Can You Release Trauma Through Yoga?
Can you release trauma through yoga?
The Quick Answer
Yes. Trauma is often stored somatically (in the body). Yoga provides a safe way to access and release this deep-seated emotional holding, teaching the nervous system how to overcome triggers and return to safety.
Why We Ask This
Talk therapy is powerful, but sometimes trauma remains 'stuck' in the body's tissues and nervous system, causing physical symptoms or emotional flashbacks that words can't reach.
The Practical Science
The Yoga Collective explains that yoga 'teaches how to overcome triggers, creating a space where deep-seated emotions can surface.' It offers 'not just physical relief but emotional healing' by allowing the body to complete the stress cycle in a safe environment.
In Clinical Practice
Trauma-Informed Yoga Therapy moves slowly. You might just focus on feeling your feet on the ground or noticing your breath, slowly building the capacity to feel safe in your body again.
References & Context
Using Yoga to Release Stored Trauma in the Body"However, yoga offers a powerful way to access and release that stored trauma, providing not just physical relief but emotional healing as well. More than just a form of exercise, yoga teaches how to overcome triggers, creating a space where deep-seated emotions can surface, be acknowledged, and ultimately released.Mar 4, 2025"