Trauma is defined as the emotional response someone has to an extremely negative event. While trauma is a normal reaction to a horrible event, the effects can be so severe that they interfere with an individual’s ability to live a normal life. In such a case, help may be needed to treat the stress and dysfunction caused by the traumatic event and to restore the individual to a state of emotional well-being.
Gentle yoga poses, pranayama and some meditation techniques have an energizing and calming effect on the nervous system, calming the brain and the emotions. Helping the survivors to exhale slow and long reduces agitation deep within. While the art of inhaling deep helps the survivors to connect to the deeper emotions related to depression or dissociation. Thus Yoga mitigates the fight-or-flight response through a combination of active asanas, pranayama and helps deep relaxation. The practice will help our autonomic nervous system to be on the lookout for danger and keep us safe.