Monday, December 14, 2015

Teaching yoga to survivors of sexual violence

In December 2013 I started to teach yoga to Latino teen survivors of sexual assault.  The experience has been rich, humbling and challenging. 

What has worked?

  • Be consistent and developing a simple sequence that is predictable and nurtures their feelings of confidence and success.  
  • Avoid trigger poses (one example would be Happy Baby) and  having their backs facing other students. 
  • Avoid props like straps that could be triggering as well.  
  • Use invitational language and invite to try a pose, giving many variations.  Survivors were put in a terrible situation which they didn't chose, and so the yoga experience should be the polar opposite - they are empowered to chose time and again.  
  • Focusing on the breath and simple mediation where they can focus on the present moment.  
  • Follow a no touch policy, which is required by the agency where I volunteer.  I think it is a wise policy to protect students from being triggered and teachers from any possible liability.  By not offering physical adjustments, you get to be a better teacher by offering clear verbal directions and demonstrating the pose.   
  • Affirming them throughout the class with positive language.  
  • I also brought in essential oils for students to use, and they were very popular, even with the teenage male student.   
 






Friday, December 11, 2015

"There is a wisdom in our bodies."

I cherish the On Being podcasts, and here is a program that shines the light on the passing down of trauma through the generations, i.e. legacy or historical trauma.  Neuroscientist Rachel Yehuda has researched this vast subject from the lens of the Jewish experience, as well as survivors of 9/11 and other traumas.

The concept of post-traumatic stress growth or taking the suffering and converting into something positive.  She calls the "podium of suffering."  

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Holidays and restorative yoga resource

As the holiday season descends upon us, the pace of activity and stress also accelerates for me.  My yoga and meditation practices helps ground me.  One of my favorite yoga resources, Yoga International, is offering a free 12 day restorative yoga practice challenge delivered to your in box.  Yes, free.  I just signed up and encourage you to take the challenge.

Let's see what 12 days of restorative yoga can do to make our holiday season even brighter and lighter.... 

Let's replace more presents with more presence - the very best gift you could offer. 

What I'm reading

I just finished listening to a fascinating audiobook "The Evil Hours: a biography of PTSD" by Daniel Morris (free thanks to the library via the Hoopla app).

As an Iraq war vet, the author takes the reader on a personal tour of his experience and the wider context/history of this disease.  There is a chapter on yoga and also on the sexual violence survivor experience that I found both harrowing and hopeful.
 

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Voces de la Comunidad - Supporting Latino Survivors 2015 Summit

This was my first ever conference devoted to survivors of sexual violence, and it was made even more powerful because it was focused on my own community.  It was two days worth of learning, sharing and networking with others doing this work in different ways across the state, ranging from social workers, counselors, police officers and activists. 

Keynote speaker Rut Martinez, Multicultural Center Coordinator for PCC SE Campus, made the fundamental connection between our culture's roots in sexual violence, which was a foundational tool of colonization and imperialism in Latin America.  It is  no accident or personal flaw that we have families that are impacted by sexual violence.  Our very names reflect centuries of rape, slavery and colonization.   Other panelists reinforced and built on this message.

Other sessions that were insightful was the one on Genderless in a Gendered Language, with a panel of two transgender Latin@s sharing their experiences.  How do you reflect gender diversity in Spanish?  I learned a new word - genderqueer. 

The self-care activity at the end of the first day was getting to listen to and then play percussion with Grupo Latitudes.  It was a perfect way to center myself in what is beautiful and affirming about our culture. 

Friday, September 11, 2015

Healing arts and sexual violence

As a yoga teacher who offers classes to teen survivors of sexual assault, I have been looking to deepen my knowledge of how yoga supports healing from this type of trauma. 

I've found a local training that I'm so excited to get to experience next month through the Breathe Network.  Here is a description from their web site, and after the training I'll post some of the takeaways and insights I get. 


