What is TCTSY?
TCTSY is an evidence-based adjunctive intervention for complex, developmental trauma or chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD. Participants are welcome to choose when and how they'd like to practice, and for how long. They are welcome to change, modify, or make their way out of any shape, at any time, for any reason. The TCTSY facilitator (TCTSY-F) does not make hands-on assists, nor do they walk around the room while the participant is practicing. The TCTSY-F engages in the practice with the participants for a shared authentic experience, rather than make commands of the participants.
The TCTSY methodology is based on central components of the hatha style of yoga, where participants engage in a series of physical forms and movements. TCTSY presents opportunities for participants to be in charge of themselves based on a felt sense of their own body. The TCTSY-F offers different variations (options) of the forms and movements, and the participant is free to decide which variation is best in their own body. The emphasis is not on the external expression or appearance (i.e. doing it “right”), or receiving the approval of an external authority. Rather, the focus is on the internal experience of the participant. With this approach, the power resides within the individual, not the TCTSY facilitator.
This is a practice of embodiment, in that we practice being in the body. Research suggests that this practice may restore functioning in parts of the brain that have been damaged from trauma. This blog post explains this process in more detail.
As functioning becomes restored, the participant begins to learn to listen to their own body as a source of wisdom, in that they learn to trust their intuition in terms of what is useful/not useful, or supportive/not supportive. While this is something we practice on the mat in ways that are specifically related to the practice of yoga, this skill can be extended off the mat in everyday-life situations as well. What's further, is that once a participant begins to welcome and befriend their physical sensations and feelings, they can begin to welcome and befriend their emotional feelings as well. This has important implications in terms of what can become available for the participant during cognitive forms of therapy. Whereas what one was feeling used to be blocked off, inaccessible, or foreign, now becomes interesting and familiar territory, which can then be explored with a talk therapist.
As mentioned, TCTSY has been shown to be effective for people who were living with treatment-resistant PTSD conditions. Therefore, TCTSY may be hope for people who have lost all hope. What's further, with restored functioning of the brain, forms of therapy that were previously ineffective (thereby making one's condition "treatment-resistant") may become a viable option again. However, TCTSY has been evidenced as an effective stand-alone therapy, the results of which out-performed the gold standard in treatment in one study (Kelly et al., 2021). Not only did the participants report a greater reduction in symptoms with TCTSY, but the symptoms stayed diminished or relieved entirely long after the study. Some participants no longer qualified for the diagnosis of PTSD after the TCTSY intervention.
The TCTSY program is the first to qualify for inclusion in the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) database published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Research Behind TCTSY:
TCTSY trauma sensitive yoga model developed at the Center for Trauma and Embodiment is as effective as Cognitive Processing Therapy, the current gold standard of care, in providing symptom relief for U.S. women military veterans suffering from PTSD (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2023).
The TCTSY model has been utilized and researched since 2002 and has consistently demonstrated positive outcomes for trauma survivors. More broadly, TCTSY is part of a recent movement within the mental health field to engage the body in healing from psychological trauma and PTSD, especially for the most severe trauma where talk-based therapies may be less effective.
Reduction in symptoms were sustained over a long period of time and participants were less likely to drop out of the practice, compared to the control (CBT) group. (Campbell et. al, 2024).
Here is a short TCTSY Preview:
Where are sessions held?
Serenity Roots Yoga & Wellness Center, 8950 Lavelle Rd. Athens, OH, 45701
Or, online through Zoom. If an online session is needed, schedule as normal and call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to let me know it is an online session.
What if I need a time that isn't listed or I would prefer to meet at a different location?
If you need a time that isn't listed, feel free to call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com and we can work something out.
I can also travel locally with no additional pay, or out of town with pay, if needed.
What can I expect after signing up?
After signing up, you'll be emailed a questionnaire. It is optional, but the more information I have, the better I am able to design a practice that can best suit your specific needs.
The first session involves a consultation, and then we can begin the practice. Subsequent sessions can be the same, or modified as needed.
"More frequent yoga practice over extended periods may augment and sustain decreases in symptoms of both PTSD and depression" (Rhodes et. al., 2016). This means that the more often one practices over long periods of time, the more likely one is to experience a relief in symptoms. This also means that the symptoms are lessened more and more over a long period of time.
