Survivors of trauma whether abuse, accidents, or war can end up profoundly wounded, betrayed by their bodies that failed to get them to safety and that are a source of pain. In order to fully heal from trauma, a connection must be made with oneself, including one s body. The trauma-sensitive yoga described in this book moves beyond traditional talk therapies that focus on the mind, by bringing the body actively into the healing process. This allows trauma survivors to cultivate a more positive relationship to their body through gentle breath, mindfulness, and movement practices. " Overcoming Trauma through Yoga "is a book for survivors, clinicians, and yoga instructors who are interested in mind/body healing. It introduces trauma-sensitive yoga, a modified approach to yoga developed in collaboration between yoga teachers and clinicians at the Trauma Center at Justice Resource Institute, led by yoga teacher David Emerson, along with medical doctor Bessel van der Kolk. The book begins with an in-depth description of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including a description of how trauma is held in the body and the need for body-based treatment. It offers a brief history of yoga, describes various styles of yoga commonly found in Western practice, and identifies four key themes of trauma-sensitive yoga. Chair-based exercises are described that can be incorporated into individual or group therapy, targeting specific treatment goals, and modifications are offered for mat-based yoga classes. Each exercise includes trauma-sensitive language to introduce the practice, as well as photographs to illustrate the poses. The practices have been offered to a wide range of individuals and groups, including men and women, teens, returning veterans, and others. Rounded out by valuable quotes and case stories, the book presents mindfulness, breathing, and yoga exercises that can be used by home practitioners, yoga teachers, and therapists as a way to cultivate awareness, tolerance, and an increased acceptance of the self. "

Reclaiming your body -- Traumatic stress -- A brief history of traumatic stress and trauma treatment -- Historical views on mental health symptoms -- Link between traumatic events and symptoms -- Veterans and traumatic stress -- Expansion of the application of the PTSD diagnosis -- Modern-day treatment models for post-traumatic stress -- Complex trauma and the limitations of available treatment models -- More recent treatments -- The future of trauma treatment -- Trauma and the survival response -- The impact of trauma -- Yoga as trauma treatment -- Yoga -- The origins of yoga -- Yoga in the West -- Trauma-sensitive yoga -- The need for trauma-sensitive yoga -- Key themes of trauma-sensitive yoga -- Experiencing the present moment -- Making choices -- Taking effective action -- Creating rhythms -- For survivors -- Developing a trauma-sensitive yoga practice -- An at-home practice -- For clinicians -- Integrating yoga-based practices into the therapy office -- Matching interventions to goals -- Creating present-moment focus -- Developing mindfulness skills -- Building curiosity and developing tolerance for experiencing sensation -- Changing relationship with the body -- Centering -- Grounding -- Building affect-regulation skills -- Breathing practices and affect regulation -- Practicing choice -- Integrating aspects of experience -- Increasing confidence -- Building connection to others -- Addressing challenges in introducing yoga-based strategies into the therapy office -- For yoga teachers -- Building a trauma-sensitive yoga class -- Language -- Assists -- Teacher qualities -- Environment -- Exercises -- Responding to triggered reactions in a yoga class -- Conclusions.