Therapeutic Movement

“Breath-centered asana practice and pranayama are among the greatest gifts from the yoga tradition to help us maintain our physiological health and well-being, balance our emotions, and clarify our minds.”
—Gary Kraftsow

Therapeutic Movement is an evidence-based, body and breath-oriented therapy founded on trauma-sensitive yoga. You will discover how to make a connection with body sensations you can feel on the inside, such as heartbeat, breathing rhythm, warmth or coolness, and muscle tension or release. When we start with the body and breath, awareness expands to include a broad range of emotions and more options for taking effective action.

Body Awareness

You will learn to combine slow movement with breathing rhythms to build a secure connection to your inner sensations. The ability to be present in your body, with calm curiosity, grows. You will begin to recognize the location of subtle “feelable” sensations inside and respond with kindness. This skill transfers to everyday life, enhancing your ability to regulate your emotions, take care of your body, and remain grounded, even when experiencing stress.

How does Therapeutic Movement Feel?

Movements are performed slowly, with a curious, compassionate mindset. This approach introduces novelty and slight challenge to your nervous system. Each time we meet, we assess your state of mind at the moment and meet you where you are. We show you how to take the next best step to get you where you want to be. We personalize the movements for your needs. The intention is to replace disconnection with an authentic connection to your whole self.

Bottom Up Trauma Treatment

Because painful memories remain stored in the body, treatment to heal traumatic experiences such as adverse conditions in childhood must include moving the body. Traditional therapies have relied primarily on talking about complex issues and addressing change from the cognitive level. This “top-down” approach is limited. Our approach emphasizes a “bottom-up” somatic experience to foster a genuine, ongoing healing connection with the present moment through blending breath, mind, and body. By combining all three aspects simultaneously, the healing effect is much more significant, personally empowering, and sustainable.

Five Ways Trauma-Sensitive Movement Promotes Safety In The Body

1. Self-Directed: You decide how and when to move your body. You will practice making effective choices for yourself. We encourage you to move at your own pace and pause to notice what you feel.
2. Inner Awareness: We use language that invites you to access your ability to notice and track sensations while moving with mindfulness. As inner awareness develops, so does your inner guidance and self-trust.
3. Options: You will feel empowered by a wide range of options available to you. For example, you might hear, “You may choose to close your eyes or keep them open if that feels more comfortable,” or “Leave your hands at the center of your chest or extend them up overhead if you’d like.” You can choose to remain seated, stand or lie on the floor. Props such as a blanket, pillow, or yoga block allow more access, support, or give your body a bit more length and comfort. We introduce you to novel movements because it is one of the best ways to spark new neural connections in the brain, leading to an expanded awareness of what is possible.
4. “Now” Focus: Each simple movement cultivates present moment awareness, with a friendly attitude toward your body. Conscious breathing is one way to become aware of the current moment. As you inhale and exhale, your attention will be directed to sensations in the body, such as those in the nostrils or chest, bringing the focus back, again and again to “now.””
5. Practicing Taking Effective Action: Choice-making opportunities are part of the process of getting better at feeling. Pausing to ask “what am I aware of now, on the inside?” and “what do I need?” and “what do I want?” are questions that begin to nudge decision-making and action-taking muscles to wake up and provide wise support from within.