Yoga and Secondary Trauma

Abstract

In Sanskrit, the term yoga is translated as “union” or “connection.” Yoga is said to unite body and mind and to be of value in alleviating psychological distress. It has been practiced for approximately 5000 years, and it has been estimated that about 16 million people practice it regularly. The various styles of yoga typically combine physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation or relaxation. There are numerous styles of yoga with Hatha yoga being the most practiced in the USA. Other styles include Iyengar, Ashtanga, Vini, Kundalini, and Bikram. Yoga facilitates an awareness of a connection between physiological and mental states. What one finds in those who are traumatized is a separation between the body and mental/emotional states. The traumatized individual unknowingly attempts to push away or separate themselves from the aversive experience of the trauma. The integration of body and mind that yoga facilitates works to reunite and reintegrate body and mental/emotional experience and thereby counters the separation induced by trauma. Empirical studies show that yoga practice can have a significant impact of anxiety and depression which are central components of both PTSD and secondary trauma. This chapter presents specific recommended alterations in traditional yoga practice for it to be particularly helpful in managing trauma. Several of the many forms of yoga are presented along with a case study in which yoga proved particularly effective in managing secondary trauma.