Yoga™
What is Trauma-Focused Yoga?
Trauma-Focused Yoga℠ (TFY) is a clinical, body-based approach to healing that supports nervous system regulation and reconnection with the self. It draws from the foundations of trauma-informed yoga, trauma-sensitive yoga, somatic practices, and trauma theory to form a structured model of care designed specifically for survivors of trauma.
Rooted in the wisdom of yoga’s eight limbs, TFY translates timeless practices into simple, accessible tools for daily resilience. At its heart, TFY offers a safe space to reconnect with yourself, find steadiness in your body, and begin to rebuild trust and belonging. TFY is a gentle yet powerful form of yoga for trauma recovery, designed to complement therapy and support long-term healing.
Why it matters
Many survivors continue to experience effects like anxiety, hypervigilance, a sense of disconnection, or ongoing tension in the body. While traditional talk therapy is powerful, it cannot always reach the patterns held physically. Trauma-Focused Yoga directly addresses these body-based experiences, offering practical ways to find steadiness and relief.
The strongest outcomes often happen when TFY is combined with cognitive therapies like Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other top-down therapeutic models that work through thought and language. Talk therapy helps survivors process and reframe experiences through language, while TFY supports nervous system regulation and body reconnection. Together, these approaches unite mind and body in healing.
Through consistent practice, TFY helps survivors:
- Calm and regulate the nervous system
- Strengthen interoceptive awareness
- Re-establish a sense of safety and predictability
- Reconnect with self and others
- Build resilience that extends into daily life
Who TFY is For
Trauma-Focused Yoga is for anyone who has lived through overwhelming or painful experiences and is looking for a gentle way to reconnect with their body. Some come to TFY after trauma such as sexual violence, abuse, or interpersonal violence. Others arrive carrying stress from caregiving, service, or other life challenges. Whatever your story, TFY is designed to meet you where you are.
As part of its clinical design, TFY begins with individual sessions. This allows survivors to build trust, establish safety, and learn practices at their own pace in a one-on-one setting. When they are ready, participants may transition into small group sessions. Group work adds the strength of community and shared support while keeping the same focus on choice, clarity, and gentle guidance.
TFY can stand on its own, but when combined with cognitive-based therapies it provides the strongest foundation for long-term recovery.
Interested in participating? Learn how TFY is offered through our partner organizations on our Participate page.
Are you a yoga teacher or professional? Explore upcoming TFY certification opportunities.
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