Survivor and Facilitator Voices from the Practice of Trauma-Sensitive Yoga
October 12, 2020
Psychotherapist Turner collects 20 revealing essays about trauma-centered trauma-sensitive yoga (TCTSY) in this discerning anthology. She explains that this “body-based” technique allows survivors of trauma to “create conditions for processing and holding experiences of trauma without talking about it.” Unfortunately, the book presupposes readers understand TCTSY, and the discipline’s “five pillars” (“invitational language, present-moment experiences, choice-making, shared authentic experience, and non-coercion”) are only briefly sketched out toward the end. Each essay is written by or about a practitioner of TCTSY, and the authors come from a variety of circumstances and treatment settings. In “Authenticity in Vulnerability,” Elizabeth Ringler-Jayanthan explores the mental health needs of refugees who are dealing with cultural displacement. In “Inside Out,” Cynthia Cameron explains how TCTSY aided her recovery from childhood sexual abuse. Unfortunately, while diverse examples of students’ healing processes are presented, the lack of a clear explanation of the discipline as a whole precludes newcomers from fully grasping the advice. These discursive essays will mostly be useful to those already familiar with the practice.