Disclaimer:
Trauma Sensitive Yoga is not intended to replace one-on-one treatment with a licensed mental health professional. I am not a clinician and I am unable to diagnose or treat anyone's mental health condition. I can offer tools that may support someone through their own healing journey. Through my own lived experience and formal education, I can say with complete confidence that I have worked tirelessly to offer this from a place that is both empirically informed and experientially validated.
For more information about TCTSY (including the research behind it), please visit: https://www.traumasensitiveyoga.com/.
What are Individual/Private Group Sessions for?
Individual sessions may be for those interested in having a session that offers specialized instruction or advice as it applies to their unique body. You might try an individual session if you have questions about certain forms or alignment; or if you'd like to try yoga one-on-one before attending a public class.
Private group sessions are available for special events, specific groups, special interests, or just for fun!
Where are sessions held?
Serenity Roots Yoga & Wellness Center, 8950 Lavelle Rd. Athens, OH, 45701
Or, online through Zoom. If an online session is needed, schedule as normal and call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to let me know it is an online session.
What if I need a time that isn't listed or I would prefer to meet at a different location?
If you need a time that isn't listed, feel free to call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com and we can work something out.
I can also travel locally with no additional pay, or out of town with pay, if needed.
What can I expect after signing up?
After signing up, you'll be emailed a questionnaire. It is optional, but the more information I have, the better I am able to design a practice that can best suit your specific needs.
The first session involves a consultation, and then we can begin the practice. Subsequent sessions can be the same, or modified as needed.
What is Gentle Yoga?
Each monthly series we practice a different breathing technique, movement sequence (physical postures/asana), and meditation or relaxation technique. This is a beginner-friendly, trauma-informed series that focuses on grounding and centering in the body. This practice uses the breath in conscious, intentional ways to soothe the nervous system, allowing us to enter a state of rest and relaxation. A state of presence is welcomed to be explored through breath, movement, and stillness.
This series welcomes participants to explore their practice from a state of being. The practice isn't about doing, it's not about achieving an external form or posture. Rather, it's about experiencing the form from the inside out. It is a non-judgmental, non-competitive practice. There is no right or wrong way to practice (as long as there is no discomfort or pain). One is welcomed to change, modify, or make their way out of the form at any time, for any reason. Gentle yoga invites participants to explore ways in which they can support themselves, rather than pushing themselves to their limits.
How Much does the Gentle Yoga Series Cost?
$45 (if there's 4 Tuesdays in the month) or $60 (if there's 5 Tuesdays in the month) for the whole series (Get one free!*)
* Please note, this is a discount incentive to sign up for the whole month. It's to encourage you to attend all 4 or 5 classes (since new habits are hard to create!) and also to give back to those who keep coming. If you need to miss one, it's the free one that gets used. I don't transfer the free credit, but you will have another opportunity to get a free session the following month. However, if you need to miss more than one, let me know and I can transfer that. <3
You can also now buy a class pass, which is five classes for the cost of four. You will have one year to use this pass.
How much does it cost for Drop-ins?
$15 (if you want to try just one session, or prefer paying one session at a time)
Do you offer alternate ways of paying?
My website charges a small processing fee. Venmo (@Erin-Finck) does not. Cash is also accepted at the door. If you choose Venmo, please email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com or call/text 740-586-4181 with your name and email address so I can register you.
What time are the sessions held?
5:30-6:45pm on every Tuesday
Where are sessions held?
Serenity Roots Yoga & Wellness Center, 8950 Lavelle Rd. Athens, OH 45701 (former Bodhi Tree).
What to Bring?
Please feel free to bring your own props and water bottle, but we do have props at the studio if you need (mats, blocks, bolsters blankets, and straps).
What are Practices for Calming Stress & Anxiety?
Experience the holistic practices that can support us through stress, anxiety, & depression by instilling an embodied sense of stability, strength, and ease. These sessions explore body-based practices such as yoga shapes and movements, breathing practices, and relaxation techniques.
This is a whole-person, integral perspective of health and wellbeing. It offers a new way of being with yourself, in a way that is inclusive of the entire mind, body, and spirit.
These practices stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which can help lower heart rate, blood pressure, and stimulate the production of neurotransmitters that support one's mental and emotional wellbeing. Most of these practices can be done anywhere and do not involve the use of equipment or medication.
Yoga citta vritti nirodhah - "Yoga is a cessation of the fluctuations of the mind." - Yoga Sutra 1.1 Pantajali. Yoga is a practice intended to gain control over one's thoughts, i.e., gain freedom from suffering. The physical practice helps us find stability and ease, from there we learn to work with the breath, from there we learn to slow the mind.
