8 Reasons Why Yoga Therapy Deserves a Place in Trauma Healing

Written by Jatty Sohal-Heyn, Trauma-Informed Somatic Therapist & Calmfidence Council Contributor

Have you ever wondered why Yoga Therapy is becoming such a trusted approach in trauma healing, and what makes it different from traditional talk-based methods?

Yoga Therapy goes beyond movement it helps regulate the nervous system, rebuild safety in the body, and gently unwind patterns shaped by past experiences. In this Calmfidence World feature, we explore eight powerful reasons why Yoga Therapy deserves a meaningful place in trauma recovery, and how it can support deeper resilience, grounding, and long-term healing.

Let’s be honest: trauma recovery isn’t a straight path. And for many, talk therapy only goes so far.

That’s not a criticism. It’s just a truth I’ve seen again and again in my work as a trauma-informed yoga therapist.

Because trauma doesn’t just live in our thoughts. It leaves traces in the body, in tension we carry for years, in shallow breathing we don’t even notice, in a nervous system that stays on alert long after the threat has passed.

And that’s where yoga therapy comes in.

Why Trauma Healing Needs the Body

Trauma can show up in ways we don't always link to the past:

• A jaw that never relaxes

• A back that always hurts

• Trouble sleeping, digesting, or concentrating

• A sense of disconnect, from the body, from the moment, from life itself

Of course, these symptoms aren’t “just in our heads.” They're how the nervous system holds unfinished survival responses. They’re real. And they’re exhausting.

Trauma, after all, is not just something that happens to us. It’s something that lives inside us, often embedded in the nervous system, fascia, and cellular memory. And to truly heal, we must address the full spectrum of the human experience: mind, soul, and body.

Trauma Lives in the Body—Yoga Brings Us Home

Trauma leaves behind a complex trail. On a physical level, it can manifest as:

• Chronic tension or pain

• Fatigue or restlessness

• Gastrointestinal disturbances

• Hyperarousal or emotional numbness

Psychologically, survivors often experience:

• Anxiety or depression

• Flashbacks or intrusive memories

• Detachment from the body or sense of self

• Difficulty trusting or connecting with others

Traditional talk therapy can be highly valuable, but for many trauma survivors, it may not go far enough.

As trauma researcher Dr. Bessel van der Kolk notes in The Body Keeps the Score states:

This is where yoga therapy becomes a potent tool for healing.

So — What Makes Yoga Therapeutic?

Not all yoga is trauma-sensitive. In fact, some classes can feel overwhelming if you’re carrying trauma, especially when there’s pressure to perform or push through discomfort.

Yoga therapy, on the other hand, slows everything down. It offers gentle structure and spaciousness. No pressure to do things perfectly. No expectation to explain your story.

It’s less about the pose — more about presence.

In trauma-informed yoga, we focus on:

• Breath and grounding

• Choice-based movement

• Interoception — the ability to notice sensations inside the body

• Regulation — building capacity to stay present without shutting down or spiralling

The aim isn’t to achieve, but to reconnect on your terms, in your time.

According to a study published in Journal of Traumatic Stress (2014), yoga significantly reduced PTSD symptoms in women with chronic trauma histories

Yoga can influence brain plasticity by engaging the insula, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex—regions involved in self-awareness, fear processing, and executive control.

A 2021 meta-analysis in Frontiers in Psychology confirmed that yoga improves heart rate variability (HRV), an indicator of parasympathetic nervous system activation and resilience

What the Research Shows

This approach isn’t just intuitive. It’s evidence-based.

Studies show that yoga can reduce symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression — especially when paired with other therapeutic support.

One study in the Journal of Traumatic Stress found that trauma-sensitive yoga led to measurable reductions in PTSD symptoms, even in people who hadn’t responded to talk therapy alone.

Why? Because yoga helps regulate the autonomic nervous system. It gently activates the parasympathetic branch — the one responsible for rest, digestion, and repair. Over time, this creates more stability, both mentally and physically.

It also supports emotional processing without overwhelm. Mindful movement gives the brain something to focus on — helping us feel emotions with the body, not just about the body.

It’s Not About Flexibility

Let’s clear this up: trauma-informed yoga has nothing to do with mastering handstands or bending into shapes.

It's about creating safety, reconnecting with body signals, and learning how to stay with what’s there — even when it’s uncomfortable.

That’s why I teach clients to pause often, to notice, to choose. We move slowly, we breathe gently, and we don’t force anything.

For many, this is the first time they’ve felt in charge of their body in years.

What Happens When It Works?

You start to sleep better. You soften in places you didn’t realise were clenched. You stop bracing for life. You notice joy returning — not as a performance, but as a quiet, steady presence.

And slowly, you rebuild trust. With your body. With your breath. With the part of you that knows how to heal.

