Jo Walker Yoga

 Yoga asanas release the negative emotions that have burrowed down into your muscles. These feelings are tied to our physical movements, emerging as we feel our sensations and muscle memories during twists and stretches. Yoga has the power to heal by allowing us a safe place to feel and observe our bodies and emotions. In addition, a regular yoga practice helps to soothe and regulate the sympathetic nervous system, which is especially critical for soldiers returning from war and other people who suffer from PTSD.

This phenomenon has been affirmed by the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. A recent study followed two groups of women who had been diagnosed with PTSD: one group attended a weekly yoga class, specially designed for them, and the other group attended a weekly education and support group.  The researchers found that over half of the women who had attended the yoga class were free of PTSD, compared to a fifth of the women who attended the support group.

This special yoga class, called trauma-informed yoga, is taught by trained yogis with experience working with domestic violence and sexual assault survivors. Exhale to Inhale is an organization founded by Zöe LePage. Her vision to heal and empower women through yoga has grown into a network of organizations and yoga studios who have collectively served more than 900 women.