Healing from the Inside Out: How Yoga Can Support Trauma Recovery

There have been recent developments in the effectiveness of using body-based therapies like yoga as a treatment for trauma. Trauma occurs when an individual is exposed to a distressing event, threat, or what they perceive to be a threat, and often the individual feels overwhelmed and unable to cope with the event (Rousseau, 2025). In his book “The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma”, Bessel Van der Kolk (2014) explains that trauma is not only a distressing event itself, but also the lasting impact it can have on an individual. Trauma can have impacts on both the mind and the body, making treatment for trauma complex (Van der Kolk, 2014). Recent research points to trauma-informed therapy as being the most impactful. Van der Kolk (2014) states that traditional talk-therapy often falls short in terms of treatment, but rather self-awareness is “at the core of recovery”, citing that mindfulness is most important (p.210). One strategy for trauma-informed treatment gaining recent traction is yoga.

Van der Kolk (2014) asserts that yoga encourages mindfulness, breathing, and meditation in concert with physical movement, and this increases self-awareness. A growing body of research proves this to be true. Rousseau et al. (2024) conducted a study of the effectiveness of yoga programming in a carceral setting, and the results found that yoga supported posttraumatic resilience building among participants of the program. Furthermore, Klukan and Lunsford (2024) conducted a scoping review of the research and literature on the effectiveness of yoga for the treatment of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder, and found positive impacts on client outcomes across the studies they reviewed.

Findings indicate that when yoga is practiced, there is a connection between the body and the brain that helps to develop and refine self-regulation skills, leading to the maintenance of “homeostasis”, or the equilibrium between the brain and body (Klukan & Lunsford, 2024). West, Liang, and Spinazzola (2017) also found evidence supporting yoga as an effective treatment for trauma in their study that analyzed 31 women with PTSD from childhood trauma who completed a 10-week yoga course. They found that participants ended the yoga course with an increased sense of self-awareness and safety, as well as experienced personal growth (West, Liang, & Spinazzola, 2017). This is similar to the findings of the study conducted by Rousseau et al. (2024), who found incarcerated individuals benefited from yoga; their mood increased by 30%, stress decreased by 41%, and they even reported an increase in self-growth in terms of coping skills and resilience.

Although some of these studies do cite limitations, such as self-reported data, issues with selection biases or lack of randomization in the sample populations due to the carceral environment, or the lack of long-term data, the overall findings are positive in nature. More research is certainly needed to further support yoga’s positive impacts on trauma treatment. With the still-growing body of research on this treatment and with its growing popularity, more research developments are imminent. 

Trauma often causes individuals to disassociate with their sense of self, indicating that a treatment centered around regaining this sense of self-awareness is essential. Trauma-informed yoga accomplishes just this- it reinforces mindfulness and reestablishes self-awareness. Yoga allows for an alternative to traditional talk-based therapy, which can be more beneficial for individuals who might have trouble talking about their experiences or have issues remembering them. By focusing on reconnecting with themselves physically, participants of trauma-informed yoga can begin to heal mentally from their trauma. This gentle yet powerful approach to reestablishing a sense of self-autonomy and self-connection is a great approach being developed for trauma survivors. 

References:

Klukan, K., & Lunsford, D. (2024). Trauma-Informed Yoga: A Scoping Review. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 40(4), 430–454. https://doi.org/10.1080/0164212X.2023.2276148

Rousseau, D. (2025). Module 1: Introduction to Trauma. [Module Notes]. Blackboard, Boston University.

Rousseau, D., Bourgeois, J. W., Johnson, J., Ramirez, L., & Donahue, M. (2024). Embodied resilience: a quasi-experimental exploration of the effects of a trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness curriculum in carceral settings. International Journal of Yoga Therapy, 34(2024), Article-2.

Van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking.

West, J., Liang, B., & Spinazzola, J. (2017). Trauma Sensitive Yoga as a Complementary Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Qualitative Descriptive Analysis. International Journal of Stress Management, 24(2), 173–195. https://doi.org/10.1037/str0000040

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