BREATHING - MOVING - BEING
Combining her background in leading workshops and training programmes with her experience in yoga for mental health and trauma, Susi is a strong advocate for integrating body work into NHS and private mental health services and aims to help bridge the gap between talking therapy and body-based therapy.
who is the training for?
All talking therapists and support workers working within mental health including trauma recovery and addiction.
Trainee therapists are also welcome to apply.
Techniques can be adapted for adults, children and adolescents.
No experience of yoga is necessary for therapists or their client groups.
There is no minimum level of fitness required.
who is the training for?
Trauma training for yoga teachers
Overview
A unique 2-day intensive course to gain practical skills and a depth of clinical understanding in supporting people who are experiencing the effects of trauma.
Statistics suggest that 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 and triggering.
You will leave these two days inspired, refreshed and confident in providing trauma-informed group classes and working with people one to one.
Who can apply?
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.
Yoga as a trauma-informed practice
- what do we mean by Trauma, PTSD, Complex PTSD and Dissociation
- working with acute Trauma, repeated Trauma, complex Trauma, developmental Trauma, vicarious Trauma, generational Trauma
- Trauma diagnoses and symptoms in relation to the gunas
- understanding the neurology of Trauma
- the physiology of Trauma and yoga
- how memory is stored under normal circumstances and what changes during Trauma
- samskaras of Trauma
- the body (anamaya kosha) as a place of terror, how we can support people to an experience of safety
- the vagus nerve and mantra
- chakras and developmental Trauma
- considerations for asana, pranayama, visualisation, meditation and relaxation
- 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
- learn different types of grounding strategies to suit different types of students, giving them the tools to remain in the present moment
- applying yogic practices as self-regulation techniques to effect the nervous system and change patterns of hyper or hypo-arousal
- adjustments and the use of touch
- find the right kind of relaxation techniques that might be appropriate for different people and how to adapt these to individual circumstances in class
- learn how to make any yoga class Trauma sensitive
THE COURSE
DAY ONE
Subject to change, depending on relevance to participants
Morning
Trauma-sensitive yoga using asana to develop attunement and self-awareness.
Building interoception.
Trauma definitions, diagnoses and presentations.
Theory of trauma and the body.
Understanding Trauma: neurology, brain function, physiology, memory.
Kleshas and Trauma.
Afternoon
Pancha Kosha meditation.
Koshas and Trauma - which koshas are safe, which are therapeutic.
The Window of Tolerance, the 'edge'.
The body as a safe space?
The body as an indicator of mental health.
Guided, trauma sensitive relaxation practice and discussion
DAY TWO
Subject to change, depending on relevance to participants
Morning
Mantra and the vagus nerve.
Pranayama and ujjayi for Trauma.
Gunas, mental health and Trauma.
Practices to balance the gunas.
Afternoon
Workshop-style teaching to learn techniques, science and theory for:
- grounding (anamaya kosha)
- self-regulation (pranamaya kosha)
- processing big emotions (manomaya kosha)
- insight and the 'mohawk' of the brain (vijnanamaya kosha)
- relaxation (anandamaya kosha)
Discussion on scope of practice for a yoga teacher.
Working one to one
Yoga nidra for Trauma - which elements to include and omit, practice and discussion
The essential foundations of trauma therapy relevant to group yoga classes.
Class planning considerations, sequencing, adjustments, voice, orientation, environment.
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-based Therapist currently working in the Non-Epileptic Attack Disorder service within Clinical Neuropsychology at Salford Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. She runs clinics at the hospital 3 days a week and has a private practice 2 days a week. She works with Yoga Therapy, EMDR, EFT, Yoga -CBT and is currently training in NeuroAffective Relational Model therapy developed by Dr Laurence Heller.
As well as being a contributor to industry magazines, Susi is often asked to speak at events. 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, 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 has been published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing in the book entitled Addiction and Performance (2014), in Exhale Mental Health magazine and Yoga Therapy Ireland magazine.
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
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January 2021 course:
Weds 27th Jan 10am-4.30pm
Thurs 28th Jan 10am-4.30pm
Please note: venue may change depending on Covid restrictions
Friends Meeting House, 13 The Polygon, Eccles, M30 0DS
Kitchen facilities - yes
Disabled access - yes
Parking - on site, free
Apply
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
£220 (£185 Early Bird when paid in full by Early Bird deadline).
Can be paid in 2 installments.
Early Bird deadlines:
Oct course - end of May 2020
Nov course - end of Sept 2020
Jan course - end of Nov 2020
You won't get a reminder, so make sure you pay on time!
Courses are non-refundable.