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From Trauma to Trust: The Deeper Purpose of Yoga

When most people think of yoga, they picture flexible bodies in beautiful shapes, postures that stretch muscles, strengthen joints, and calm the mind. But for many, the real transformation doesn’t come from touching your toes or perfecting a headstand. It begins much more quietly, and often much deeper.


It starts the moment your body feels safe enough to breathe.







Trauma Lives in the Body—Not Just the Mind

Trauma is not always loud. It doesn't only stem from dramatic events like accidents, abuse, or loss. Sometimes, trauma comes from years of subtle emotional neglect, societal pressure, or growing up in an environment where emotions were not welcomed.

According to psychiatrist Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, author of the groundbreaking book The Body Keeps the Score, trauma is not just a psychological phenomenon. It reshapes the brain and body. As van der Kolk writes, "Traumatized people chronically feel unsafe inside their bodies. The past is alive in the form of gnawing interior discomfort."

This means that healing trauma isn’t only about talking through memories, it’s about helping the body feel safe again. And that’s where yoga can become a profoundly transformative tool.



Yoga as a Path to Nervous System Regulation

One of the most essential discoveries van der Kolk highlights in The Body Keeps the Score is that traditional talk therapy often isn't enough for trauma survivors. While cognitive approaches are important, many people reach a limit where words can't touch the deep, embodied imprint of trauma. The body must be involved in the healing process.

Trauma-sensitive yoga offers this embodied approach. Instead of focusing on external alignment or performance, it invites us to tune inward. It supports what van der Kolk calls "interoception"—the ability to sense and feel what’s happening inside the body.

At Mahé Yoga Studio in Zoetermeer, we honour this process by offering classes that support nervous system regulation through breath, choice, and compassion. Our approach creates the space for your body to slowly shift from fight-or-flight into a state of rest, safety, and connection.



From Dissociation to Presence

One common survival response to trauma is dissociation: a feeling of disconnect from one’s body, emotions, or the present moment. This can manifest as numbness, zoning out, or feeling like you're watching life from the outside.

As van der Kolk explains, "Being able to feel safe with other people is probably the single most important aspect of mental health." That safety must begin within ourselves, and yoga can be the bridge. Through mindful movement and breath, we begin to come home to ourselves. We learn that our bodies are not dangerous places to be.

This might look like:

  • Crying in savasana without knowing why

  • Feeling a wave of emotion rise in a hip opener

  • Learning to say "no" to a pose that doesn’t feel right

These are not signs of weakness. They are signs of the body processing old material. This is healing.

The Principles of Trauma-Sensitive Yoga

Trauma-sensitive yoga isn't a specific style, but a set of principles designed to create a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment. These principles include:

  • Choice and agency: Poses are invitations, not commands. Students are always encouraged to modify or skip poses.

  • No hands-on adjustments: Touch is never used without consent, as it can be triggering for trauma survivors.

  • Mindful language: Instructors use invitational language that fosters autonomy ("If you'd like, you might explore..." instead of "Do this now").

  • Present-moment awareness: Classes emphasize breath, sensation, and the experience of being in the body.

  • Non-judgment: There is no expectation to achieve, perform, or push. Rest is always welcome.

At Mahé Yoga Studio in Zoetermeer, these trauma-informed principles are embedded in many of our offerings. Whether it’s a gentle Hatha class, Yin Yoga, or breath-centered meditation, our teachers are trained to hold space for all bodies, stories, and nervous systems.

The Science of Feeling Safe

Van der Kolk describes the role of the vagus nerve in regulating our sense of safety. This cranial nerve connects the brain to various organs and plays a key role in switching the nervous system from stress (sympathetic) to calm (parasympathetic).

Practices that stimulate the vagus nerve, such as long exhalations, humming, gentle movement, and stillness are woven into trauma-sensitive yoga. Over time, this helps the body rewire its stress response and cultivate what Stephen Porges (developer of Polyvagal Theory) calls "ventral vagal" activation: the physiological state of feeling safe, connected, and present.


Yoga isn’t just relaxing, it can be reprogramming.

From Performance to Reclamation

Many of us arrive at yoga with the belief that we need to do it "right." We compare ourselves to others, push through discomfort, and shame ourselves for needing rest. But yoga, in its essence, is not about performance.

It’s about reclamation. Reclaiming the body as a place of safety. Reclaiming rest as a right, not a reward. Reclaiming breath as a source of power. Reclaiming trust in yourself.

This shift is at the heart of the trauma-to-trust journey. And it doesn’t require a specific pose, shape, or outcome. It requires only presence, patience, and the willingness to meet yourself as you are.

Mahé Yoga Studio: A Space for Healing

At Mahé Yoga, we understand that every nervous system has its own story. That’s why we offer classes that prioritize emotional safety as much as physical alignment. We believe that trauma-informed spaces are not just for trauma survivors, they’re for everyone, because everyone benefits from feeling safe, seen, and sovereign in their body.

Whether you’re navigating anxiety, burnout, grief, or simply seeking a deeper connection with yourself, our studio welcomes you. You don’t need to be flexible. You don’t need to be calm. You just need to come as you are.

And when you do, we’ll meet you there, with warmth, patience, and a space where healing gets to feel human.

Closing Invitation

If you’ve ever experienced unexpected emotion, insight, or relief on your mat, know that you’re not alone. These moments are not interruptions, they are the practice.

We invite you to join us at Mahé Yoga to experience yoga that honors your full humanity. Your story is welcome here.

Resources: Van der Kolk, Bessel A. The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Penguin Books, 2014.

Related Classes at Mahé Yoga Studio:

  • Yin & Meditation (trauma-sensitive approach)

  • Gentle Flow

  • Float & Relax / Restorative Yoga

  • Floating Nidra

  • Prana Flow

  • Slow Flow

Visit www.mahestudio.nl for class times and upcoming workshops.

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