“Trauma Resilience – Healing the Wounds of Sexual Violence with the Holistic Healing Arts”

Description
In this interactive panel discussion, you will learn the nuances of how sexual violence impacts the body, mind and spirit and how specific healing arts modalities can uniquely facilitate integrated and sustainable healing by transforming symptoms into strengths. Healing arts practitioners will then share their insights from working with survivors and offer recommendations on how to modify the delivery of their given modality in order to enhance trauma-sensitivity and safety for survivors – and to ultimately promote a survivor’s innate capacity to heal. Importantly, time will be allotted for event participants to directly ask questions to the panelists that may be specific to their experience or practice.
General Overview of Content
Understanding the Impact of Sexual Trauma on the Body, Mind and Spirit
~The Spectrum of Sexual Violence
~Symptoms – Inquiry and Insight
~The Innate Capacity to Heal

Moderated Discussion with Practitioners on the Panel
~How their Healing Art Supports Survivors in Healing
~What is Trauma-Informed Care?
~Modifications and Techniques for Working with Survivors within the Healing Arts

More Information
Healing after sexual violence often requires learning how to safely connect inside and nourishing a strong connection between the body, mind and spirit. Incorporating healing modalities that holistically address trauma allows survivors to experientially witness how refining the intrinsic relationship among the body, mind and spirit can be one of the most powerful tools for resilience. The depth of these healing practices allows survivors to gain a sense of comfort within their own shape, to non-verbally process feelings that transcend language, and to trust their own wisdom, voice and intuition around their healing process.
Together, we will explore the layered impacts of sexual trauma and how working holistically with symptoms of trauma can be catalysts for transformation. Practitioners in the healing arts will learn skills and techniques to modify their treatment in order to provide trauma-sensitive care to survivors of sexual violence. Panelists bring a range of experiences and modalities in their work with survivors that might include acupuncture, art therapy, chiropractic, EMDR, equine assisted therapy, massage, psychotherapy, reiki, yoga and more, and they are receptive to the inquiries and insights from workshop participants.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Always learning - a video to help you transition from dog to lunge

As a teacher of yoga, I am constantly learning more about yoga and myself through reading, practice, and exploring the seemingly endless resources available on the Internet. One neat tip I came across is how to shift from down dog to a lunge; a flow that I am still trying to master. 

Yoga equals humility. 

This video will break it down with alignment tips. 

Yoga International is one of my preferred resources for learning more about all aspects of yoga, so explore away....

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Dust to dust - facing suffering with grace and growth

As a practicing Catholic and also someone who is embracing Buddhist philosophy more with each passing month and year, this article drew me in for its reflection on the value of facing head on the inevitable suffering we face. 


"We don’t want to suffer — we hate it, in fact. Yet it is suffering that often brings personal improvement. Not all pain is beneficial, obviously. But researchers have consistently found that most survivors of illness and loss experience “post-traumatic growth.” Not only do many people find a greater emotional maturity after suffering; they are even better prepared to help others deal with their pain. That is why after a loss we turn for comfort to those who have endured a similar loss.

The two enormous losses I have faced this past year (death of my father and grand-daughter) have definitely resulted in great growth.  My meditation practice has exploded, watered by the tears and grief that I have faced head on.  It has been a solace and a place to be humbled by my own suffering, and the suffering of my own loved ones. 

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Children's books on mindfulness

As a librarian, step-mom, and meditator, I love this blog post, which points you to an array of books that help nurture mindfulness in young people.  

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

What students have shared about Rita's teaching and classes

"For me this class reminded me of how much I want to find a class so it was a motivational thing.  I liked how you kept speaking about how each of our bodies are different and it is ok to be able to do something only so so and not push ourselves.  That felt gentle."
 
Another student shared that "I just want to tell you again that your class was a ten for me! (you know, that scale of 1-10 with 10 being the best!)
Your readings were inspirational.   The variety and how you alternated reading/writing with the essential oils and yoga made the time go way too fast!
I especially thank you for your comments when we set our intentions for 2015.    Intentions on how to BE are so much more meaningful than goals and accomplishments.     I chose the words energized and engaged and that really changed how I felt today.   I believe Spirit really moves through our stated intentions!  Thank you again."
 

Welcome to my virtual yoga space

My intention for this blog is to create a virtual space to offer up resources, insights and ideas to support the practice of yoga for you, my beloved readers.  This is also a space to connect with me and my offerings as a teacher.

If you have ideas, questions and suggestions, please bring them on!

Namaste