Trauma Sensitive Yoga approaches positively promote healthy
self-regulation strategies and decrease hyper-arousal which will lead to an
increase confidence, self-esteem and empower students to live connected and
embodied lives. Trauma survivors have described feeling as though “their bodies
have become booby-trapped” Although trauma is a thing of the past the body keep
reacting as if it is in imminent danger. These triggers transform ones inner
world in into minefield. Trauma Sensitive Yoga works with the autonomic nervous
system and the endocrine system, the reactions not under our conscious control,
but instinctive to ensure survival. Trauma sensitive Yoga teaches us, through
breath, enquiry, movement, stretching, strengthening, being present and resting.
Trauma Sensitive Yoga allows students to learn through experience that your
body can be effective again and to reclaim your body as your own.
To contextualise Trauma Sensitive Yoga with brain
development there is significant research to indicate that many young people
who become involved in young offending have experienced trauma in early
childhood and the frontal cortex (where the brain development takes place) is
compromised. This can be further exacerbated during puberty which is an
essential period of child development and brain changes. During adolescence
grey matter is created, neurons develop, a layer of myelin is formed which
increases the speed the speed of transmission of electrical impulses from neuron
to neuron. A synaptic pruning occurs which
can be described as ‘a use it or lose principle’ where the functions such as
response inhibition, emotional regulation, analysing problems need to develop.
Therefor the activities young people become involved in are critical to ensure circuits
(processing systems) which underpin adaptive behaviours and functioning strengthen
and grow.
Research findings suggest a mismatch between
emotional and cognitive regulatory modes in adolescence. However the adolescent
brain has remarkable neuroplasticity and undergoes specific and significant
remodelling at many levels this enables young people, with support and guidance
to make positive, constructive and informed changes to their behaviours and
wellbeing