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Episode 2: Trauma Training For Every Yoga Teacher
Margaret Howard is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Missouri. She practices social work and psychotherapy, specializing in trauma and is an advocate for survivors of human trafficking. Margaret has a Master in Fine Arts, a degree in poetry, she is an organic gardener, yogi, mother and grandmother. Margaret advocates for being aware that we’ve all experienced trauma in one form or another should be a “basic human sensitivity”. Shannon and Margaret discuss how being aware of trauma sensitivities through trauma training is a crucial aspect of teaching yoga, how to recognize it and how to help your students. ______________________________________
Trauma Training For Every Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode
3:00 Why trauma training should be part of yoga teacher training 3:28 Margaret’s personal story of being triggered in yoga class 9:00 Do no harm in yoga class: “Let go of the idea that traumatized people are some kind of special population.” 11:00 What to do when a student is modifying a pose- never call someone out in class 12:35 No touch policy until you have more trauma safety training 13:00 Why asking a student if they don’t mind being touched may not be enough- discussion of disassociation 15:25 Yoga class is intimate- give your students the capacity to say no, space to leave no questions asked 16:28 Are yes/no to touch flip cards helpful? 18:10 David Emmerson’s Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Training 19:25 Do we include trauma on student intake forms? 22:30: Examine expectation for students to “…have their hearts open at all times.” Leave it up to the student as it may be an act of self-preservation to shut down. Come into class with no agenda 23:20 What trauma trigger looks like in yoga class- sympathetic arousal, disassociation 29:20 Have a referral list of trauma informed therapists that are trusted, websites, book resources ready to provide backup support to your students 32:30 The benefits of yoga for healing trauma
Connect with Margaret:
Website: http://www.thewildtherapist.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margarethowardLCSW/ Twitter: @aWildTherapist Instagram: @theWildTherapist Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margarethowardtherapist/
Links
Margaret Howard’s articles Trauma Training Should Be Mandatory for Yoga Teachers: Part I: Trauma Training Should Be Mandatory for Yoga Teacher Part II:Trauma Training Should Be Mandatory for Yoga Teacher Part III:Trauma Training Should Be Mandatory for Yoga Teacher
Study Referenced In Margaret's Article:
Effectiveness of an Extended Yoga Treatment for Women with Chronic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder David Emmerson’s Trauma Sensitive Yoga Training Somatic Experience Training Overcoming Trauma Through Yoga by David Emerson and Elizabeth Hopper Shannon’s student waiver form (printable and editable versions available). _____________________________ After the show Margaret wrote to me to clarify that while she was in the Army from age 19 to 21 and worked in electronics there (but not writing pilot manuals), she did get a pilot's license as soon as she got out of the military, while continuing to work in electronics. She then raised her children while slowly completing her undergraduate and graduate degrees (eventually getting the MFA in poetry) and working as a writer and editor, then as a college writing instructor for many years. Finally, tiring of the adjunct professor grind she moved to writing technical manuals for aircraft before returning to graduate school to become a clinical social worker, advocate, and trauma therapist. _____________________________ Summary of this episode was written by Laura Cameron, writer and yoga student
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Episode 2: On-Air Consultation Call With Nina Andic
Nina started practicing yoga in 2000 and has studied various traditions, including Hatha, Ashtanga and Anusara. She became a yoga teacher a few years ago. Nina teaches yoga and lives in Lion's Head, Ontario with her husband and son. In the on-air consultation call, Nina shares how she has been feeling really fulfilled on the yoga teacher side of things, but she is also feeling stuck with her own yoga practice. Shannon takes Nina through a series of questions and offers some strategies for reconnecting to a morning yoga practice. They discuss the importance of mentorship and self-care. To take a class with Nina or to connect - visit her Facebook page - Bruce Peninsula Yoga. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ After our episode -- Nina connected with Rosslyn and here is what Nina posted on The Connected Yoga Teacher page.
"I am manifesting significant change in my life. With the help of Rosslyn Kemerer, I started my 40-day Sadhana last week and it is incredible how much I've already learned about myself and about what I need to do next. I felt compelled to share with this group my intentions. I am awake and present. My heart is open to give and receive. I am my own inspiration and light. I am confident and trust myself. I express myself clearly, openly and honestly to myself and others. I have unlimited potential. Thank you Shannon Crow for helping me connect with Rosslyn."
Links From Today's Show: Rosslyn Kemerer - Teaches online private yoga classes Art of Assists for Yoga Teachers in Owen Sound, ON with Shannon Crow Erin Aquin's Retreat for Yoga Teachers - Erin spoke to us in Episode 1 on Yoga Teacher Burnout _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Shannon's Mentors: Barb Elias - Certified Integral Coach Natalie Eckdahl of BizChix - MBA, podcaster and business coach
Welcome to the very first episode of The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast. In this episode we hear from Erin Aquin on the topic of yoga teacher burnout.
Erin is a a certified hatha, vinyasa and prenatal yoga teacher, author and new mother. She wrote The A-Z of Being a Successful Yoga Teacher and just recently published Elemental Yin Yang Yoga.
Erin completed one of the most comprehensive programs in Canada currently available for Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. You can hear her expertise on yoga and Chinese medicine in her podcast called Elemental Yin Yang Podcast.
As a yoga teacher entrepreneur it is important that self-care is part of our routine or we will see our business and/or personal life suffer.
In this episode Erin shares the symptoms of both yoga teacher brownout and yoga teacher burnout along with the steps we can take to recognize and avoid both.
Listen to the end of the episode for your chance to win a free copy of Erin's - A-Z of Being a Successful Yoga Teacher.
Some great questions that came out of this Episode to ask yourself are:
1. Do you feel exhausted or energized after teaching a yoga class?
2. Are you craving sleep or unable to sleep?
3. Are you craving carbs, sugar and/or caffeine to keep you going or are you going the entire day not worried about the food that fuels you?
4. Do you have a daily practice that includes physical movement as well as meditation?
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Links for this Episode:
Shannon's Mentors:
Barb Elias - Certified Integral Coach
Natalie Eckdahl of BizChix- MBA, podcaster and business coach
Erin's Mentors:
Rebecca Mullen of Altared Spaces - Author
Allison Evans - Life Coach and Author
Erin has shared two related articles for our Connected Yoga Teacher listeners - click here to read those and to find out more about her yoga teacher trainings.
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Connect with other yoga teachers in our private Facebook Group - The Connected Yoga Teacher to share your thoughts, questions and comments about this episode or about your yoga teaching journey.
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How do you nurture yourself to avoid yoga teacher burnout? We would love to see your posts on social media with the hashtag #nurturedyogateacher - be sure to tag us - Erin Aquin and Shannon Crow.
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Work with Shannon - visit ShannonCrow.com to find out about the consulting work she does with yoga teachers and studios and to read articles for yoga teachers and students.