Today on the Work IN we’re going to explore the connections between trauma informed yoga and this mysterious thing we call somatic movement. It’s the ultimate work IN. It’s important for both instructors and providers of trauma informed movement AND the general population because we are all communicating some kind of message through our bodies every time we move and it would be nice to know we were saying what we mean. SO we’re going to talk about not just what these things are and how they relate to each other but also why they’re important and how we can use them to get results beyond what the eyes can see. With my guest Yogafit Worldwide Master trainer Shaye Molendyke.

This is part two of our conversation with Colleen Jorgensen our favorite osteopath and pain care educator, about the body as a network. And last week, we were speaking in broad terms about this idea that we are all of us more than the individual systems that make up our body and how that is an important understanding and awareness for overall health. Now, we're going to take a little different approach to that same information and look at how we can apply some of this awareness as instructors in a group fitness setting or one on one with people. So you're gonna get to hear some really specific ideas and tips and ways and things that you can apply with your classes right now.

we have our favorite osteopath and pain care educator Colleen Jorgensen back with us on the work in and as you may remember Colleen is also a pain care where trainer a therapeutic Pilates yoga and Cymatics practitioner and she brings a world of experience with her to the conversation around all things wellness movements, and connecting the mind and body for real world resilience and results. Our conversation today was centered around the body as a network of systems and how we can use that network through small movements, small tools to bring big relief.

Somatics IS the secret neuroscience of yoga and all exercise. As Fit pro’s, students and fitness enthusiasts we’re using some pieces of somatic therapy every time we move even if we don’t know it. Today on the Work IN we are going into the dark cave of the brain to shine a light on what makes certain kinds of movement somatic and how we can use that magic to build resilience, support mobility, strength and balance and improve mental health for ourselves and our clients.

Trauma informed yoga builds smart bodies and smart kids. Science is telling us that our interoception, our somatosensory sixth sense, is important in being able to focus, learn and recover from all forms of stress. Children who are chronically scared, hungry, tired and neglected will find ways to adapt to those feelings and not in ways that are conducive to learning. The body has an innate intelligence that our current education system ignores in favor of sitting still and staying on task. But if we can harness the developmental connections of movement, memory and emotion we can help our kids calm their nervous system in order to feel safe no matter where they are. And strong, emotionally resilient children grow up to be strong emotionally resilient adults. That’s our Work IN today.

Trauma informed. It sounds good but that term isn’t well understood by the general public and has been diluted by the wellness community by click bait, quick buck certifications. There’s an assumption that because yoga is often recommended for ptsd, chronic pain, anxiety and depression that any and all yoga is trauma informed and that is simply not true. Today on The Work IN we’re taking a look at what being trauma informed means, what it looks like in yoga classes and why it’s something that all fit pros should understand. Today's discussion is going to focus on yoga but it applies across the fitness industry to all formats.