influence a participant's physical form. Rather, TCTSY presents opportunities for participants to be in charge of themselves based on a felt sense of their own body. 

Integrating yoga into Trauma therapy

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Trauma Yoga NJ

The Synthesis of bottom-up and top-down processing

TCTSY supports bottom-up processing, helping people build self-regulation to address how trauma is stored in the body. It helps calm the nervous system and the areas of the primitive brain that are activated by trauma experiences. 

 

Psychotherapy supports top-down processing by assisting individuals in addressing how trauma becomes stored in memories within the higher-level brain.  It helps people understand, process, and make sense of fragmented memories, allowing the pieces to be integrated into a coherent whole.​​

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​Combining TCTSY with psychotherapy  addresses trauma on multiple levels, fostering a deeper mind-body connection.

trauma sensitive yoga

Benefits of Trauma Sensitive Yoga

  • Emphasizes body awareness and encourages participants to tune into their bodily sensations, which can help them to better understand and regulate their emotional responses.​

  • Emphasizes the importance of choice and agency, allowing you to have control over your practice and adjust it to meet your unique needs and preferences.​

  • Incorporates breathing techniques and gentle movements, which can help to promote relaxation and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.

  • Helps participants feel connected to themselves, to others, and to the world around them, which can be particularly important for trauma survivors who may struggle with feelings of isolation and disconnection.

The Core Elements of Trauma Sensitive Yoga

Invitational Language

Choice-Making

Present Moment Experience

Shared Authentic Experience

Non-Coercion

You deserve to feel safe in your body again.

Trauma-Sensitive Yoga isn’t about poses or flexibility—it’s about healing. In this safe, supportive space, you're invited to move in ways that make sense to you. There's no pressure, no correction—just an opportunity to reconnect with your body, your breath, and your sense of agency.

Image by Louise Vildmark
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