Trauma Centre Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY)
Trauma Centre Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) is about creating an opportunity for you to safely (re)connect with your body.
About Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY)
Rather Than The Focus Being On Learning A Particular Yoga Shape (Asana) Or Breathing Technique, The Practice Offers You An Opportunity To Explore The Present Moment By Moving And Possibly Noticing Sensations In Your Body.
Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) Offers You An Opportunity To Explore Making Choices Based On What You May Or May Not Be Interested In Trying Out. Different Options Are Presented And You Have Complete Choice Over How (Or If) You Choose To Move.
Trauma Centre Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY)
Trauma Centre Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) is an intervention for complex trauma or chronic, treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The foundations of the practice are based on yoga, trauma theory, attachment theory, and neuroscience.
TCTSY was designed specifically for survivors of chronic relational trauma.
TCTSY was co-created by relational trauma survivors, along with yoga teachers and experts in the field of trauma.
TCTSY originated at the Trauma Centre and is a program for the Centre for Trauma and Embodiment at the Justice Resource Institute in Brookline, Massachusetts, USA
Practicing Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY)
Although Trauma Sensitive yoga (TCTSY) employs physical forms and movements, drawn from the Hatha Yoga Tradition, the emphasis is not on the external expression or appearance (i.e. doing it “right”), or receiving the approval of an external authority.
The focus is on the internal experience of the participant.
This shift in orientation, from the external to the internal, is a key attribute of Trauma Sensitive yoga (TCTSY) as a complementary treatment for complex trauma.
With this approach, the power resides within the individual, not the Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) facilitator.
By focusing on the felt sense of the body to inform choice-making, Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) enables participants to restore their connection of mind and body and cultivate a sense of agency that is compromised as a result of trauma.
“I can choose what to do with my body and life and relationships.”
_ TCTSY Participant
“Practising Yoga has given me hope”
- TCTSY Participant
What to expect from a TCTSY (Trauma Sensitive Yoga) session
Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) is an opportunity to safely (re)connect with your body.
As the facilitator, I will offer yoga shapes and you’re invited to explore the present moment by moving and possibly noticing sensations in your body.
Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) offers an opportunity to explore making choices about what you may or may not be interested in or trying out.
Different options are presented and you have complete choice over how you choose to move.
We will work together to co-create the sessions in a way that feels safe and useful for you.
HOW Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) Differs From A regular Yoga Class
No yoga experience is necessary
There is absolutely no physical touch or yoga adjustments
The facilitator doesn’t move around the room. They stay on their mat or chair and practice alongside the participant(s)
The facilitator offers yoga shapes using invitational language
There’s no right or wrong way to practice the yoga shapes offered
No one is ever singled out or corrected
You can practice in a chair or on a mat or a combination of both
You can wear whatever you feel comfortable in
In group classes, participants don’t have to talk to each other
There’s an intake process to ensure the sessions are personalised.
You’re always free to leave the room or stop practising at any time. You may choose to re-join the session or not.
“Trauma victims cannot recover until they become familiar with and befriend the sensations in their bodies. ”
— Bessel A. van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score
Where you can practice Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY)
Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Group Sessions
Group sessions are offered in six-week blocks to a closed group of no more than 6 participants. This means once the course has started no one else can join until the next course begins.
50 minutes of movement will be offered each session. There will be ten minutes at the end of each session where I will be available for feedback and questions.
The next block of Group Sessions begins on 12th February 2024 - Fully booked
Monday 12th February to Monday 18th march inclusive // 3.30 pm to 4.30pm
Location: Dharma Shala, 92-94 Drummond Street, London, NW1 2HN
Price: £100
If you’re interested in attending please read through the information on signing up for TCTSY and get in touch to register your interest or to join the waitlist.
One to One Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Sessions
If you're interested in exploring Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) on a one-to-one basis please read through the information on signing up for TCTSY
Pricing for individual 1-hour sessions (up to 50 minutes of movement)
£70 per session (concessionary pricing available)
Location: Dharma Shala, 92-94 Drummond Street, NW1 2HN
Or online via Zoom
Trauma-Sensitive Yoga in Your Charity or Organisation
I’m available to provide Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) in-house to your group, charity or organisation. Please contact me to discuss this further.
A downloadable PDF with information about TCTSY is available here
Research into Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY)
There have been a number of research papers, pilot studies and two randomized control studies into the efficacy of TCTSY. The results from these studies have been overwhelmingly positive.
Yoga as an adjunctive treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder: A randomized controlled trial.
This paper was published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry (2014) and featured in Bessel van der Kolk’s book, The Body Keeps The Score. The ten-week TCTSY intervention resulted in a clinically significant reduction in PTSD symptoms for female-identifying survivors.
You can read the full paper here
Click the button at the bottom of the page for more papers associated with this study
TCTSY RCT with email identifying veterans in the United States
The first paper from this four-year study with female-identifying veterans was published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (2021).
“Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that TCTSY may be an effective treatment for PTSD that yields symptom improvement more quickly, has higher retention than CPT, and has a sustained effect. TCTSY may be an effective alternative to trauma-focused therapy for women veterans with PTSD related to MST."
You can read the full paper here
More studies are currently underway looking into the efficacy of TCTSY in different populations, worldwide and cross-culturally. You can read the research papers of published studies below.