Everyone has encountered stress at some point in their lives. However, what distinguishes everyday stress from trauma? Trauma arises from an event that surpasses our capacity to cope and respond effectively. When we undergo trauma, we experience a sense of helplessness, hopelessness, and loss of control. The traumatized individual struggles to restore equilibrium in both mind and body even after the event has concluded. In essence, if you encounter a stressful event from which you are unable to recover, that event can be categorized as traumatic.

Unresolved trauma, as a persistent stress factor, can significantly affect our physical, emotional, mental, and behavioral well-being over the long term. Individuals who have endured trauma may experience enduring and chronic impacts on their cognition, emotions, behavior, and overall health. By gaining an understanding of how trauma manifests in the brain and body, we can effectively address its symptoms, including depression and anxiety, by incorporating trauma-

While anyone can encounter a traumatic event, individuals are deemed “at risk” if they lack sufficient resources to effectively cope with the aftermath of trauma. Ultimately, the availability of resources plays a crucial role in determining a person’s response and reaction to trauma. For instance, in the case of a child experiencing a traumatic event such as the loss of a parent, receiving emotional support from loved ones can aid in the grieving process and facilitate moving forward. Conversely, if the child lacks the necessary support resources, they may hold onto their feelings for an extended period and may experience feelings of shame in relation to their grief.

To understand how yoga can help the body bounce back after trauma, take a look at the infographic below:

Due to the lack of external resources available to many low income households, trauma-informed yoga emerges as a valuable tool in helping them develop life skills from within, enabling them to better support themselves. Trauma-Informed Yoga can have a positive impact on at-risk households in the following ways:

1. Cultivating a sense of self: Yoga empowers teenagers to enhance their self-awareness, allowing them to explore their thoughts, emotions, and feelings. By establishing this connection, yoga aids in bolstering their self-esteem and instills the confidence to assume control over their thoughts and behaviors. Equipped with the tools acquired through yoga, teens can navigate the transition from their current state to becoming who they aspire to be.

2. Managing stress: Yoga provides an opportunity for adolescents to unwind and release stress. By learning healthy and productive stress management techniques during yoga practice, students can select the strategies that work best for them beyond the yoga mat.

3. Building resilience: Resilience denotes an individual’s ability to swiftly recover from adversity and effectively cope with stress. Trauma-informed yoga fosters resilience by helping students connect with internal resources that aid in working through discomfort, understanding their experiences, and differentiating between emotions and actions. Furthermore, yoga facilitates the release of pent-up tension and trauma, enabling youth to progress mentally and physically, ultimately supporting their overall resilience.