Trauma training
For Yoga Teachers
Live Online for 2021
The first step to becoming an Accredited Trauma Informed Yoga Teacher
Without the first step, there is no journey.
Support people going through Trauma recovery with yoga one to ones and group classes.
Open to qualified yoga teachers and trainees from any school of yoga.
This is the course I wish I'd had when I started working with trauma. It is a culmination of years of experience and draws on all of my training from the world's leading trauma specialists, researchers, psychiatrists, yoga therapists, doctors and neurologists.
Every student I have ever worked with has influenced this course.
The first part of this training is a unique 2-day intensive workshop to gain practical skills and a depth of clinical understanding in supporting people who are experiencing the effects of trauma.
There will be people effected by trauma in all of your group classes. Yoga has the potential to be incredibly healing and helpful. Even with the best intentions, a lack of trauma knowledge can make classes distressing, overwhelming and triggering. From the outside we might even mistake a dissociated student for a relaxed one. Or someone who seems to be coping well on the outside but falling apart on the inside.
You will leave these two days inspired, refreshed and confident in adapting your sessions to make them trauma-informed.
Certified by Yoga Alliance Professionals.
Next available dates
As all these 2-day courses always get sold out early, we have added one more date so that you can take this foundation course in time for the Accredited Trauma Informed Yoga Teacher qualification in 2021.
This 2-day course also stands alone as a Yoga Alliance Professionals recognised workshop.
NEW DATE ADDED - live online, interactive, small groups. Includes psychological support.
Sat 10 to Sun 11 July 2021 Book Now
This will be the final chance to take this part of the training before the qualification course begins. No more dates can be added.
Once this course is full we will start a waiting list.
09.30am - 4.30pm GMT find your time zone here
Contact me to join the waiting list for any full workshops or courses
(course dates no longer displayed here once they are full)
What will you be able to do after this course?
Log 11 hours of CPD accredited by Yoga Alliance Professionals.
Consider your own history and potential trauma history - often developmental trauma is overlooked or misunderstood and yet affects many of us, our relationships and our access to our vital life force (prana).
You will be able to adapt you current yoga offerings to make them more trauma sensitive.
You will be able to view yoga classes through the trauma lens and make intelligent, compassionate choices about the class environment, sequencing, choice of asana, pranayama, meditation.
You will appreciate who you are in relation to a trauma survivor's recovery.
You will gain practical insight into dealing with dissociation and dysregulation in yoga classes as well as the importance of steadying your own nervous system first - co regulation is key. (This one really reduces the fear of working with trauma).
You will be able to compassionately and confidently handle students who are dismissive, aggressive or demanding and not take it personally when understood through the lens of trauma. (Many people wished they'd learnt this sooner!)
For those who have completed this workshop there is the option to continue on to the 100 hour certification course to be an Accredited Yoga Alliance Professionals Trauma Informed Yoga Teacher. This course includes assessment and case studies to receive a YAP badge and certificate to teach. If you are not already a member of YAP you can join to receive the certificate and badge even if your 200 hour course was registered with a different body eg Yoga Alliance or the British Wheel of Yoga.
After completing this course you are eligible to take part in online group mentoring days to get support, refine your skills, ask questions, discuss challenges and go deeper. Find out more.
BREATHING - MOVING - BEING
who is the training for?
who is the training for?
Course content
The foundation 2-day Trauma Workshop for Yoga Teachers, covers these areas.
The accredited qualification course goes into greater depth, practical application and teaching.
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what do we mean by Trauma, PTSD, Complex PTSD and Dissociation
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working with acute Trauma, repeated Trauma, complex Trauma, developmental Trauma, vicarious Trauma, generational Trauma, race-based Traumatic stress
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Trauma diagnoses and symptoms in relation to the gunas
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understanding the neurology of Trauma
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the physiology of Trauma and yoga as a treatment tool
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how memory is stored under normal circumstances and what changes during Trauma
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samskaras and vasanas of Trauma
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the body (annamaya kosha) as a place of terror, how we can support people to an experience of safety
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polyvagal theory
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the vagus nerve and yoga interventions
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considerations for asana, pranayama, visualisation, meditation and relaxation
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one to one yoga as a way to develop interoception, the ability to be able to feel ones own inner experience of essential body signals including hunger, pain and emotion without becoming overwhelmed
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grounding strategies to suit different students, giving them the tools to remain in the present moment
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applying yogic practices as self-regulation techniques to effect the nervous system and change patterns of hyper or hypo-arousal
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adjustments and the use of touch
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working remotely with traumatised students
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find the right kind of relaxation techniques that might be appropriate for different people and how to adapt these to individual circumstances in class
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how to make any yoga class more Trauma sensitive
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trauma-informed language
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triggers
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handling dissociation and dysregulation in class (and in yourself!)
THE COURSE
Who can apply?
Trauma Workshop (2 days / 11 hours)
All yoga teachers from any school of yoga.
Trainee teachers are also welcome to apply.
There is no minimum level of fitness required. Let me know if you have current health conditions, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Trauma Informed Yoga Teacher Certification (100 hours)
Attendance at the 2 day workshop is a requirement to apply.
