Teach Trauma-Informed Yoga

from a socially conscious lens

  • Discover the prevalence of trauma and ways to identify it

  • Integrate in depth somatic interventions into your classes

  • Learn best practices to create safe spaces for students

  • Quizzes and self-care activities throughout to support your growth

Who Should Take This Course?

  • Teachers From All Schools of Yoga

    Who want to integrate trauma-informed principles and best practices into their classes.

  • Yoga Studios

    Looking to create safer spaces for their students who have experienced trauma.

  • Recent 200Hr & 300Hr Graduates

    Who want to create truly welcoming spaces for students who have experienced trauma.

Watch Intro Video

Meet Your Instructor

Emma Stern, Somatic Counselor & E-RYT

Student Testimonials

“Throughout her learning process Emma is able to create a space that feels safe to learn and grow. She masterfully weaves together practical, accessible teaching practices with her deep knowledge in somatics, trauma, identity, and the power yoga holds in our world.”

Alex R.

“Emma diligently addressed issues that could arise in terms of power dynamics and interpersonal relationships, and shared through personal experience the best ways to navigate any type of hiccup in your own journey, and how to come out a stronger, better teacher.”

Catrina M.

“Emma is truly supportive and passionate about her students. She is able to communicate with everyBODY in a way that is empowering and uplifting - both emotionally and physically.”

Maggie F.

“I'm a male in a female-dominated industry. I had a lot of anxiety about whether my teaching would even be welcome or wanted by anyone. Through Emma's strong example of holding space for all humans, and her teaching of core ethics, she helped me find a voice that felt authentic and safe to me.”

Nate G.

Recent Course Reviews!

5 star rating

I now know best practices to support my students

Natalie Somers

I thought the course context was very well put together and addressed extremely important topics. I feel equipped with best practices to better support my students through a trauma informed lens. Alongside being a yoga teacher, I’m an embodime...

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I thought the course context was very well put together and addressed extremely important topics. I feel equipped with best practices to better support my students through a trauma informed lens. Alongside being a yoga teacher, I’m an embodiment coach for women who are doing work to release self sabotaging beliefs and behaviors that hinder their growth so they can show up with more genuine joy, connection and purpose in their life and much of the work we do together is acknowledging and identifying the physical sensations that accompany limiting beliefs. This training in particular felt like such a beautiful way to bring more clarity and understanding to my offerings. I am so grateful!

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5 star rating

Great online training!

Marsha Rosenblatt

I really appreciated how Emma compared in specific ways with specific examples how a trauma-informed approach differs from what many of us learned in our 200 hour programs. I appreciated her clear explanations as to why common cues and perspective...

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I really appreciated how Emma compared in specific ways with specific examples how a trauma-informed approach differs from what many of us learned in our 200 hour programs. I appreciated her clear explanations as to why common cues and perspectives we learn as teachers can be really harmful, and why the trauma-informed alternatives she was offering were more appropriate. As a teacher who generally teaches either slow flow or restorative, I also appreciated Emma's emphasis on the need many students have to release more excess energy to complete their trauma response. It's something I tend to overlook because of how I teach, but with what she shared, I feel more confident in how to potentially modify or offer suggestions to students who need a higher-energy moment (or moments) to feel safer, while still keeping it in line with my style of slower movement. Overall, I recommend this course for any yoga instructor along any part of their journey.

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Course Curriculum

  • 1

    Course Introduction

    • Meet Your Instructor

    • Course Pre-Evaluation

    • Course Guide/Resource

    • Course Disclaimer

    • Building Community, Course Tools, and Self-Care

    • Preparing to Take this Course

    • Introduction Journal Prompts/Group Discussion

    • Your Personal Commitment to this Work
  • 2

    Chapter 1: Trauma Informed Care and the Socially Conscious Lens

    • What is Trauma-Informed Care?

