057. Trauma & Yoga with Nityda Gessel

Content warning: disordered eating, sexual trauma
Nityda Gessel (she/her), LCSW, E-RYT, is a mother, licensed somatic psychotherapist, trauma specialist, yoga educator, speaker, author, and heart-centered activist, residing on the unceded land of the Chesepian people, commonly known as Virginia Beach, VA. Nityda has devoted her life to uplifting others, working at the intersection of Eastern spirituality, holistic mental health, and embodied activism. She is the founder of the Trauma-Conscious Yoga Institute, creator of The Trauma-Conscious Yoga Method®, and author of forthcoming Norton book on trauma healing and embodied spirituality.
In this episode, Jivana and Nityda discuss:

Her background as a ballet dancer
Trauma from being in the dance world
How she experienced sexual trauma and started yoga to heal
How she integrates yoga as a therapist
What she teaches yoga teachers about trauma and their scope of practice
People pleasing
Yoga as a pathway to liberation
Abuse in yoga, and we often are taught to teach in an authoritative way
Benefits of trauma conscious yoga
Yoga as a spiritual practice - but we lose connection. Trauma healing is also about remembering our truth
Systemic trauma intersecting with acute trauma
Neuro-biological trauma healing through yoga
How do we teach in a trauma conscious way
Doing your own work first
Not being performative. What do the people in front of you need right now? 

Connect with Nityda on her website and on Instagram @trauma_conscious_yoga_method
Accessible Yoga School’s Trauma & Yoga Series