Trauma Healing in the Yoga Zone

Trauma Healing in the Yoga Zone describes an original model of "Nervous System Informed, Trauma-Sensitive Yoga," (NITYA), a synthesis of classical yoga, somatic psychotherapy, and neuroscience research. It is organized around the eight branches of Raja Yoga, and includes scripts for administering NITYA chair yoga postures, breathing practices, and yoga nidra (the yogic sleep). These can be used by helping professionals with all levels of familiarity with yoga.

The book is needed for several reasons: for mental health professionals, it offers a comprehensive overview of yoga philosophy and practices, as well as yoga-based options for working with the client's embodied experience, a major element in trauma healing. For yoga professionals and practitioners, it provides insight into the natural integration of yoga with polyvagal theory and other current approaches in the field of somatic psychology. Both professions are currently being enriched by data from the field of neuropsychology that describes brain function, in real time, in various mental and emotional states. This data supports yoga's effectiveness in regulating the autonomic nervous system, a key to trauma recovery.

Auteur

Joann Lutz

Texte du rabat

The book describes an original model of nervous-system informed, trauma-sensitive yoga, a synthesis of classic yoga, somatic psychotherapy, and neuroscience research. It is organized around the eight stages of classic yoga practice and includes scripts of chair yoga postures, the three-part deep breath, and the Integral Yoga version of yoga nidra, for use by professionals who are not certified as yoga teachers.

The book is needed for three reasons: mainstream psychotherapy has, until recently, ignored the body, a major element in the healing of trauma and other emotional and mental dysregulations. It has also omitted the wisdom from the world's great spiritual traditions, perpetuating an artificial separation between religion/spirituality and science. The field is also currently being enriched by empirical data from the field of neuropsychology that describes brain function. The profession is ready to transform and embrace a holistic model and yoga can play a significant role in that transformation.

The book is primarily intended for mental health professionals and yoga therapists and teachers, both civilian and in the military. It could be of interest to professionals in related fields, such as medicine, as well as the general population of people interested in yoga and healing.