Traumatic events happen to everyone and can range from a distressing childhood to singular, painful disruptive events (i.e. difficult child delivery, loss of a loved one, divorce, etc.). Such common events can result in isolation and feelings of helplessness. Traumatic stressors can results in chronic pain, disordered eating, addiction, insomnia, anxiety and depression. Trauma survivors often come to the practice of yoga upon the recommendation of their health care providers in order to cultivate, “the simple body awareness that makes it possible to gauge, slow down, and halt traumatic hyperarousal, and to separate past from present.” Trauma-informed yoga can help by introducing better coping skills, and helping to connect to the present moment. In this interactive lecture participants will learn more about how yoga can be used to empower trauma survivors to live connected and embodied lives.

Our guest speaker Nicole Marcia MA, ERYT-500 has been a yoga teacher, therapist and trainer since 2004. In 2009, she was awarded a master’s degree with a specialization in yoga therapy from Lesley University in Boston, MA. Since then, she has been employed at the Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addictions, where she developed a comprehensive yoga therapy program for in-patient clients in various stages of recovery from mental health and addiction issues. Nicole is the director of training at Yoga Outreach, a not-for-profit organization providing volunteer yoga teachers to marginalized populations, and a faculty member at Ajna Yoga and Langara College Continuing Studies.

This workshop is free, but space is limited. To register please call 604-436-5400 or register online.