This can be offered in one of two ways:
1.) As a 90-minute workshop in which the theory and philosophy of Eastern and Western teachings are intertwined to offer a holistic perspective of physical and emotional wellbeing. The presentation looks at what emotions are from a neurobiological perspective and how they are affecting us. It explores how anxiety and other challenging emotions are held in the body and how body-based practices can help us welcome them, be with them, understand them, and let them go. It then moves into the physical forms and breathing techniques. The workshop is helpful for anyone who wants an educational approach as to how and why these practices work.
2.) As a 60-minute yoga class, without the presentation. This will be offered with the movement sequence, breathing practices, and relaxation techniques being specifically tailored toward releasing anxious energy, regulating one's nervous system, and easing into a more relaxed state.
Where are sessions held?
Serenity Roots Yoga & Wellness Center, 8950 Lavelle Rd. Athens, OH, 45701
Or, online through Zoom. If an online session is needed, schedule as normal and call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to let me know it is an online session.
I can also travel locally with no additional pay, or out of town with pay, if needed.
What if I need a time that isn't listed?
If you need a time that isn't listed, feel free to call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com and we can work something out.
What can I expect after signing up?
After signing up, you'll be emailed a questionnaire. It is optional, but the more information I have, the better I am able to design a practice that can best suit your specific needs.
The first session involves a consultation, and then we can begin the practice. Subsequent sessions can be the same or modified as needed.
Disclaimer:
Practices for Calming Stress & Anxiety is not intended to replace one-on-one treatment with a licensed mental health professional. I am not a clinician and I am unable to diagnose or treat anyone's mental health condition. I can offer tools that may support someone through their own healing journey. Through my own lived experience and formal education, I can say with complete confidence that I have worked tirelessly to offer this from a place that is both empirically informed and experientially validated.
What is Yoga for Depression?
Yoga teaches us that we are already whole and complete, just as we are, it's just that sometimes, things can get stuck, or off balance. Yoga is uniquely suited to help release these "blockages" and restore balance, and that is what yoga therapy is all about.
When one has been living with chronic depression, they often hunch forward, straining their back muscles, weakening the muscles in their chest, and collapsing their breathing space. When we practice gentle chest-opening and back-bending shapes, one is able to counteract the effects of this “posture of depression.”
Practicing these shapes sends messages of wellbeing to the brain, which responds by sending neurotransmitters back to the body that can support wellbeing, such as oxytocin and endorphins, while reducing neurotransmitters that increase levels of stress, such as cortisol. Therefore, the practice of yoga can serve as a feedback loop for positive wellbeing.
Further, there is a high co-occurrence of GI disorders and psychiatric disorders, as our gut directly influences our mood and our mental state. Our enteric nervous system, our “second brain”, controls gut mobility, secretion, absorption, and blood flow. Several neurotransmitters are synthesized in the gut. For example, more than 50% of our dopamine and as much as 90% of our serotonin (both of which dramatically impact our mood) are synthesized here. Our vagus nerve is the primary communicator between our gut and our brain, and yoga has a direct impact on the vagus nerve. If we are not able to digest our food properly because we are stuck in arousal states that diminish our gut's capacity to do its job, then we won't be able to get the nourishment we need, our brains will want to shut down, and our mental health will suffer. Thankfully, there are specific yoga shapes (asana) and breathing techniques (pranayama) we can practice that will support us in recovering and maintaining our mental health.
Where are sessions held?
Serenity Roots Yoga & Wellness Center, 8950 Lavelle Rd. Athens, OH, 45701
Or, online through Zoom. If an online session is needed, schedule as normal and call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to let me know it is an online session.
I can also travel locally with no additional pay, or out of town with pay, if needed.
What if I need a time that isn't listed?
If you need a time that isn't listed, feel free to call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com and we can work something out.
What can I expect after signing up?
After signing up, you'll be emailed a questionnaire. It is optional, but the more information I have, the better I am able to design a practice that can best suit your specific needs.
The first session involves a consultation, and then we can begin the practice. Subsequent sessions can be the same or modified as needed.
Disclaimer:
Yoga for Depression is not intended to replace one-on-one treatment with a licensed mental health professional. I am not a clinician and I am unable to diagnose or treat anyone's mental health condition. I can offer tools that may support someone through their own healing journey. Through my own lived experience and formal education, I can say with complete confidence that I have worked tirelessly to offer this from a place that is both empirically informed and experientially validated.
