Building Safety with Trauma-Informed Yoga: A Practical Guide for Teachers and Clinicians

Building Safety with Trauma-Informed Yoga is an accessible, science-based guide for clinicians, yoga teachers, teachers in training, and practitioners. The book provides clear ideas on how to support diverse groups in trauma recovery and in building resiliency skills. The easy-to-follow format is organized around the three key principles of building safety, supporting empowerment, and maintaining simplicity. Readers will find free downloadable support materials on the author's website, including handouts, flyers, scripts, and audio and video recordings. Cover Endorsement Page Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Acknowledgments Preface Introduction Chapter 1 Science: Be Informed and Be Inspired Are We Stuck? Neuroplasticity: Another Type of Plastic The Basics: All Systems Go The Nature/Nurture Debate: Who’s Winning Now? How Does Neuroplasticity Happen? Why Is a Sense of Safety So Important? Getting Stuck Getting Unstuck: ‘Pay Attention!’ Where Does a Sense of Safety Come From? To Coin a Phrase The Triune Brain: The Bigger Picture The Polyvagal Theory (PVT) Window of Tolerance What Does Trauma Do to That Sense of Safety? Mixed Signals Connections Lost The Triune Brain Revisited Why Are Breath and Movement the Safety Net? The Ebb and the Flow: Heart Rate Variability Movement Putting It All Together: Getting Unstuck with Yoga References Part I Preparing to Teach Chapter 2 Language Building Safety Self-regulation Pacing ‘Your Voice Is a Thread to Safety’ Grounding Boundaries Word Choice Supporting Empowerment Who’s in Charge? Choosing Words Knowledge Is Power Maintaining Simplicity Teach Simply Literal and Body-based Repetition and Consistent Phrasing References Chapter 3 The Yoga Space The Room Building Safety Arranging Physical Space Creating Boundaries Props Five Senses: ‘Be Informed and Be Inspired’ Sight Hearing Smell Touch Taste References Chapter 4 Classroom Management Building Safety Predictability and Consistency To Welcome Interruptions Managing Responses Anxious or Triggered Responses Resistant Responses References Chapter 5 For Teachers, Clinicians, and Health Care Providers Personal Qualities: Building a Sense of Safety Dress for Success Make Yourself Heard Be Predictable and Consistent Be Confident Personal Challenges Learning to Stretch Self-care and Vicarious Trauma: Take Care of You Your Safety What Are You Practicing? ‘You Need Yoga’ ‘Trust the Yoga’ Trust Yourself Ways to Incorporate Yoga into All You Do On Your Mark, Get Set ... Use as Needed Ways to ‘Practice What You Teach’ Do Try This at Home References Part II Teaching Protocols Chapter 6 The Breath: Considerations Building Safety A Key to Self-regulation Grounding to Building Body Awareness Potential Breathing Triggers ‘Your Voice Is a Thread to Safety’ Supporting Empowerment What a Difference a Word Makes Of Boundaries and Windows and Personal Growth Knowledge Is Power Normalize Maintaining Simplicity Keeping It Simple Literal and Body-based Consistent Phrasing Mixing It up Without Getting Mixed Up References Chapter 7 Suggested Breathwork At the Ready: Ways to Ground throughout the Practice Five-breath Format Opening Comments Ten Breathwork Ideas Other Breathwork Ideas References Chapter 8 The Practice: Considerations Building Safety Self-regulation Pacing ‘Your Voice Is a Thread to Safety’ Adjustments When Is Restorative Not Restorative? Supporting Empowerment Word Choice – It’s the Little Things The Building Blocks of Choice Of Boundaries and Personal Growth Knowledge Is Power Normalize and Set Up for Success Maintaining Simplicity Keeping It Simple Consistent Phrasing Mixing It Up without Getting Mixed Up References Chapter 9 Steps to Creating Your Practice Step One: A Plan Can ... How to Not ‘End Up Someplace Else’ How Long Is Long Enough? Adapting for Pain and Differing Abilities Connect the Dots Your Planning Checklist: A Quick Review The Last Piece of the Planning Puzzle Step Two: Sequencing the Yoga Practice Begin at the Beginning Grounding – It Never Gets Old The Middle: Creating Sequences That Flow To Close: Ways to End Strong ‘Final Stretch’ Script Activities to Compliment Your Practice Journaling Art Projects References Chapter 10 Immigrant/Refugee/ESOL Populations Building Safety You Are the Message: ‘Your Voice Is a Thread to Safety’ Let Me Count the Ways Boundaries Social Support in Action Supporting Empowerment Maintaining Simplicity References Chapter 11 Trauma-informed Phrases and Practice Sequences/Photos Practice Sequences: Descriptions and Outlines Phrases to Empower, to Build Body Awareness, and to Build Breath Awareness Two-to-Five Minute Breaks Five Practice Sequences (30–90 Minutes) Three 30-Minute Practice Scripts Two 60–90-Minute Practice Scripts Practice Sequence Photographs Appendix A: Practice Scripts for Chapter 5 Appendix B: Resources Appendix C: Supplemental Resourceswww​.greentreeyoga​.org​/buildingsafety Index