frequently asked questions

Short answer; when I talk about yoga for trauma recovery, I’m describing my own approach with an evidence-based intervention for complex trauma.

There’s an in-depth answer in this blog post.

I’m very proud of my live interactive online group yoga subscriptions. They’re more environmentally responsible and inclusive than going to a local studio!

As compared to YouTube or streaming yoga, what I offer is interactive. Many folks choose to show video and speak with the group, though you aren’t required to.

I’ll encourage check ins at the beginning of class and teach according to the stated needs of whoever shows up. I pay attention to the energy level and body language by video; I am responsive live (but I will never call anyone out).

The yoga subscriptions I offer include access to an on-demand library of pre-recorded classes, too!

Every client is different, so the support I offer varies to serve your needs. Somatic Experiencing, somatic touch (and remote touch) and yoga are the approaches I use.

Sometimes people hear “trauma” and think physical trauma like a head injury or a broken leg.

For folks working on healing tissue damage, I’ll make a referral to a good PT. For folks with persistent dysregulation, that’s something I can often help with.

Most of my clients have experienced complex trauma that’s occurred in relationships, and that’s where I’m most often able to help.

Yoga for trauma recovery is the language I use to describe what’s actually an evidence-based intervention for complex trauma.

That means it’s designed for those of us who’ve experienced trauma that was the result of repeated exposure to a traumatic stressor over time (that includes all kinds of abuse; emotional, physical, psychological, the abuse of opression/marginalization as well as living in a war zone).

With that being said, the things we practice in this type of yoga are healthy for everyone. Most of us have experienced trauma living in this world and all are welcome.

I recommend starting with weekly initially whenever possible—that’s how both Somatic Experiencing and Yoga For Trauma Recovery have been studied.

Bi-weekly can also work well and I also see some folks monthly after an initial more focused period.

We work together based on your needs and goals. For both yoga and body work/Somatic Experiencing, short and long term can work well.

Somatic Experiencing is what I mostly use to support individuals. SE is an attentional practice which allows us to experience the felt sense of our nervous system states in our bodies. As distinct from more cognitive therapies, SE is a "bottom-up" approach which focuses on the body rather than on thoughts, memories and interpretations. SE is experienced as gentler and more accessible by many people who've struggled with cognitive-based therapies. Though SE is a therapeutic modality, movement professionals and body workers like me learn to practice it alongside mental health clinicians.

In my work doing Somatic Experiencing as a body worker, I offer touch-based support for working with developmental trauma. The use of touch (and remote touch over Zoom) allows us to access pre-verbal implicit memory states where we often lack cognitive awareness.

$150 per session is my full rate—reflecting my level of experience, expertise and training.

I offer limited reduced rate sessions with priority given to folks holding marginalized identities.