A Complement to Holistic Trauma Care

If you’re curious, start small. Look for someone trained in trauma-sensitive approaches. Let them know your pace.

Yoga therapy is a resource. One that helps you feel safe enough to feel again, without drowning in it.

And that, for many of us, is where healing begins. While yoga therapy is not a substitute for clinical treatment or medication when needed, it is a powerful complementary pathway.

In clinical settings and luxury wellness retreats alike, yoga therapy is being integrated into trauma recovery programs, including at leading institutions such as:

• The Justice Resource Institute (JRI), where yoga is used for survivors of abuse

• The Boston Trauma Center, where studies show its efficacy for PTSD

• Integrative clinics in Europe, which increasingly combine body-based therapies with psychotherapy and psychiatry

  
  

8 Reasons to Say Yes to Yoga Therapy:

1. It rebuilds a sense of safety in the body.

Trauma can make the body feel like a threat. Yoga therapy helps you reinhabit it, gently, and at your own pace.

2. It teaches you to regulate from the inside out.

Through conscious breath and movement, yoga therapy helps calm the nervous system , reducing anxiety, hypervigilance, and

overwhelm.

3. It works without reactivating the trauma story.

Healing doesn’t always require words. Movement and breath create space to release what talking can’t always reach.

4. It restores natural rhythms.

Chronic stress disrupts sleep, digestion, and hormonal balance. Yoga therapy helps bring those systems back online.

5. It meets you where you are — not where you “should” be.

There’s no performance here. Just presence. Each session is tailored to your current energy, capacity, and needs.

6. It helps release stored tension.

Trauma often shows up as chronic tightness or pain. Gentle, sustained postures can unlock the body’s holding patterns over time.

7. It gives you tools for daily regulation.

You don’t need a mat or a studio. With the right guidance, your breath can become your anchor, anytime, anywhere.

8. It supports long-term resilience, not just short-term relief.

Yoga therapy isn’t a quick fix. But it can offer deep, sustainable shifts in how you relate to your body, your emotions, and your sense of self.

Trauma healing takes time and trust. Yoga therapy creates space for both. When led by a trauma-informed practitioner, it can become a steady, restorative part of your recovery.

If you or someone you know is navigating the long road of trauma recovery, yoga therapy may offer a gentle, structured path back to wholeness.

It’s not about reaching for the perfect pose. It’s about reaching for the truth in your body, and learning how to live from that place with calm, clarity, and strength.

Sources:

• van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score

• West, J. et al. (2017). The Effectiveness of Yoga in Reducing Trauma Symptoms. Traumatology

• Jindal, V. et al. (2021). Yoga and PTSD: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology

• Price, C.J. et al. (2022). Somatic Regulation and Trauma Therapy: An Integrated Approach.

• Telles, S. et al. (2015). The impact of yoga on the autonomic nervous system. International Journal of Yoga

About the Author

Jatty Sohal-Heyn is a trauma-informed somatic therapist and founder of the MSBC “Organic Healing” Method—a body-based approach that blends breathwork, movement, water therapy, and energetic alignment to release trauma stored in the body’s cellular memory.

She offers private sessions, spa collaborations, and international retreats focused on cellular resilience and embodied healing.

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To experience the power of cellular resilience through breath, movement, and presence connect with Jatty

FAQ — Yoga Therapy, Trauma Healing & Nervous System Recovery

How is yoga therapy different from a regular yoga class?

Yoga therapy is personalised and clinically informed. Rather than focusing on performance or physical fitness, it supports emotional regulation, breath awareness, and nervous system healing. Sessions are paced gently and intentionally for safety and integration — especially important for trauma recovery.

Why is yoga therapy considered effective for trauma?

Trauma primarily affects the nervous system, and yoga therapy works directly with breath, movement, and interoception helping the body feel safe again. Its slow, grounded practices allow survivors to rebuild trust in their body’s signals without overwhelm.

Can yoga therapy help reduce symptoms such as anxiety, hypervigilance, or dissociation?

Trauma-sensitive yoga improves vagal tone, regulates breathing, and calms the stress response. Over time, this reduces anxiety, eases hypervigilance, and helps individuals stay more present rather than dissociating during emotional triggers.

Do you need previous yoga experience to begin yoga therapy?

Not at all. Yoga therapy is accessible for all bodies and levels. Movements are adapted to individual needs, and the emphasis is on comfort, grounding, and emotional safety — not flexibility or physical ability.

Can yoga therapy complement traditional trauma treatments like psychotherapy?

Absolutely. Many professionals recommend yoga therapy as a somatic companion to talk therapy. While psychotherapy supports cognitive and emotional processing, yoga therapy helps the body release stored tension and restore regulation — creating a more holistic recovery.

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