How Yoga Helps Survivors Reconnect with Their Body

SAAM21

Apr 16

This week we are sharing stories of healing and how yoga helps survivors of sexual assault reconnect with their bodies. In an Exhale to Inhale Class, we use simplicity and choice-making to help survivors of sexual assault regain a sense of control over their bodies. Our trauma-informed yoga classes give survivors options, without judgement.

Would you like to stay still or keep moving? Do you want to sit with your legs crossed or stretched out? These simple choices have powerful implications on and off the yoga mat. Survivors learn to build trust in their ability to decide what to do with their own body. Most importantly, they learn that what they want to do with their own body matters.

In the words of an Exhale to Inhale student that went on to become one of our teachers "Yoga helped me feel my body again, trust my body & not be ashamed of my body."

Meet the Teacher Team!

Pictured are just a few of the members of the Exhale to Inhale Teacher Led Fundraising team for sexual assault awareness month.

"It's important to me to support survivors of domestic violence, because I never would have had the courage and resources necessary to leave my abusive marriage if I hadn't had family, friends, and colleagues who supported me when I was already ready to exit a scary situation and begin my healing.

I know that not everyone is lucky enough to have a support system intact, and that trauma-informed yoga is a healing tool that not everyone has access to... until Exhale to Inhale made that possible with their free and donation-based public online classes."

Check out their donation page and help them create new spaces for healing.

Support Our Teacher Team

Solace and the City Podcast with Exhale to Inhale Lead Trainer & Curriculum Mentor, Julie Fernandez

Throughout April, Zoe Scurletis, host of the Solace and the City podcast will be teaming up with Exhale to Inhale Community members to share stories of survivorship and the journey to long-term healing. This week features Julie Fernandez, Lead Trainer and Curriculum Mentor for Exhale to Inhale.

Content Warning: Sexual Assault, Eating Disorders, and Self-harm.

Eating Disorder Helpline: 1-800-931-2237 / National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 / Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

5-Minute Resilience Practice

In an effort to support our community through these honest and sometimes difficult conversations, we're sharing a quick practice that you can do from anywhere.

Join Exhale to Inhale Training Associate, Teaching Specialist, and Trainer, Matty Espino, for a 5-minute practice with a focus on "Resilience." No yoga mat or yoga experience required.