Trauma Informed Practices
What does it mean to be Trauma Informed?
Trauma informed practices are not to be seen as a checklist of things you can do and mark off your list, but rather a mindset, a way of understanding and interacting with young children. Understanding how trauma and stress can affect the brain, what behaviors we might see in children who have experienced trauma, and ways we can support them are all extremely important. (More on this soon!) For now, here are some guidelines I have learned and put into practice. If you teach kids yoga, adult yoga, or use yoga and mindfulness in your classroom, this is a good place to start.
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Offer Choices
We do not want to force children to do yoga, mindfulness or breathing techniques. Instead, invite them to join and keep it light, fun and playful so they can make the choice to join. If not, that is okay. Have them sit out and watch, color, read a book, or another activity. When leading them through different poses, use inviting language so it doesn’t sound like it is something they have to do. You can also offer choices, such as, “Close your eyes or look down at the ground in front of you”. This allows them to make the choice the feels right for them. These activities are essentially to support them, to get them into their bodies and to empower them to make decisions that feel right for them. The classes should be warm, inviting, and open to self-exploration.
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Be Aware of Vulnerable Poses
Unfortunately, we do not know which poses could feel vulnerable to some children, and that is why it is so important to offer choices. Encourage children to notice how a pose feels in their body. If it doesn’t feel good, they do not need to do it and offer another choice instead. When planning a kids yoga class, if you know the group you will be working with ahead of time, you will be able to plan more intentionally. Some poses that might make some children feel vulnerable could be child’s pose, table top, or happy baby. When planning, always have a few different options just in case a child doesn’t feel comfortable doing a certain pose. If you think the students you will be working with might not react well to some poses, don't do them and choose other poses, games, and mindfulness activities instead.
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Keep it Moving
Keep poses dynamic instead of static. It can feel uncomfortable for some children to stay in poses too long and they can get in their head which might trigger or upset them. Keep yoga poses quick, flowing, fun and engaging. Teach yoga flows that have a rhythm to them and bring them through mindfulness exercises quicker than you would adults. Have fun going through yoga poses, make it a game, and allow them to include their own creativity into it.
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Make connections
It is really important to relate to the group, which will help to build relationships and encourage them to try yoga poses they might not otherwise. You can say things like, “I have felt stiff in my neck this week, so these stretches will feel good to me” or “I didn’t get much sleep last night and feel really tired, this breath will wake me up and make me feel relaxed”. Depending on the group, you can also share what you feel comfortable with that might tell the students more about who you are and how yoga has helped you. It helps children to see that adults also go through struggles, that they aren't alone, and that they can trust what you are saying and encouraging them to do is safe.
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Don’t be Judgmental
It might be difficult if you are volunteering your time or have driven a long way or planned a really awesome lesson that they aren’t following, but it is not about you. Their behaviors are never expressed to intentionally hurt you or disrespect you. They actually might be able to tell you something about what they are feeling or going through. If a child is 'acting up', first think, "What is wrong? Why are they doing __?" Stress and trauma can be expressed in many different ways and when we are asking children to feel their emotions or to bring their awareness into their own body, it might bring up some big or uncomfortable emotions. Which leads to me to the last and final tip..
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Create a Safe Space
It is SO important for children who have experienced trauma, and really all children, to feel safe and welcomed in a yoga class. It can feel extremely vulnerable to move your body in strange ways in front of other people and begin to feel and notice things you may have previously suppressed or never paid attention to before. Ways to create a Safe Space include:
Offer Choices
We do not want to force children to do yoga, mindfulness or breathing techniques. Instead, invite them to join and keep it light, fun and playful so they can make the choice to join. If not, that is okay. Have them sit out and watch, color, read a book, or another activity. When leading them through different poses, use inviting language so it doesn’t sound like it is something they have to do. You can also offer choices, such as, “Close your eyes or look down at the ground in front of you”. This allows them to make the choice the feels right for them. These activities are essentially to support them, to get them into their bodies and to empower them to make decisions that feel right for them. The classes should be warm, inviting, and open to self-exploration.
︽
Be Aware of Vulnerable Poses
Unfortunately, we do not know which poses could feel vulnerable to some children, and that is why it is so important to offer choices. Encourage children to notice how a pose feels in their body. If it doesn’t feel good, they do not need to do it and offer another choice instead. When planning a kids yoga class, if you know the group you will be working with ahead of time, you will be able to plan more intentionally. Some poses that might make some children feel vulnerable could be child’s pose, table top, or happy baby. When planning, always have a few different options just in case a child doesn’t feel comfortable doing a certain pose. If you think the students you will be working with might not react well to some poses, don't do them and choose other poses, games, and mindfulness activities instead.
︽
Keep it Moving
Keep poses dynamic instead of static. It can feel uncomfortable for some children to stay in poses too long and they can get in their head which might trigger or upset them. Keep yoga poses quick, flowing, fun and engaging. Teach yoga flows that have a rhythm to them and bring them through mindfulness exercises quicker than you would adults. Have fun going through yoga poses, make it a game, and allow them to include their own creativity into it.
︽
Make connections
It is really important to relate to the group, which will help to build relationships and encourage them to try yoga poses they might not otherwise. You can say things like, “I have felt stiff in my neck this week, so these stretches will feel good to me” or “I didn’t get much sleep last night and feel really tired, this breath will wake me up and make me feel relaxed”. Depending on the group, you can also share what you feel comfortable with that might tell the students more about who you are and how yoga has helped you. It helps children to see that adults also go through struggles, that they aren't alone, and that they can trust what you are saying and encouraging them to do is safe.
︽
Don’t be Judgmental
It might be difficult if you are volunteering your time or have driven a long way or planned a really awesome lesson that they aren’t following, but it is not about you. Their behaviors are never expressed to intentionally hurt you or disrespect you. They actually might be able to tell you something about what they are feeling or going through. If a child is 'acting up', first think, "What is wrong? Why are they doing __?" Stress and trauma can be expressed in many different ways and when we are asking children to feel their emotions or to bring their awareness into their own body, it might bring up some big or uncomfortable emotions. Which leads to me to the last and final tip..
︽
Create a Safe Space
It is SO important for children who have experienced trauma, and really all children, to feel safe and welcomed in a yoga class. It can feel extremely vulnerable to move your body in strange ways in front of other people and begin to feel and notice things you may have previously suppressed or never paid attention to before. Ways to create a Safe Space include:
>Set expectations or agreements and hold everyone accountable
>Discuss what to do if they don’t want to join or need to sit out
>Show a visual schedule so they know what to expect
>Refer back to the schedule throughout the class
>Speak in a warm, calm voice
>Be light and playful
>Offer choices or opportunities to "pass"
>Be consistent with the schedule and expectations
>If you can, set up the class in a circle so everyone is seen
>Let them know you are there for them if they ever need you
>Use specific cues and modeling so you are not touching children
>Communicate if there will be any changes in the schedule or teacher