What is Yoga to Support Recovery?
Recovery and Yoga go hand-in-hand. Consider these two examples:
First, the similarities between the Serenity Prayer and this quote from Leslie Kaminoff
- "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference." - The Serenity Prayer
- “Breath (and thus yoga) is the great teacher of tapas, svadhyaya, isvarapranidhana. Tapas refers to that which you can change; isvarapranidhana relates to the stuff you can’t change; svadhyaya refers to self-reflection, the introspection that allows us to distinguish one from the other.” - Leslie Kaminoff (author & yoga educator)
Secondly,
- The generally accepted story is that the 12 steps came to AA via the Oxford group of the Theosophical Society, who developed them by systematizing teachings of the rishis (saints, sages, yogis) of India. - “Addictions: A Systems Approach", www.yogamag.net
I have had complete two in-depth trainings regarding yoga and recovery:
- ) The Yoga of 12-Step Recovery with Nikki Myers - Y12
- ) Yoga of Recovery with Durga Leela - Durga Leela | Yoga of Recovery
I have also done my own peer-reviewed research and written papers for my TCTSY program and Master's/Yoga Therapy program (of which I am still in the process of completing). You can read some of these papers on the Blog section of my website (parts 1-6 of TCTSY for Substance Use Disorders).
Yoga provides us with practices and tools that support us in our recovery. This can be offered on both an individual basis and group basis. In an individual session, we can determine and practice the particular tools that will be useful for you, specifically. On a group basis, we can practice different forms (asana), breathing techniques (pranayama), and other therapeutic techniques that can provide us with tools to strengthen, stabilize, and regulate, support brain health as it applies to recovery, and restore balance in our minds and bodies.
Where are sessions held?
Serenity Roots Yoga & Wellness Center, 8950 Lavelle Rd. Athens, OH, 45701
Or, online through Zoom. If an online session is needed, schedule as normal and call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to let me know it is an online session.
I can also travel locally with no additional pay, or out of town with pay, if needed.
What if I need a time that isn't listed?
If you need a time that isn't listed, feel free to call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com and we can work something out.
What can I expect after signing up?
After signing up, you'll be emailed a questionnaire. It is optional, but the more information I have, the better I am able to design a practice that can best suit your specific needs.
The first session involves a consultation, and then we can begin the practice. Subsequent sessions can be the same or modified as needed.
Disclaimer:
Yoga to Support Recovery is not intended to replace one-on-one treatment with a licensed mental health professional. I am not a clinician and I am unable to diagnose or treat anyone's mental health condition. I can offer tools that may support someone through their own healing journey. Through my own lived experience and formal education, I can say with complete confidence that I have worked tirelessly to offer this from a place that is both empirically informed and experientially validated.
What is Yoga for Neurodivergence?
Yoga can offer a multitude of benefits for neurodivergence, which sometimes presents as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and/or Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Many people who are living with ASD and/or ADHD might have challenges with sensory processing, which may be related to issues with the vestibular and proprioceptive system. Yoga has a direct impact on these vestibular and proprioceptive systems. The practice of yoga is able to support someone living with these conditions by strengthening the mind/body connection and strengthening interoceptive awareness (one's ability to be aware of internal sensations). It accomplishes this through physical movement (asana), breathing techniques (pranayama), hand gestures (mudras), and repetitive, supportive statements (mantras).
My education on how to apply these practices for these conditions comes from my training with Shawnee Thornton Hardy (M.Ed. Special Education, Educational & Behavior Specialist, SEP-Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, Author, and C-IAYT – Certified Yoga Therapist) and my Yoga Therapy training with Soul of Yoga in Encinitas, CA.
Sessions can be offered on an individual basis and group basis. In an individual session, we can determine and practice the particular tools that will be useful for you, specifically. On a group basis, we can practice techniques that can support brain health as it applies to neurodivergence and restore balance in our minds and bodies.
Where are sessions held?
Serenity Roots Yoga & Wellness Center, 8950 Lavelle Rd. Athens, OH, 45701
Or, online through Zoom. If an online session is needed, schedule as normal and call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to let me know it is an online session.
I can also travel locally with no additional pay, or out of town with pay, if needed.
What if I need a time that isn't listed?
If you need a time that isn't listed, feel free to call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com and we can work something out.
What can I expect after signing up?
After signing up, you'll be emailed a questionnaire. It is optional, but the more information I have, the better I am able to design a practice that can best suit your specific needs.
