Merging Yoga with Therapy: Why It Works for Trauma Healing

Stacy Ruse, LPC
14 minutes ago
3 min read

As healing professionals, we often reach a point in our practice where we realize that cognitive processing alone isn't enough. We witness clients who understand their trauma intellectually, yet their nervous systems remain stuck in patterns of fight, flight, or freeze. They are unable to connect with their bodies and inner processes to find a state of calm where healing can happen. This is where the harmonious integration of ancient wisdom—specifically the embodied practices of yoga—and modern science becomes vital.

By merging yoga therapy with clinical practice, we open a doorway to healing that honors its multidimensional nature—mind, body, and spirit. This fusion creates a transformative space where clients can access their innate wisdom and authentic Self-energy to guide their own healing within every part of their being.

This article explores why this combination is so effective for trauma-informed care, and how you can begin weaving these modalities together on your own healing journey or as you guide your clients.

Yoga Therapy, A man sits in Butterfly Pose (Baddha Konasana) on a porch, surrounded by the serenity of the outdoors. With eyes closed and a peaceful expression, he folds forward, his hands gently resting on his feet. Wearing a dark shirt and shorts, his ginger hair catches the light. The image captures a moment of introspection, self-care, and inner tranquility amidst nature's embrace.

The Science of Embodiment: How Yoga Complements Therapy

Trauma is not just a story we tell; it is a physiological imprint held within the body. While traditional talk therapy helps us make sense of our narratives, yoga offers a pathway to release the stored energy of those narratives.

When we integrate yoga into the therapeutic space, we engage in top-down and bottom-up processing simultaneously. Modern science, specifically Polyvagal Theory, aligns beautifully with yogic teachings. Breathwork (pranayama) and mindful movement

signal safety to the vagus nerve, shifting the client from a state of dysregulation to one of social engagement and calm.

This creates the sacred space necessary for deep work. When the body feels safe, the mind's protective barriers soften, allowing for true transformation.

Moving Beyond the Self: A Transpersonal Approach

Trauma survivors often grapple with a profound sense of isolation, feeling severed not only from their own bodies but from the world around them. Merging yoga philosophy with psychotherapy offers a powerful antidote to this disconnection by introducing a transpersonal perspective.

This approach invites us to look beyond the individual ego and the clinical limitations of the medical model, opening a pathway to a larger sense of purpose, spirituality, and interconnectedness. By gently introducing these concepts, we validate the client’s pain while framing it within a wider context of growth and connection. Of course, this work requires deep cultural humility; we must always tailor these concepts to resonate with the client’s preferred language and worldview, ensuring that their specific spiritual or cultural beliefs are honored and respected in the healing space.

Yoga Therapy, A woman finds solace in a seated side bend on a dark gray yoga mat. Wearing a black sports top and dark gray shorts, she sits cross-legged, her brunette hair pulled into a bun. With eyes gently closed, she twists to one side. Her serene expression reflects the inner peace and balance she cultivates through this nurturing practice.

Connecting to Self-Energy

One of the most profound overlaps between yoga and psychotherapy is the concept of the “Self.” In IFS-inspired parts work, we help clients differentiate from their protective parts to access their “Self-energy”—a state of calm, clarity, and compassion. In yoga philosophy, this is mirrored in the concept of Atman, or the true self that remains untouched by life’s fluctuations.

By combining these approaches, we help clients:

Identify sensations: Using somatic awareness to locate where parts hold tension in the body.
Build tolerance: Using breath to stay present with uncomfortable sensations without becoming overwhelmed.
Cultivate compassion: Viewing their physical and emotional experiences with the non-judgmental awareness of a witness (or Sakshi).

Practices to Integrate into Your Healing Journey

You do not need to be a yoga master to bring these tools into your practice or your personal healing journey. Here are a few ways to start:

Breath Awareness: Simple, regulated breathing can act as an anchor during emotional flooding, helping to restore a sense of agency.
Gentle Movement: Encouraging subtle movements—like a seated spinal twist or grounding the feet—can help discharge nervous energy during a session.
Yoga Nidra: This practice of “yogic sleep” is deeply restorative for the nervous system, allowing for the integration of fragmented parts in a state of deep relaxation.

Yoga Therapy, A woman creates a sanctuary of mindfulness in her living room, seated cross-legged on her couch. She rests her hands on her knees in Gyan Mudra, with headphones guiding her inward journey, she closes her eyes, immersing herself in the serenity of meditation. The image portrays the transformative power of integrating mindfulness into daily life, finding peace and clarity within the comfort of one's own home.

Shine Bright with Aglow Yoga: Free Resources for You

Whether you are a mental health practitioner looking to expand your toolkit or an individual on your own path to wholeness, you deserve support.

I invite you to explore the yoga videos on Aglow’s YouTube Channel, a resource designed to help you tap into your radiance through guided meditation and movement. You will find therapeutic yoga flows specifically curated to help shift energies, reset the nervous system, and support complete embodiment. The library also features specialized sessions that blend the deep rest of Yoga Nidra with IFS-inspired parts work, offering a unique way to support internal harmony.

Remember, your integration of these tools not only supports your clients but also honors your own authenticity as a healer. Whether you utilize these videos to support your clients or to deepen your own healing journey, they are here to help you shine.