Trauma-Informed Yoga Psychology

Abstract

This chapter introduces trauma-informed yoga psychology as a wholistic, culturally responsive approach to understanding and healing trauma. Readers will explore the types of trauma and the impacts of trauma on the nervous system, including polyvagal theory, triggers, glimmers, and principles of trauma therapy. The authors highlight how trauma is both personal and political, shaped by the enduring impacts of colonization and systemic oppression. Integrating decolonization into trauma-informed care offers a transformative path to honouring Indigenous Knowledges, worldviews, and healing practices while fostering cultural safety, partnership, and community-led solutions. Guided by Etuaptmumk or Two-Eyed Seeing, this chapter invites readers to consider how integrating psychological frameworks with Indigenous Wisdom traditions, including trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness that is Indigenous to South Asia, supports more inclusive care that centres body, mind, spirit, and heart. Through the authors’ work at the Trauma-Informed Yoga Psychology School, they share how blending the insights of psychology with ancient yoga traditions can deepen practice and contribute to healing rooted in cultural humility, agency, and relational care.

Citation

Jay, M., Yudcovitch, M., Mehra-Ramcharan, S., laboucan, s., Lightning-Strongman, N., & Connelly, K. (2025). Trauma-informed yoga psychology: Theory and practice. In S. Collins and M. Jay (Eds.), Decolonizing health, healing, and care: Embodying culturally responsive and socially just counselling (Chapter 4.1). Counselling Concepts. https://doi.org/10.71446/si83928741