Book this course once you have signed up to or completed part 1.
your own text and edit me. It's easy.
What's it like online?
"Every aspect of the workshop being on zoom had been thoroughly visioned and it was a really positive online experience. I feel I got as much out of it if not more in some ways than had it been in person. The information was plentiful but there was also time for discussion, questions, reflections and sharing. I highly highly reccommend" Emily, FB
"Both courses were online but managed to cultivate a sense of being together in a room. Highly recommended!" Hannah, FB
"Susi had a support team available to support with technical/classroom management and also coping with uncomfortable issues that arose throughout the weekend.
Even though the course was delivered online, students still had the opportunity to engage with other participants in private group activities through breakout rooms. I thought this was good as sometimes online you do not always get that opportunity." Jemima, FB
"The training was via zoom and your passion, care, and support was very clear. I would definitely recommend the course and I am interested in studying further with yourself." Lauren, FB
"Susi Wrenshaw has trauma training down to a fine and sensitive art. I did TT for Yoga Teachers in its Zoom incarnation over two days and there was plenty of awareness and inventiveness around interaction terms of Susi's communication style, using chat, break out rooms, invitation to speak, turning off video. The team, one technical and one a counsellor we could access if stuff came up, were great and contributed to feeling safe." Fiona, FB
About Susi
Susi Wrenshaw C-IAYT is a strong advocate for integrating body work into NHS and private mental health / psychology services.
Susi Wrenshaw is a body-oriented Trauma Therapist, founder of Trauma Therapy Manchester. She runs a private clinic full time. She previously worked in the Non-Epileptic Attack Disorder service within Clinical Neuropsychology at Salford Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. She works with Yoga Therapy, Safe and Sound Protocol, EMDR, EFT, Yoga -CBT and is currently training in Compassionate Inquiry with Gabor Maté.
As well as being a contributor to industry magazines, Susi is often asked to speak at events. She was guest teacher on Creative Approaches to Trauma (March 2020) giving a lecture and class in Trauma Informed Yoga. She led a session on Yoga Therapy for Trauma after mild TBI for The Breathing Brain Neuro Rehab clinicians retreat in November 2019. She has also appeared on a documentary about depression, 'Mental Me', a Podcast 'Serotonin' and on BBC Sport talking about yoga for anxiety and depression.
Susi has designed and run body-based therapy groups for people with mental health challenges and those in recovery from trauma, most recently for survivors of rape and sexual assault as well as within the NEAD service at Salford Royal Hospital.
She is certified by the International Association of Yoga Therapists and EFT International, accredited by the British Council for Yoga Therapy and registered with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC).
In her clinical work and training, Susi draws on courses she has attended with Bessel van der Kolk, Stephen Porges, Peter Levine, Dr Gabor Maté and Dr Timothy McCall.
Specialist training has been with the Yoga Academy, under Ralf Marzen, Maja Skolimowska and Gary Carter, with EMDR Centre London with Barbara Leach and Joshua Smith and Life Beyond Limits with Master EFT trainer Tania Prince (accredited by EFT International). Other mental health/trauma/body work training is from the Minded Institute, PODS, Chrysalis Kids, Mind and Yoga Campus including Yoga as Medicine, Yoga for Eating Disorders, Emotional Trauma and Suicide Intervention.
Susi is the founder of Trauma Therapy Manchester - previously Yoga Therapy Manchester. She has provided yoga for NHS staff at CAMHS and the University of Manchester School of Medicine as well as many local and national organisations such as (CCG funded) Creative Living Centre, Maggies, Mind, Manchester Rape Crisis, Alzheimers UK, Multiple Sclerosis Society and Trafford Carers.
Susi has been the subject of two research publications exploring the links between yoga and mental health based on her personal and professional experiences. She is Honorary Recognised Supervisor at the University of Liverpool where she is supervising a Clinical Psychology thesis (research) on yoga in communities of people experiencing homelessness. She is also involved in research on yoga for NEAD.
She has been published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing in the book entitled Addiction and Performance (2014), in Exhale Mental Health magazine, Yoga Therapy Ireland magazine and Yoga Therapy Today.
Susi was a facilitator and trainer in communication and consultation skills for over 10 years within medical schools, GP practices, the North West Deanery and private healthcare organisations.
Where & When
Live online via zoom
2-day course 10-11 July 2021
9.30am - 4.30pm GMT
Limited availability - just released, last chance to attend before the Accredited course
Apply or book
You are welcome to book now if you are a yoga teacher or trainee. No need to contact me first.
If you are an alternative therapist, exercise instructor or other, please contact me to apply. Email a short message giving a brief indication of your relevant experience and interest in the course.
Visit the booking page to book.
Can't afford the course?
Please contact me to apply for a subsidised place - based on financial need.
Payments
Trauma Workshop for Yoga Teachers
£230
Can be paid in 2 installments.
Early Bird deadlines:
July 2021 course - end of April 2021
You won't get a reminder, so make sure you pay on time!
Courses are non-refundable.
If you have to cancel for valid Covid reasons you can transfer to another course.