Doctor Bessel Van Der Kolk already stated the importance of treating the body and the mind together in his book “The Body Keeps the Score”. Your body shows the repercussions of the emotional trauma you had to face. My name is Jen Stuart and, in today’s post, we will discuss the body parts that hold trauma and the shapes that can help you to relief them.

Body trauma memory

What is the body’s natural reaction to trauma? The reptilian brain takes command, and all the energy of the body is concentrated in surviving. 

Some people get stuck, emotionally and, therefore, physically, in the stage of response to trauma. The body remembers the traumatic event and the elements associated with it, such as smells, sounds, places, names, etc. The moment it perceives any of them, it enters in the fight or flight stage. Although it’s a useful mechanism when in a threatening environment, once the person is safe, it becomes an obstacle because it doesn’t allow them to have a normal life.

Releasing trauma in the body 

The following yoga shapes for healing trauma will be beneficial for you to relief the:

• Psoas

The psoas muscle is located at the centre of the body, and it’s a really big muscle that fulfils the important function of connecting the legs with the spine. This is the body part that automatically prepares to fight or flight, clenching, which is why it’s not strange that it stores so much trauma. 

This muscle can remain blocked and cause issues like teeth grinding, back pain, groin pain, knee issues, weak ankles, and others. To liberate the psoas from the tension with yoga, do the half-bridge form.

Lay on your back. Make sure your knees are aligned with your shoulders, the sole of your feet firmly positioned on the floor and your arms, relaxed alongside your body. Gently lift your hips, as much as you feel comfortable with. Let your pelvis expand, feel the energy running throw them and leaving your body. Hold for 1 minute and release the form in an exhalation.

• Stomach

When we feel threatened, the body turns on survival mode and puts on hold any other processes that are not necessary to keep us alive in that specific moment, such as long-term memory and language, which is why it can be difficult to recall the events that took place or to articulate what happened coherently. Digestion is another one of the processes that the body interrupts when responding to trauma.

Body memories can be triggered by anxiety or stress, and digestion can be blocked. The stomach is often called the second brain, and it affects our mood, how we interact with others, our reactions, and more.  If you are suffering from gastritis, chronic constipation, or other issues related to the stomach, a shape like the lying down twist form will compress and relax your inner organs, relieving them from pressure. 

If intertwining your legs is too physically demanding for you, you can modify this shape, just as you can modify any shape in Trauma Sensitive Yoga, to feel comfortable. The important thing is to give your body a much-needed twist, relaxing the lower half of your body to a side, and facing the opposite side with your upper half. To enhance the stretch of your abdomen, lift your arms over your head, and breathe calmly, feeling how your body gets rid of the tension.

• Neck tension

Among the many reasons why you can be suffering from neck tension and neck pain, emotional trauma is one of them. It might have been originated from the inability to express your feelings and thoughts. Many people experience this: a lump in their throats that make it difficult for them to speak. 

As explained before, the nervous system shuts down all the complex processes that are not necessary for survival when protecting you from a traumatic experience. Language is one of those processes. If you cannot express your pain, concerns, and put the trauma into words during therapy or when talking to people you care about, you might also be feeling jaw tension, neck pain, and headaches. 

The upward-facing dog form is ideal to unblock your throat and make it possible for you to articulate your emotions. Lay down on your stomach, connecting with the earth through your body, absorbing its vital energy. Put the palms of your hands on the floor, at chest level, and push yourself up, stretching your spine. Your eyes should be looking up, searching for the sky, allowing your neck to open and stretch. Your feet should remain connected to the earth, toes extended. 

Trauma Sensitive Yoga offers other yoga shapes for trauma survivors, focusing on raising their self-awareness through guided mindful meditation, interoception, somatic experiencing and other techniques. Learn how to reconnect your body and mind, and be empowered by a treatment that exercises your right to choose during every session, creating a safe environment for you to change your relationship with trauma. For more information, please visit Journey with Jen.