ONLINE: Embodied Resilience: Applied Yoga Therapy & Polyvagal Theory

“You can be fully in charge of your life only if you can acknowledge the reality of your body, in all its visceral dimensions.” 
– Dr. Bessel van der Kolk

Autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysregulation contributes to many health conditions, including chronic stress, trauma, PTSD, chronic pain and chronic illness. 

This therapeutic program explores the convergence of yoga therapy and Polyvagal theory as valuable biopsychosocial-spiritual frameworks for understanding our nervous system and practical applications to restore us to optimal health, regulation and resilience.

Yoga therapy is an integrative healthcare profession that bridges the ancient wisdom of yoga with scientific knowledge to support applications in healthcare. When yoga therapy is practiced as a comprehensive system, its influence on the nervous system and other mind-body mechanisms correlate to improved immune, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular function, neurophysiological and psychological resilience, and emotional well-being. 

Polyvagal theory expands our understanding of our evolutionary nervous system and the relationships between human behaviour, stress and illness. It supports us to befriend and shape our neurophysiology, to heal patterns of dysregulation and restore our capacity for safety, connection, growth and healing. 

Each session will introduce applied concepts in yoga therapy and Polyvagal theory, and experiential, trauma-informed practices as opportunities to cultivate embodied resilience. We will integrate cognitive and somatic approaches, including; physical postures, movement, breathwork and meditation, to support you in; widening your tolerance to stress, alternating between states of activation and calm, developing insight into patterns that perpetuate suffering and transforming your relationship to stress, adversity and change. 

This series will also emphasize relational safety, interpersonal communication and co-regulation as foundational practices for long-term health, connection and the capacity to take skillful action in the world. 

This course is for anyone who wants to : 

• Understand how chronic stress and trauma can shape your nervous system and embodiment.
• Explore an integrative yoga therapy approach to cultivating physical, mental and social well-being, self-regulation and resilience.
• Explore Polyvagal theory as a framework for understanding your nervous system and interconnections between behaviour, stress and illness.
• Learn how yoga philosophy and Polyvagal theory mutually support a biopsychosocial-spiritual model of health and well-being. 
• Learn accessible, trauma-informed techniques for nourishing your body’s connective tissue and fascial system.
• Learn accessible, trauma-informed yoga practices to nurture embodied resilience, and address symptoms of chronic stress, trauma, PTSD, chronic pain, and chronic illness.

No previous yoga experience is required. 

What you will need:

Please dress in comfortable clothing that you can move in. You may want to have an extra sweater and socks available for warmth. 

The practices can be done from a seated position on the floor, a chair, or a standing position. You might choose to use a yoga mat. If you decide to sit on the floor, you might want to sit on a cushion or a folded blanket—your choice. 

Each session will offer a guided restorative meditation at the end. Optional props for the restorative meditation can include a blanket, a rectangular bolster/pillow, a medium-sized bath towel and a face cloth/eye pillow.

Format & Schedule:

This online series consists of eight 120-minute sessions. The group will form a community of practice; there are no drop-ins for this series. 

Thursdays @ 4:30-6:30pm PT

May 12th – June 30th, 2022

Participant Support 

These sessions are not a replacement for therapy. Emotions and/or memories from the past can emerge with somatic-based practices like yoga. Having support in place (such as a counselor/therapist, Elder or a person you trust) to process these experiences is an asset.

A short online questionnaire will be included with your email confirmation and must be completed prior to the beginning of the first class on May 12th.

Tiered payment structure :

Accessibility and inclusion are important to us. Together with the facilitator, we are offering tiered pricing. Please select the price that best fits your context:

• $480 : Regular – great value!
• $550: Pay It Forward – Help support Haven and low-income participants in these challenging times!
• $410: Community supported for accessibility to low-income participants

Technical requirements:

This online program will be hosted on Zoom, a video conferencing software that is free for participants and easy to use on a variety of devices. You will need to have a device (desktop computer or laptop recommended; tablet or smartphone can work too), reliable internet connection, and sound capabilities (headset recommended; built in or external microphone or speaker systems can work too). You can test your device connection and compatibility in advance here: zoom.us/test

You will be invited to join the call up to 15 minutes early to receive technical support.