Trauma can come with a nasty stigma in our society, which can make us shy away from really talking about it or addressing it. However, we as a society are starting to understand just how impactful and destructive it is to us. This is opening the door to exploring healthy ways to navigate, manage and heal trauma.

When trauma or stress is chronic or unresolved it has profound impacts on the body's nervous system, brain, and even cellular function. It can get "stuck" in our bodies, causing a cycle of repeated harmful effects.

Let take a brief look into the scientific impacts of trauma on the body to get a better understanding of how harmful it is:

1. Nervous System Dysregulation - Trauma activates the bodies NATURAL stress response system - fight, flight, freeze or fawn- this happens automatically, without us thinking about it. Our sympathetic nervous system becomes overactive, keeping our body in a constant state of alert. The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for calming our body, becomes under active. Over time this can lead to anxiety, hyper vigilance, dissociation and shut down.

2. Changes to the Brain - Trauma can alter or damage the structure and function of key areas in the brain

   • Amygdala - becomes hyperactive, increasing fear and emotional reactivity

   • Hippocampus - shrinks or malfunction, impairing memory and making it harder to distinguish past from present.

   • Prefrontal Cortex - underperforms, reducing rational thinking, and impulse control during stress.

3. Hormonal and Immue System Impacts - trauma affects the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This causes cortisol and adrenaline levels to spike or drop abnormally, which over long periods of time have negative impacts on the body. The immune system weakens, increasing vulnerability to illness. Inflammation is another offset, which is linked to a number of diseases/disorders.

4. Stored Trauma in the Body - muscles, fascia and the nervous system can hold patterns of tension and bracing which may lead to:

   • chronic pain or tightness

   • gut issues, due to the brain-gut connection

   • feeling on edge or disconnected from ones body

5. Epigenetics - emerging research shows can alter gene expression, essentially changing how genes are turned on or off. These changes can be passed down through genetics.

All of these things can have a great impact on how we navigate in our day to day lives, impacting our decisions, health and people around us, potentially leading us down harmful and unhealthy paths in our journeys. Keep reading to find out how Trauma-Informed Yoga can help take control of our bodies and regain a sense of balance to become our best self.

How Yoga Helps Release Trauma and Build Resilience

Trauma can live not only in our memories, but also in our bodies. It can show up as tension, disconnection, chronic stress, or emotional overwhelm. Yoga offers a gentle, holistic path to healing - helping us release what’s been held inside and build the tools we need to face life’s challenges with strength and presence.

Releasing Trauma Through the Body

When we experience trauma, our nervous system shifts into survival mode- fight, flight, or freeze. While this response is natural, it can leave behind lasting imprints in the body and mind. Yoga supports trauma release in several powerful ways:

• Body Awareness: Through mindful movement, yoga helps you reconnect with your body in a safe, supportive way. You learn to notice where tension or emotion is stored and gently release it over time.

• Nervous System Regulation: Calming practices like restorative yoga, gentle flows, and yoga nidra activate the parasympathetic nervous system -helping the body move from high alert into a state of rest and healing.

• Empowerment and Choice: Trauma-informed yoga honors your agency. You’re always invited to move at your own pace, make choices that feel right, and rebuild a sense of trust in yourself and your body.

Building Resilience for Future Stress

Yoga is not just a healing practice- t’s also a protective one. A regular practice can help you:

• Strengthen Emotional Resilience: Yoga teaches you how to stay present and grounded, even in uncomfortable moments. This builds the capacity to face stress without becoming overwhelmed.

• Regulate Emotions: Breathwork and mindfulness techniques support emotional balance and reduce reactivity.

• Create a Sense of Belonging: Practicing in a safe, supportive space fosters connection- a powerful antidote to the isolation trauma can bring.

What to Expect in a Trauma-Informed Yoga Practice

If you’re working through trauma or chronic stress, know that yoga can meet you exactly where you are. In a trauma-sensitive class, you can expect:

• Gentle, accessible movements

• Emphasis on grounding and interoception (inner body awareness)

• Breathwork for calm and clarity

• Options and invitations instead of commands

• A focus on safety, consent, and choice

Healing doesn’t mean forgetting- it means creating space for what’s next.

Through yoga, you can gently release what’s been held and build the tools to face life with steadiness and self-compassion.