Trauma-Informed and Trauma-Responsive Yoga Teaching: A Universal Practice

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Trauma-Informed and Trauma-Responsive Yoga Teaching: A Universal Practice

(Cook-Cottone & Joanne Spence 2024)

This essential manual meets the increasing need for yoga teachers to be trauma-informed and trauma-responsive, and aware of how poses, breathwork, and meditation can impact the body. In detailing all aspects of trauma as it relates to yoga teaching, this guide lays a strong foundation in fostering trust and building authentic connections with students safely and confidently.

Yoga teachers will benefit from a number of yoga practices for self-regulation, self-determination, and agency, as well as guidance on polyvagal theory, communication, setting boundaries, and yoga teacher self-care. It also includes a de-escalation protocol for in-session trauma responses and how to cultivate a trauma-informed teaching environment.

Written by an internationally renowned author duo, this is a universal resource for yoga teachers looking to empower themselves and their clients from all demographics and in all settings.

“Trauma-Informed and Trauma-Responsive Yoga Teaching is an essential book that will have a powerful impact on the field. It synthesizes the authors’ considerable years of experience and research, and offers it to the community with clarity and compassion. Joanne and Catherine have an unwavering commitment to helping teachers create spaces where healing is possible and students are empowered. It’s clear that this book will help many move towards those goals.”

Jennifer Cohen Harper, founder of Little Flower Yoga

Key Features

  • Forewords by internationally renowned yoga researcher Dr. Shirley Telles and internationally acclaimed yoga author Dr. Gail Parker.

  • The perfect guide to align your yoga teacher training with trauma-informed and response principles and practices.

  • Each chapter ends with discussion questions to be used in workshops and teacher trainings, as well as for your own study.

  • Includes chapters on the polyvagal theory, guidelines for how to facilitate trauma-informed and responsive yoga teacher trainings.

  • Provides a step-by-step de-escalation protocol.

  • Details mindful -self-care and risk for burnout.

  • Chapters highlight powerful trauma-informed and responsive principles that can be referenced throughout your yoga teaching and training career.

  • Chapters address triggers, content warning, inclusive language, microaggressions, and non-violent communication.

  • Detailed chapters that offer practices in both being with and working with what is present.

  • The book ends with a chapter on creating caring yoga community.