The first session involves a consultation, and then we can begin the practice. Subsequent sessions can be the same or modified as needed.
What is Accessible Yoga and Yoga for Aging Populations?
Accessible yoga is often taught in a chair, but it can be taught on either a mat or a chair. It can also be taught to people who use wheelchairs or other assistive devices. It can also be taught to people who do not have the ability to move their bodies at all, or who are mostly living in beds. In order to practice yoga, one must only need to be able to breathe.
Yoga for aging populations focuses on brain health (memory, cognition), motor coordination, posture, strength, flexibility, and balance.
The practices that will be offered will depend on the individual or group's needs and interests and can include a range of physical movements (asana), breathing techniques (pranayama), hand gestures (mudras), meditation, and repetitive, supportive statements (mantras).
These practices are designed to:
- Increase strength, flexibility, and balance
- Stimulate neural connections and brain plasticity
- Enhance dexterity, coordination, and cognitive function
- Improve breathing and bring more oxygen to the brain (which enhances focus, memory, and mental clarity)
- Stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system (which promotes relaxation and stress relief)
- Enhance focus and attention
Where are sessions held?
These sessions can be held at Serenity Roots Yoga & Wellness Center, 8950 Lavelle Rd. Athens, OH, 45701, however, this would be dependent upon one's mobility. I would not say it's inaccessible by wheelchair, but I would not say that it's the most accessible venue, either. Additionally, one must typically walk from the normal parking area to the studio itself and there are parts of it that might be too narrow for a wheelchair. We might be able to make accommodations for this, but this would be best discussed ahead of time.
Or, online through Zoom. If an online session is needed, schedule as normal and call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to let me know it is an online session.
I can also travel locally with no additional pay, or out of town with pay, if needed.
What if I need a time that isn't listed?
If you need a time that isn't listed, feel free to call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com and we can work something out.
What can I expect after signing up?
After signing up, you'll be emailed a questionnaire. It is optional, but the more information I have, the better I am able to design a practice that can best suit your specific needs.
The first session involves a consultation, and then we can begin the practice. Subsequent sessions can be the same or modified as needed.
Disclaimer:
These sessions are not intended to treat or cure any disease. I am not a medical provider. These sessions are intended to increase a sense of wellbeing and offer a way of managing one's symptoms and overall health through holistic methodologies. These sessions should not replace the care of a licensed medical professional, however, they can work well in conjunction with allopathic medicine in many cases.
What is Integral Yoga for Autoimmune Diseases?
Integral yoga for autoimmune diseases is best practiced on a 1-1 basis, as each person's needs are unique according to their individual diagnosis. The goal of this practice is to bring one into balance, or harmony, within oneself. It offers a way of managing one's condition to improve one's quality of life through holistic practices and methodologies.
This is a practice of inquiry. The person who is practicing is the arbitrator of their own healing. We begin to awaken our body's own innate sense of wisdom and ability to heal by engaging in practices and lifestyle changes, and then noticing how these practices and changes are making us feel. As the facilitator, I do not offer medical or dietary advice. Rather, I invite you to notice what is happening in your own body as it responds to practices or lifestyle changes that I may invite you to try.
The practices or changes I offer will depend on your particular condition, needs, and interests. They may include breathing techniques, yoga sequences, Ayurvedic modalities, dietary options, or other modalities that have been recommended in the management of autoimmune diseases. My education on these conditions comes from my training with Dr. Sangeeta Sahi, M.D., MBA and my Yoga Therapy training with Soul of Yoga in Encinitas, CA.
Where are sessions held?
Serenity Roots Yoga & Wellness Center, 8950 Lavelle Rd. Athens, OH, 45701
Or, online through Zoom. If an online session is needed, schedule as normal and call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to let me know it is an online session.
I can also travel locally with no additional pay, or out of town with pay, if needed.
What if I need a time that isn't listed?
If you need a time that isn't listed, feel free to call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com and we can work something out.
What can I expect after signing up?
After signing up, you'll be emailed a questionnaire. It is optional, but the more information I have, the better I am able to design a practice that can best suit your specific needs.
The first session involves a consultation, and then we can begin the practice. Subsequent sessions can be the same or modified as needed.
Disclaimer:
These sessions are not intended to treat or cure any disease. I am not a medical provider. These sessions are intended to increase a sense of wellbeing and offer a way of managing one's symptoms and overall health through holistic methodologies. These sessions should not replace the care of a licensed medical professional, however, they can work well in conjunction with allopathic medicine in many cases.
