Welcome, Lovely September

I hope that you enjoyed a sweet, relaxing summer and are looking forward to the splendour of fall! I am excited to share what I am up to with respect to my wellness initiatives this season.

This autumn, I am shining a spotlight on trauma recovery.


What is Trauma?


First, no one is immune from trauma. The majority of us have experienced trauma. Trauma is a psychological or emotional response to a frightening experience or repeated events that overwhelm your capacity to cope. Examples of trauma include: involvement in an abusive relationship, a sudden loss, a car crash, witnessing a horrific event, illnesses. Trauma can lead to anxiety, depression, PTSD, addictions, and relationship issues. People experience and respond to trauma differently.


How does Yoga Help with Trauma Recovery?


Yoga can help calm the fluctuations of the mind and build awareness and tolerance of physical sensations. With practice, yoga can restore a sense of safety in one’s body and can help someone to learn to regulate emotions. Trauma-sensitive yoga encourages participants to restore their mind/body/spirit connection and develop a sense of empowerment and agency by making choices that feel best for the person’s wellbeing. The trauma sensitive teacher’s intention is not to prescribe experiences but to guide people to be with and interact with their own body. Choice-making in trauma sensitive yoga is a key tenant.


Trauma Sensitive Yoga Encourages:

  • Moving, breathing, and being in a safe environment.

  • Choice-making with movement and breathing.

  • Focusing on the internal-felt sense of the posture instead of “doing it right.”

  • Welcoming present moment experience.


Personal and professional experiences prompt my interest in wanting to help people heal from trauma. Relational trauma, addiction, loss, and breast cancer have given me first hand experience of trauma and importantly, recovery. Work at the Helix Healthcare Group, St. Michael’s Hospital, the Jean Tweed Treatment Centre, and the Healing Therapy Alliance has enabled me to connect with, and support, hundreds of people dealing with the impact of trauma. My experience tells me that working with one’s body and receiving support are critical variables for facilitating healing. It is important to know that many people who have experienced trauma also describe positive change and growth as a result of moving through their adversity.

NEW TRAUMA SENSITIVE
DROP-IN CLASS!


This is a mindful and gentle class with emphasis placed on building safety, self awareness and making choices that support you. Welcome a more positive relationship with your body as you practice grounding, breathing and cultivating presence. An attitude of inquiry is encouraged as you observe your experience in postures.

Thursdays: 9:30 - 10:30 am
Soul Sound Wellness
426 Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto
www.soulsoundwellness.ca

FALL PUBLIC CLASS SCHEDULE


I offer three public yoga classes a week:

Tuesday: 10 - 11 am
The Flow, at 889 Community

Thursday: 9:30 - 10:30 am
Trauma Sensitive Yoga, at Soul Sound Wellness

Friday: 8:30 - 9:30 am
Move and Meditate, at 889 Community

Embodied Healing
Trauma Sensitive Yoga Series

I am guiding this six week series at The Healing Therapy Alliance. This is a closed group and I am taking a maximum of 5 students. The group begins Monday September 23, 4:30-5:30 pm. Details are available on my website.The group is almost full, so if you or someone you know is interested, please e-mail me directly. 

Relational Somatic Healing Sessions

Individual Relational Somatic Healing sessions are available at The Healing Therapy Alliance on Mondays and at 889 Community. Visit my website to learn more. E-mail me if you wish to book a session.

Corporate Wellness


I recently facilitated a session, Optimizing Women’s Wellness, for a leading organization in Toronto. I had the privilege of honestly discussing what health means to women and some of the obstacles that interfere with women living their healthiest lives. The workshop included gentle yoga, breathing and meditation. If corporate wellness is something that interests you, reach out. 
 


I end with a poem of self-blessing, Relearning our Loveliness by Galaway Kinnell.

The bud stands for all things,
Even those things that don’t flower,
For everything flowers, from within, of self-blessing;
Though sometimes it is necessary
To re-teach a things its loveliness,
To put a hand on the brow of the flower,
And retell it in words and in touch,
It is lovely
Until it flowers again from within, of self blessing.
 

Wishing you peace,

 
Kathryn Bowen