    • Trauma Informed Yoga and Cultural Appropriation

    • Power, Positionality, and Positional Power

    • ACTIVITY: Your Identity and How You See Yourself

    • DEMO: Identity Activity

    • Racism and Trauma

    • Networking with People Outside of Your Community

    • Chapter 1 Quiz

    • Movement Break for Self-Care

    • Chapter 1 Journal Prompts/Group Discussion
  • 3

    Chapter 2: Introduction to Trauma

  • 4

    Chapter 3: The Embodied Experience of Trauma

    • Embodied Processes and Definitions

    • Parts of the Human Brain

    • Autonomic Nervous System & The Experience of Trauma

    • Window of Tolerance

    • What Trauma Might Look Like in Yoga Students

    • CUEING DEMO: How to Build Capacity & Window of Tolerance in Your Cueing

    • Chapter 3 Quiz

    • Chapter 3 Journal Prompts/Group Discussion
  • 5

    Chapter 4: Cueing, Language Choice, and Offering Student Feedback

    • Section Overview

    • Language Best Practices

    • Suggestions for Language Use in Your Classes

    • Triggering Language: Racist and Binary Language

    • How to Create More Inclusive Yoga Spaces/Classes

    • Minimizing Language

    • Didactic Instruction and Normalization the Student Experience

    • Music and Student Feedback

    • ACTIVITY: Teaching Integration

    • Chapter 4 Quiz

    • Chapter 4 Journal Prompt
  • 6

    Chapter 5: Integrating Somatic Inquiry into Your Teaching

    • Section Overview

    • Applying Somatic Principles to Your Teaching

    • DEMO: How to Use Somatic Concepts in a Vinyasa Class

    • Chapter 5 Quiz

    • Chapter 5 Journal Prompt

    • Your Personal Commitment to this Work
  • 7

    Chapter 6: Scope of Practice, Scope of Competence, and Transparency

    • Scope of Practice/Competence

    • Marketing Your Classes/Ableism

    • How to Market Your Classes Authentically

    • Spiritual Bypassing/Toxic Positivity

    • Chapter 6 Quiz

    • Chapter 6 Journal Prompt
  • 8

    Chapter 7: Teaching Best Practices

    • Consent and Touch

    • Touch and Consent

    • Names & Compliments

    • Consistency and Attire

    • Chapter 7 Quiz

    • ACTIVITY: Incorporating Best Practices into Your Teaching Style

    • Chapter 7 Journal Prompts/Group Discussion
  • 9

    Chapter 8: Trauma-Informed Teaching Online

    • Best Practices for Student Safety Online

    • Chapter 8 Journal Prompt
  • 10

    Chapter 9: Managing Challenges

    • Handling Triggering Classroom Dynamics

    • Course Conclusion

    • Chapter 9 Quiz

    • Chapter 9 Journal Prompt
  • 11

    Course Wrap Up

    • Rate this Course

    • Receiving your hours and certificate

    • Mentorship, Trainings, and Further Study with Emma

Training FAQs

  • Is this training approved by Yoga Alliance?

    Yes! Emma Stern is a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP). By completing this training, you will receive 20 non-contact hours under the Teaching Methodology categories.

  • Will I be a trauma-informed expert once I finish this training?

    Completing this training will give teachers a well-rounded understanding of what trauma is and how to incorporate this understanding into yoga classes of all styles. This training is not a substitute for an advanced degree in psychology, neuroscience, or social work. The scope of practice and scope of competence of a trauma-informed yoga teacher will be discussed in detail in this training.

  • What makes this training different from other trauma-informed trainings?

    This training encourages teachers to teach trauma-informed yoga from a socially conscious lens, in addition to discussing how identity, power, and positionality play a necessary role in working with trauma. This training gives teachers tools to bring trauma-informed care into public settings, as well as discusses common teaching scenarios all teachers can expect to experience.

  • What does it mean to be a trauma-informed yoga teacher?

    Being a trauma-informed yoga teacher means you have an education shaped around an understanding of trauma and how to navigate in relation with someone who may be experiencing the physical, mental, and emotional experience of trauma.