Review
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"In this landmark book the authors offer survivors a
gentle, step-by-step mindful yoga that is tailored for their
specific needs.... This well conceived book is a tremendous
resource for therapists and yoga teachers. By engaging the wisdom
of their bodies, it is a great companion and guide to those
taking the journey of recovery from trauma to wholeness.
Overcoming Trauma through Yoga is a gift for those taking the
hero's journey of recovery and vibrancy."
--From the foreword by Peter A. Levine, PhD, author of the
best-selling Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma
"This book sets out to facilitate the creation of healing
environments. Clinicians will learn basic yoga skills that can be
implemented within individual therapy sessions. Yoga teachers
will find thoughtful advice on how to make assists that won't
trigger internal defenses. And trauma survivors will receive
edict-free encouragement for using yoga as a tool for
self-discovery. Thoughtful and thorough, Overcoming Trauma
through Yoga brings a spirit of optimism to the process of
healing past wounds and recling body and mind."
--Rolf Sovik, PsyD, Yoga International Magazine
"Trauma-related conditions are complex disorders involving
dysregulation of the mind, body, and the mind/body interface.
Although yoga is a mind/body practice known to have significant
therapeutic benefits, yoga for y individuals is not the
same as yoga therapy for patients, which must take patient
limitations into account. The trauma-sensitive yoga developed by
the authors through practical and clinical experience, and
described carefully, practically, and systematically in this
book, incorporates the best that yoga has to offer with what will
benefit trauma patients safely and comfortably."
--Sat Bir Khalsa, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at
Harvard Medical School, Director of Research for the Kundalini
Research Institute
"At last, an engaging, accessible, theoretically grounded guide
for the safe and effective use of yoga to heal from trauma! With
a rich understanding of both the practice of yoga and the legacy
of trauma, the authors skillfully weave together theory,
research, mindfulness, case vignettes, yoga instruction, and more
into a clear and compelling argument for recling the body
through their trauma-sensitive modified yoga. Innovative and
practical, this book is an indispensable resource for traumatized
individuals, yoga teachers, clinicians, and anyone else who is
looking to rediscover the natural intelligence of the body."
--Pat Ogden, PhD, founder of the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
Institute and author of Trauma and the Body: A Sensorimotor
Approach to Psychotherapy
"There is a real need to extend yoga to those affected by
traumatic experience and this book is a guide toward that action
serving yoga practitioners, yoga teachers, and clinicians who are
interested in working somatically. This guide fills the gap in
the yoga student's training with a solid knowledge base of trauma
and offers ideas about creating a trauma-sensitive yoga class.
Furthermore, clinicians can give in into working with the
body in the therapy session.... The yoga skills presented here
are designed to center, to ground, to increase mindful awareness,
to encourage curiosity about experiencing the present, to help
regain the sense of empowerment, enhance affect-regulation, and
to befriend the body, all in a trauma-informed way. From a yoga
perspective, this guide presents how to work with an individual
suffering from symptoms associated with traumatic experience as a
fine balance between knowledge and sensitivity."
--Somatic Psychotherapy Today
"If you have suffered trauma or are a yoga teacher looking for
ways to expand your class offerings, Overcoming Trauma through
Yoga stands alone in providing a complete program developed by
clinical experience especially designed to address the needs of
trauma survivors.... [The book] offers survivors a mindful
approach to healing through calm, step-by-step yoga tailored to
their specific requirements in order to engage and awaken the
wisdom of their own bodies.... a superb book.... This gem
deserves a place on the bookshelf."
--Yoga Flavored Life
"Authors Emerson and Hopper demonstrate how to deliberately and
systematically intervene in the body's alarm systems, and the
yoga-based approaches they present in Overcoming Trauma through
Yoga use a series of postures and breathing techniques to rebuild
a sense of connection to the self.... Overcoming Trauma through
Yoga is highly recommended for trauma clients, therapists, and
yoga teachers who want to work together toward complete
recovery."
--New York Journal of Books
"In his book Overcoming Trauma through Yoga, coauthor David
Emerson (with Elizabeth Hopper, PhD) discusses the importance of
treating not only patients' minds, but also their bodies, where
memories of traumatic events are stored. They write, 'While
talk-based therapy serves a critical role in the healing process,
many are finding that it is insufficient by itself.' Yoga and
other forms of therapeutic physical activity may be the missing
link."
--Whole Life Times
"Though the reason for buying this book will vary greatly, I
think the message is the same for everyone.... I expected some
'tips and tricks, ' but instead I got a great discussion on
understanding my body and that my healing must come from within
myself as well as physically. I am not a yogi; I have watched a
few videos and stumbled around my living room, but this book was
a great read even for a beginner like me. It was easy to follow
the instruction and simple exercises. I am certain that this book
has been a great addition to my recovery."
--Alexandria Vail, Chicklit Club
"Very useful book... The essential wisdom imparted here is that
a simple hatha yoga practice can support the of trauma
by a) reintroducing the PTSD client to having and making
meaningful choices when it seems like all choices have been taken
away; b) cultivating a sense of living in the present in a way
that feels safe; c) taking effective physical action, in direct
sition to what happens in a trauma situation where great
effort is made, and often unsuccessfully, toward simply getting
away from the threat; and d) establishing personal and
interpersonal rhythms when the client may feel out-of-step with
his or her own biorhythms, emotions, other people, etc.... I
liked the straightforward tone, and the material is streamlined
enough that you can pretty much absorb the whole thing in one or
two sittings, and start applying it immediately."
--PCarino, Intellectual House o' Pancakes
"Overcoming Trauma through Yoga tells how trauma survivors can
use yoga to reconnect to one's body and introduces the concept of
trauma-sensitive yoga, a modified yoga program developed at the
Trauma Center at Justice Resource Institute. It focuses on
reinforcing positive relationships between body and mind through
breathing and gentle yoga exercises, and provides an in-depth
description of post-traumatic stress disorder. Yoga teachers and
therapists alike will find this a fine, specific guide to
integrating yoga-based interventions into therapy."
--Midwest Book Review
"The authors, David Emerson and Elizabeth Hopper, PhD, have done
an excellent job connecting the dots for readers.... Overcoming
Trauma through Yoga eloquently describes and clearly illustrates
how trauma-sensitive yoga has been and continues to be an
effective tool for trauma survivors, healing them from the inside
out. Generally, I would encourage anyone who experiences stress
or disconnect from their bodies to give this book a chance."
--Angela Andiorio, Space & Time
"For yoga teachers, [Overcoming Trauma through Yoga] is
invaluable for showing that all students are not the same, and
that adapting your class just takes compassion, special care and
knowledge, which this book provides. Clinicians will benefit by
learning that yoga unlocks traumatized bodies.... Although trauma
survivors may have moments of discomfort and strong emotions may
surface as they read, Overcoming Trauma through Yoga offers
something critical to their healing: hope."
--Dawn Hamilton, Life Force Yoga Healing Institute
"The information in this book can help anyone engaged in the
practice of yoga and the process of healing the effects of
traumatic experiences.... Reading this book helped me understand
intellectually what I knew experientially. Namely, that the
greatest benefit practitioners of yoga receive is the positive
shift in outlook. In the context of trauma, this becomes
empowerment."
--Temani Aldine, LifeParticle.com
About the Author
----------------
David Emerson is the director of yoga services at the
Trauma Center (traumacenter.org). In 2003 he codesigned the
Trauma Center Yoga Program that includes classes and teacher
training programs. He lives in Cambridge, MA. Elizabeth Hopper,
PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in
traumatic stress and works as the associate director of training
at the Trauma Center. She lives in Somerville, MA.