Better Together: Healing Through Trauma-Informed Yoga
Better Together: Healing Through Trauma-Informed Yoga
By Char Barwin
Introduction: The Journey Begins with a Breath
In the journey toward recovery, sometimes the most profound healing begins with a single breath. This truth resonates deeply in the work of Autumn Bosch, who introduced trauma-informed yoga to our Community Health Immersion (CHI) participants. Drawing from her unique blend of narrative therapy and trauma-informed yoga, she revealed how the simplest moments of awareness can transform the way we approach healing and recovery.
Autumn Bosch: Bridging Therapy and Yoga
Autumn Bosch, CCLC, Executive Pastor at Connection Church and life coach at Acupuncture by the Lake, seamlessly blends her work as a narrative-focused therapist and trauma-informed yoga instructor. Her unique approach was recently showcased to Wisconsin AHEC Scholars and healthcare students during our CHI event titled “Navigating Pathways to Recovery: Addressing Substance Use with Healing and Resilience.”
The Science of Connection and Co-Regulation
“Often when I begin working with a client, I notice them holding their breath,” Bosch explains. “This is a response to a perceived threat or shame.” Her simple observation opens a gateway to deeper healing, as she guides clients back to their bodies through conscious breathing and gentle movement. Drawing from Bessel van der Kolk’s research, Bosch emphasizes how the body stores trauma in its tissues, nervous system, and muscles – a biological record of our experiences that requires both awareness and gentle attention to heal.
The power of Bosch’s approach lies in its understanding of human connection. “We’re all mirrors to one another,” she emphasizes. “Children do not have the ability to self-regulate; they co-regulate, and many adults also lack this ability. This isn’t a bad thing. We need relationships. We’re harmed in relationships, and we also heal in relationships. For healthcare professionals, the implication is clear, your calm and curious presence matters immensely to the patients you care for. ”
Creating Safe Spaces for Healing
Offering a personal presence of calm curiosity is Bosch’s goal in her therapeutic practice and yoga instruction. Just as therapists create a contained space for clients to process trauma in hour-long sessions, the yoga mat becomes a sacred boundary for emotional release. “Your mat will hold you and your tears,” Bosch tells her clients, offering a physical space for contained healing work that parallels the emotional container of therapy.
Trauma-informed yoga, as Bosch practices it, differs from conventional yoga classes. The practice cultivates healing through thoughtful adaptations:
- Sessions are conducted in a circle, with participants facing away from one another during supine or prone positions to minimize exposure.
- Poses are carefully selected to promote cross-lateral movement and balance, which enhance coordination.
- Gentle stretches like seated forward folds and cat-cow activate the parasympathetic nervous system.
- Traditional poses (like downward facing dog and happy baby) that may trigger feelings of physical vulnerability are mindfully excluded.
- The focus remains on empowering each person’s kind and curious “inner teacher.”
Experiencing Healing Movement
After hours of dedicated learning about substance misuse care and resources, students welcomed the opportunity to experience trauma-informed yoga firsthand. During the hour-long session, participants engaged in a practice that embodied all of Bosch’s principles. Under her gentle guidance, they began a practice of mindful movement and self-discovery.
“Notice what’s happening in your body right now,” Bosch encouraged as she led participants through a body scan. Students observed areas of tension they hadn’t realized they were holding. Through balance poses, they experienced both challenge and compassion – learning to offer themselves kindness as they wobbled and adjusted. This experiential learning brought to life Bosch’s teaching which highlights that healing begins with awareness and self-compassion.
Integrating Active Rest in Recovery
Trauma-informed yoga empowers clients to practice active rest—a crucial component of recovery. Savasana, the final restorative pose practiced lying still on one’s back with legs extended and arms slightly away from the body, combines focused awareness with deep breathing to consciously relax each muscle. This intentional stillness calms the nervous system and offers a path to deeper rest. When participants feel safe enough to fall asleep during practice, Bosch sees it as a victory. “Often clients in residential treatment find it difficult to sleep,” she notes. “By practicing active rest through savasana, clients can also access creating safety in their bodies for passive rest (sleeping).”
The Power of Self-Compassion in Healing
“There’s not a soul on earth who can be more kind to you than you, and there’s not a soul on earth who can be more brutal to you than you” Bosch reflects. This understanding shapes her trauma-informed yoga practice, where the mat becomes more than just a space for movement—it becomes a place to practice self-kindness and develop curiosity about one’s experiences.
For healthcare providers working with patients in recovery, this lesson is crucial: creating a non-judgmental space, whether on a yoga mat or in a clinical setting, allows patients to reconnect with their bodies’ wisdom and begin their healing journey.
Impact on Future Healthcare Professionals
Students found deep value in Bosch’s approach to healing through trauma-informed yoga. “Trauma and emotions are held in our bodies, and breathing can make a big impact,” reflected Ashley Zimmerman, a nursing student at Northwood Tech. “I will use breathing to help my patients.” She continued, “The most impactful point Autumn made for me as an aspiring wound care and surgery nurse is that positioning is important, and I need to tune into the reality that trauma affects every aspect of a person’s life. I want to begin practicing yoga so I can offer my calm to the patients I care for.”
Zimmerman’s reflections underscore a fundamental truth in healthcare and healing: recovery requires addressing the whole person—body, breath, and story. Through trauma-informed yoga and narrative therapy, practitioners like Bosch create spaces where individuals can reconnect with their inner wisdom, develop self-compassion, and begin their journey toward resilience. In a world where disconnection often feels prevalent, this integrated approach to healing offers a pathway back to themselves and the capacity to connect with others.
Looking Forward
As our students continue their journey through the continuum of care, they also heard from Tyra Gutschow, Community Relations Liaison, and Jaimie Simon, LPC Clinical Manager and Mental Health and Substance Abuse Counselor from Rogers Behavioral Health. Their insights into evidence-based treatment approaches and commitment to measuring outcomes demonstrate the evolving landscape of mental health and recovery services in Wisconsin.
Conclusion: Join the Healing Journey
Trauma-informed yoga, shared by Autumn Bosch, provided CHI participants valuable insight into creating calm presence—a skill that will enhance their patient care. Through this experience, they gained firsthand understanding of a powerful healing tool they can confidently recommend to future patients. Together, we are truly better.
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Priority is given to Wisconsin AHEC Scholars, but other students can join as space allows! These impactful experiences cover diverse healthcare topics and are offered across Wisconsin.