Week 1 Recording & Reflections
The recording from this week's live session is now available:
🎥 https://vimeo.com/1202686620/474009482c?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci
This week we began exploring Module 1, discussing definitions of yoga, reviewing some of the history of the practice, considering the role of a trauma-informed facilitator, and introducing directional planes of movement as a foundation for future sequencing discussions.
For those unable to attend live, you're invited to share a reflection after watching the recording.
You may simply share what resonated with you, what challenged you, or what you're still curious about.
If you'd like a prompt, consider one of the following:
• How has your understanding or definition of yoga evolved over time?
• What qualities do you believe are most important for a trauma-informed facilitator to embody?
• What stood out to you from our discussion of yoga history, PYP methodology, or the movement lecture?
As always, there are no right answers—just opportunities for exploration, reflection, and community learning.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
• What qualities do you believe are most important for a trauma-informed facilitator to embody?
- The embodiment of creating a welcoming environment for all participants by normalizing all body's experiences through giving permission verbally, physically, and energetically.
- Being open to being present with the room and each environment's unique needs-being able to be flexible with what each class calls for, and guiding from that place of noticing and responding from a mindful place as a facilitator-not having attachment to how it needs to go.
• What stood out to you from our discussion of yoga history, PYP methodology, or the movement lecture?
- I really appreciate the perspective on the slide about exploring yoga as service: post-lineage + trauma informed when Jen said- "there are individuals who were not invited to the party when the rules were made...how can we consider who's experience was discounted?" I found this expression of this idea resonant in being open to how we can be a part of creating a welcoming environment for these practices through having these awarenesses and intentions we are learning in this training's beautiful lens
- I always appreciate when Jen points out in a practice where there’s opportunities for allowing playfulness and laughter in the practice; i loved that part of the movement exploration when we were exploring space and moving our limbs around, extending out in different directional planes—i think it sets a great tone for creating that permission for autonomy when we can demonstrate freedom of exploration in that playful way.
- I liked when Jen brought up the cue of noticing how stillness felt within tree—and noticing how that type of stillness differed from when we are seated or in a more resting pose--interesting opportunity to bring awareness to interoception.
- I appreciated the cuing during setting up for warrior II—of noticing if the original length of our lunge needed to be adjusted to be shorter, bringing awareness and giving permission to the idea that there’s always space for making adjustments as we progress through the stages of a pose, to keep returning to awareness in this way—and a great example of ‘range of motion’ within the physical practice.
Thank you all <3
Hello all!
As I am joining you and this training from South Africa, I won't be attending the live sessions due to time difference, so am watching on my own and posting my reflections here. This module was incredible, and at first I thought 3-hours of watching might be a bit of a task, once I started, I just couldn't stop watching! Here were some things I made notes about, and/or what really stood out to me.
1) Jen's demonstration of how sometimes we are leading as "life is happening" around us, and how to manage that honestly, openly, and with such grace. It was so cool to watch regulation in motion 🙂
2) I loved the phrasing around how yoga is a union of mind-body-spirit, but when we've experienced trauma, there has been a rupture somewhere, and yoga can help us to repair or remember who we were before that rupture occurred.
3) As facilitators we are not aiming for perfection, we can be honest when we show up (emotionally). We also demonstrate this in the physical practice when we don't always show our full extent of a pose, as we are not there to perform or for this time to be our own practice space. We are there to serve.
4) I learned a lot during the discussion about something being named a "safe space" - I am still reflecting on this conversation
5) I really loved the discussion about how we (as facilitators) are guests in their home, their space, and to respect that. This is another way we honour agency.
6) Alejandro discussed how authenticity is our greatest tool, and when we have the courage to show up just as we are, this is when healing happens (within ourselves and for others)
7) I found the conversation and knowledge around PYP's belief in post-lineage, participant centred and trauma informed facilitation to give me hope. It made me feel happy to know I am now in a space that makes so much sense to me, and that feels like it fits. I wrote down the definition of what this means, and particularly resonated with the part that stated we consider "radical truth-telling about systems of harm".
8) The practical piece of how wearing the same shoes on cement floors was amazing, and I began to think of other things that relate, such as pillows that may not support, beds, etc.
Thank you to all for sharing this deep wisdom, and to you Jen and Alejandro for making this such a welcoming and inclusive space!