What is Prenatal Yoga?
During pregnancy, the center of gravity shifts forward, straining the back muscles and rounding the shoulders, causing back pain and other problems. The muscles along the core become lengthened and weakened, the pelvic floor is asked to carry increasingly greater amounts of weight, and breathing dynamics change as the diaphragm gets moved upwards.
This gentle yoga class strengthens and stretches key muscle groups to support your growing body and focuses on postural alignment to counteract the center of gravity shifting forward. It includes breathing, core, and pelvic floor exercises, which will be very helpful during labor and are crucial for women's health. This practice can support healthy hormone production, alleviate aches and pains, and reduce stress and anxiety.
Where are sessions held?
Serenity Roots Yoga & Wellness Center, 8950 Lavelle Rd. Athens, OH, 45701
Or, online through Zoom. If an online session is needed, schedule as normal and call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to let me know it is an online session.
I can also travel locally with no additional pay, or out of town with pay, if needed.
What if I need a time that isn't listed?
If you need a time that isn't listed, feel free to call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com and we can work something out.
What can I expect after signing up?
After signing up, you'll be emailed a questionnaire. It is optional, but the more information I have, the better I am able to design a practice that can best suit your specific needs.
The first session involves a consultation, and then we can begin the practice. Subsequent sessions can be the same or modified as needed.
What is Empowering Yoga for Women?
It's unlikely you have ever practiced yoga like this before! This is a high-energy, upbeat, fun, vitalizing, invigorating (and loud!) way to practice yoga. It lets women practice ways to stand in their power, use their voice, and set healthy boundaries.
This session can be especially therapeutic for survivors of DV, however, any woman who feels she could use a boost of confidence or find her voice could benefit! This is also a great session for teens 14+. It is best practiced with a group.
This session is about 60 minutes long and is set to a playlist of empowering music made by women. The session includes movement (physical postures/asana), breathwork (pranayama), and hand gestures (mudras) designed to instill a sense of confidence and strength. These are accessible movements and can even be done in a chair.
Where are sessions held?
Serenity Roots Yoga & Wellness Center, 8950 Lavelle Rd. Athens, OH, 45701
Zoom is not a great fit for this offering.
I can also travel locally with no additional pay, or out of town with pay, if needed
What if I need a time that isn't listed?
If you need a time that isn't listed, feel free to call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com and we can work something out.
Some people simply do not want to practice yoga, and that's okay. One could still get many of the benefits of a yoga practice without doing physical movement (asana). Breathing techniques (pranayama), meditation, and other techniques like Tapping/EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) or PMR (Progressive Muscle Relaxation) are some of the ways we can reap those benefits.
These practices are offered in a trauma-sensitive way, and we can discuss how to navigate any adverse experiences. For more information about this, feel free to read this blog post. We can tailor these sessions for your particular needs and interests.
Where are sessions held?
Serenity Roots Yoga & Wellness Center, 8950 Lavelle Rd. Athens, OH, 45701
Or, online through Zoom. If an online session is needed, schedule as normal and call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to let me know it is an online session.
I can also travel locally without additional pay, or out of town with pay, if needed.
What if I need a time that isn't listed?
If you need a time that isn't listed, feel free to call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com and we can work something out.
What can I expect after signing up?
After signing up, you'll be emailed a questionnaire. It is optional, but the more information I have, the better I am able to design a practice that can best suit your specific needs.
The first session includes a consultation, and then we can begin the practice. Subsequent sessions can be the same or modified as needed.
What is iRest ®?
iRest ® is a way of meeting life. It is "a proven-effective approach to using yoga nidra meditation and deep relaxation techniques to overcome trauma." - Richard Miller, Ph.D., founder of iRest®. Its full name is Integrative Restoration Yoga Nidra Meditation. It is a multi-faceted self-management approach well-suited for trauma survivors and chronic pain patients to manage their condition and improve quality of life. Veterans Affairs studies have found clinically significant improvements (<20%) in symptoms with iRest participants vs. control groups who received standard care alone (Nassif et al.). iRest ® helps participants regain a measure of subjective control, achieve symptom relief, and regain feelings of self-efficacy (Stankovick, 2011).
It is a practice for deepening mindfulness and resilience. It is a process of inquiry, listening, being with ourselves and life in a connected, rich, welcoming, grounded way. It is a connection of the outer with the inner.
