Belonging

Hello Dear Friend,

I've recently had the opportunity to talk with several yoga students I currently teach, listen to their stories, and ask them about yoga + mental health. A frequent theme and question popped up in many of these conversations around "am I allowed to come to a trauma informed yoga class if I haven't had capital T trauma?" and "I don't think of myself as a trauma survivor". These statements and questions led me to write this little letter to you today wanting to explain, clear some things up, and invite you to see things from a new perspective.

According to the National Counsel for Behavioral Health 70% of U.S adults have experience some type of traumatic event in their lives. This might be from medical interventions or illness, childhood neglect, physical or emotional abuse, experiencing grief and loss, witnessing acts of violence, or intergenerational or historical trauma passed down from previous generations. When thinking of trauma survivors you might imagine a war veteran, a sexual assault victim, or a survivor of a natural disaster which yes are all trauma survivors. This maybe where the idea and term capital T trauma came from. I would like to invite you to question why there needs to be a hierarchy of pain one must experience in order to "deserve" the right to say they have experienced a traumatic even in their life. Where does this black and white thinking come from? When were you told you did not deserve to feel a certain way? Maybe a time growing up from an adult in your life, or maybe from a friend who felt you sharing your story took attention from theirs?

There could be many different reasons to feel this way and I want to invite you to allow space to feel and express your pain or suffering as authentically as you need. You always have this right there is no "deserving of it or earning the right to feel your feelings". When you step into my class you don't have to justify your want or need to be there. There is no quiz, interrogation, or gatekeeping system which keeps you in the class or kicks you out. You are accepted, you are welcomed, you are allowed, and you are worthy.

You also don't need to identify as a trauma survivor to benefit from a trauma informed practice. Do you not deserve to have a welcoming space dedicated to upholding consent in your movement practice? Are you not allowed to have a class where you don't fee pressured or coerced into doing things with your body you don't want to do? Can you not ask for a practice where your mental and physical wellbeing is equally being looked after? Is it not your right to chose a class where there are many different options for movement and is not taught in a 'one size fits all' way?

I would have to say a wholehearted YES to all of these questions and invite you to question the narratives which tell you, you are not. Whose voices are holding you back from enjoying a practice which serves your needs best? Whether you identify with experiencing trauma or whether you just want a more calming, supportive, and ethical yoga practice for your mind and body, you are always welcome at The Gratitude Practice.

P.S I wanted to let you know about some new happenings at the studio.

New Yoga for Teens and Adolescents class: Every Monday from 5-6pm

All classes this week will be offered online- I am quarantined from my positive Covid test this Wednesday, so will be offering all my classes online until I am out of the quarantine period. My apologies for any inconvenience this brings we will be back to normal soon!

Free Online/recording yoga practice will be starting Sunday Dec. 5th so stay tuned for that. Depending on how well it goes it may become a weekly/biweekly offering.

I hope all is well in your world and look forward to connecting with you again soon,

-Janae