Why Trauma Healing Doesn’t Always Start With Talking

Trauma doesn’t just live in our thoughts—it lives in our bodies. Long after an adverse experience has passed, the nervous system can remain stuck in survival mode, shaping how we feel, think, and even how healthy we are. Research shows that individuals who experience adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are significantly more likely to develop serious health conditions such as heart disease and cancer. So, with roughly 70% of people experiencing a traumatic event in their lifetime, the real question isn’t whether trauma affects us, but rather how can we learn to heal in ways that feel safe, accessible, and sustainable?

Therapy and medication are among the most recognized and effective ways to manage trauma-related stress. In recent years, research has also given rise to specialized trauma-focused approaches such as EMDR (learn more about that here), Trauma-Focused CBT, and Narrative Therapy among others. Each of these modalities offers powerful tools for processing painful experiences.

But as Bessel van der Kolk explains in The Body Keeps the Score (a must-read for anyone interested in learning more about trauma), there is another highly effective approach that is often overlooked. Best of all, it doesn’t require talking at all.

Why Yoga?

Yes, you read that right, Yoga. When we experience trauma, particularly prolonged and intense trauma, our body learns that it is unsafe to feel, and we essentially become numb almost constantly. Our body is “frozen” and struggles to feel safe in feeling any emotions, even positive ones. The reason that Yoga is effective is it allows us to safely tolerate different sensations in our body, while having a clear start and end. In slowly learning to tolerate the discomfort we may feel while holding a particular pose, we can slowly build our tolerance, while repeatedly receiving biofeedback that we are safe. 

Because trauma, and the painful memories associated with it are often stored in the body, Yoga functions as a holistic “inside out” approach to helping clients begin to reclaim ownership of their bodies. In doing so, they begin to feel safe in their body, something that trauma and toxic stress often take away from them. 

Even if you are someone who has not experienced significant trauma, Yoga can benefit you too! We can all stand to expand our capacity for tolerating discomfort, and Yoga offers us a chance to do so in a safe manner. Not to mention, it feels great, and is a great way to improve strength, flexibility, posture, and balance. As I’ve learned through personal experience recently, Yoga classes can be a great “third place” and offer us a community in which we can develop relationships with like minded individuals. 

Healing from trauma doesn’t always begin with telling your story—it can also begin with learning how to feel again. Yoga offers a quiet but powerful invitation to reconnect with the body, rebuild trust in sensation, and gently remind the nervous system that the present moment is safe. Whether you are working through deep trauma or simply looking to expand your capacity for discomfort and stress, yoga can be a meaningful part of that journey. Sometimes, the most profound healing happens not through words, but through movement, breath, and the simple act of coming back home to your body.

Thanks for reading! Please contact us below for more.

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maxsturm@ascendtherapyllc.com

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/max-sturm-howell-mi/1150307

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