Yoga nidra is to have an embodied sense of interconnectedness with all that's within you and all of life throughout changing states of consciousness. It is a comprehensive path of meditation, but it is not a guided meditation. It is to pause and be aware, to be curious-- what's beneath this? It is a journey through the subtleties of our essential nature; beyond description and words. It is the essence of wholeness. Through iRest, you learn to experience yourself as a unique individual who is, at the same time, interconnected and not separate from the wholeness of life.
This can be offered as a seven week series that can be useful for individuals, healthcare workers, first responders, and people who are currently or have been in the military. It can also be offered as a one-time workshop or on an as-needed basis.
Its core principles include:
- Learn to be welcoming
- Stop judging yourself
- Know that everything is a messenger
- Accept what is
- Know that you’re always doing your best
- Understand the law of awareness
- Discover your non-separate wholeness
What people are saying:
- "iRest profoundly changed my life." - T.L., cancer survivor
- "Instead of feeling like something's wrong with me, iRest helps me feel like something's right with me." - Iraq War veteran
- "This was some of the most profound work I'd ever do." - iRest participant
- "The more I practiced, the more I experienced my life changing for the better. I truly believe that iRest saved my life. It gave me the hope and strength I needed to reconnect to myself and the world again." - U.S. Marine
How much do iRest® Sessions Cost?
Cost will vary depending on need, location, and duration.
How can I schedule?
Call/text 740-586-4181 or email me at traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to schedule!
Where are sessions held?
Serenity Roots Yoga & Wellness Center, 8950 Lavelle Rd. Athens, OH, 45701
Or, online through Zoom. If an online session is needed, schedule as normal and call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to let me know it is an online session.
I can also travel locally with no additional pay, or out of town with pay, if needed.
Disclaimer:
iRest® is not intended to replace one-on-one treatment with a licensed mental health professional. I am not a clinician and I am unable to diagnose or treat anyone's mental health condition. I can offer tools that may support someone through their own healing journey. Through my own lived experience and formal education, I can say with complete confidence that I have worked tirelessly to offer this from a place that is both empirically informed and experientially validated.
For more information about iRest® (including the research behind it), please visit: https://www.irest.org/.
What are Facility Oriented Services?
These sessions are trauma-informed, mindfulness based services for people in recovery, in the criminal justice system, in inpatient or outpatient mental health settings, in sober living environments, in rehabilitative or treatment centers, in domestic or sexual abuse shelters or centers, crisis centers, and other similar settings.
We can work together to decide what type of session would be best for your facility. Some facilities might benefit more from a Trauma Center - Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) session (a clinical intervention for the treatment of complex trauma or treatment resistant PTSD), whereas others might find practices for anxiety, depression, or a mix of other modalities more useful.
How much do Facility Oriented Services Cost?
Cost will vary depending on need, location, and duration.
How can I schedule?
Call/text 740-586-4181 or email me at traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to schedule!
What are Corporate Wellness Programs?
These sessions are for companies who would like to offer their employees a wellness program that involves strength, flexibility, relaxation, and techniques for stress reduction. Sessions can also be curated for employees who engage in repetitive movements or who stay in one position for long periods of time.
The practice of yoga reduces not only one's level of perceived stress, but also the physical stress response. It can increase feelings of relaxation, reduce symptoms of anxiety, lower heart rate, and lower amounts of the stress hormone cortisol. After just 6 weeks of a yoga intervention, participants scored significantly lower in levels of burnout, interpersonal disengagement, anxiety, depression, and work exhaustion. They also scored higher in professional fulfillment (Workplace Health and Safety, 2020). Yoga improves one's cognition, performance on memory tasks, and ability to focus attention (Exercise Psychology Lab, 2012/2013).
"It doesn’t make sense to go into a stressful occupation without stress training." - Dr. Khalsa, Director of research for the Kundalini Research Institute and Yoga Alliance.
How much do Facility Oriented Services Cost?
Cost will vary depending on need, location, and duration.
How can I schedule?
Call/text 740-586-4181 or email me at traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to schedule!
Restorative Yoga (12/31/25 6:00p-7:30p)
Restorative Yoga is meant to help restore the body into the body's natural alignment. It is intended to help undo the effects of many modern-day lifestyles that might have us hunched over computers or phones, engaged in repetitive movements, or sitting or standing in one place all day. Not only can your muscular and skeletal system benefit from this practice, but your nervous system may also find relief; as a comfortable, supported body can lay the foundation for a calm, easeful mind.
Located at Serenity Roots
8950 Lavelle Rd. Athens, OH 45701. Parking is available on-site.
What to Bring:
Please feel free to bring your own props and water bottle! We do have props at the studio: mats, blocks, blankets, and straps. We have a limited amount of bolsters and they will be offered on a first come, first serve basis. We do have cushions that can be folded up in place of the bolsters if needed.
Check this out too!
This session can be taken by itself, but it is the first session of the New Year's Eve & Day Mini Retreat
Sankalpa & Gentle Yoga (01/01/2026 10:00a-11:30a)
Sankalpa is made up of two words:
- San = heart - that which is born from the heart.
- Kalpa = something that wants to unfold over a long stretch of time
Together, Sankalpa is that which is born from the heart that wants to unfold in our life over time. It is your heart's greatest desire, your life's purpose. It is a feeling of life living you, within you, and through you. It is a personal sense of value and meaning. It is your life's deepest intention. All other intentions are supporting this one, greater purpose. It is a sense of being. This practice is designed to help you explore what that is for you, if you are not already aware. If you are aware of it, it may help you uncover what's in your way of realizing it.
We will then move into a gentle, beginner-friendly yoga session.
Located at Serenity Roots
8950 Lavelle Rd. Athens, OH 45701. Parking is available on-site.
What to Bring:
Please feel free to bring your own props and water bottle! We do have props at the studio: mats, blocks, blankets, and straps. We have a limited amount of bolsters and they will be offered on a first come, first serve basis. We do have cushions that can be folded up in place of the bolsters if needed. If you are attending the Sankalpa and Gentle Yoga Session, you might also want to bring a pen and a journal. I'll have a limited amount also available on a first come, first serve basis.
Check this out too:
This session can be taken by itself, but it is the second session of New Year's Eve & Day Mini Retreat
What is a TCTSY Half Day Training?
This TCTSY Half Day Training is an introduction to the core concepts and applications of Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga. It is designed for yoga teachers, social workers, educators, mental health professionals, and other service providers. Yoga Teachers will be eligible for 3 hours continuing education credits with Yoga Alliance. At this time, there are no CE credits for other providers.
This Training Includes:
- TCTSY Practice
- Trauma theory
- Attachment theory
- Neuroscience and Interoceptive Theory
- Complex trauma
- Domains of impairment for children of complex trauma
- Key Elements of TCTSY Methodology
- Overview of Studies on TCTSY
This Training is Not:
This seminar does not qualify participants to facilitate Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga. It does provide the foundations for making your current scope of practice more trauma-informed.
Additional TCTSY Info:
TCTSY trauma sensitive yoga model developed at the Center for Trauma and Embodiment is as effective as Cognitive Processing Therapy, the current gold standard of care, in providing symptom relief for U.S. women military veterans suffering from PTSD (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2023).
The TCTSY model has been utilized and researched since 2002 and has consistently demonstrated positive outcomes for trauma survivors. More broadly, TCTSY is part of a recent movement within the mental health field to engage the body in healing from psychological trauma and PTSD, especially for the most severe trauma where talk-based therapies may be less effective.
How much does TCTSY Half-Day Training Cost?
Pricing is on a sliding scale basis and will depend on location.
How can I schedule?
Call/text 740-586-4181 or email me at traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to schedule!
Where are sessions held?
Serenity Roots Yoga & Wellness Center, 8950 Lavelle Rd. Athens, OH, 45701
Zoom is not available for this offering per the request of TCTSY team.
I can also travel locally with no additional pay, or out of town with pay, if needed
This is a FREE 10-Week Series that will include bit of information about how these practices work, an offering of the practices themselves, and a discussion after. Sessions will take place on the following dates from 5:30p-6:30p:
(Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga)
Feb 11: Yoga for Neurodivergence
Feb 25: Yoga for Autoimmune Diseases
Mar 4: Breathing Techniques, Tapping, &
Where is this located?
Community Cares Resource Center
10 W. Washington St.
Nelsonville, OH 45764
What to Bring?
Some mats and blocks are available, but please feel free to bring your own mat, blanket (as a cushion for your knees), and water bottle. You might also like to bring a journal and a pen to take notes or write about your experience.
All Sessions are Free and Open to the Public!
CONTACT
OfferingTree© 2025 Trauma Sensitive Yoga Project, LLC