Yoga for Survivors
Yoga for Survivors is a free, trauma-informed, accessible-for-all yoga program designed specifically for those who have experienced the trauma of sexual violence. This program offers several options for survivors: individualized yoga therapy, yoga therapy small groups/support groups, and group yoga classes.
Yoga Therapy
Yoga Therapy is a trauma-sensitive, evidence-based healing modality that empowers the client in addressing the mind-body connection through guided breathwork, movement, education, and mindfulness. Using the practices and philosophies of yoga through a neuroscience-based therapeutic lens, each one-hour session offers clients a personalized holistic practice to navigate and work through traumas held in the body. Each client has the opportunity to co-create their practice with their yoga therapist in a way that allows them to resource their inner reserves and reconnect with themselves with care and compassion.
Your yoga therapist will take time to get to know you, your history, and your needs, so that you can get the best support possible from each session. Sessions will typically begin with a check-in and centering/grounding and then working with, on a somatic level (i.e. the felt sense in the body) a challenge or concern you’re presenting at that session. At the end of each session, you and your yoga therapist will work together to determine what practices you’d like to implement in your daily life.
From time-to-time, yoga therapy groups are offered to active SARA Roanoke clients who can benefit from peer support. Through these offerings, clients have the opportunity to work with each other, guided by the yoga therapist, to further develop their self-awareness as they navigate healing.
Yoga therapy is a free, confidential service provided by SARA Roanoke and requires a formal intake session, which can be scheduled by calling 540-345-7273.
Yoga for Survivors FAQ
Why do people seek Yoga Therapy?
Many people seek yoga therapy for a variety of reasons including:
- Understanding and managing trauma and its triggers
- Managing anxiety, depression, and stress
- Managing chronic pain, fatigue, and ongoing physical ailments
- Improve emotional, mental, and/or physical functioning
- Managing symptoms of mental health/mood disorders
Do I need prior experience with yoga?
No prior experience with yoga or meditation is required! This is a very beginner-friendly modality that is truly available to anyone regardless of ability, identity, or experience.
What's the difference between yoga therapy and yoga classes?
While yoga therapy (both individual and group) and yoga classes are all rooted in yoga, a yoga therapy session focuses on the specific needs of the individual client. Our yoga therapist will work collaboratively with the client to determine their goals and intentions and to identify the appropriate methods to help them meet those goals. Yoga therapy groups often include a specific theme for a specific population (e.g. yoga therapy support for survivors with complex PTSD) and include discussion and sharing by all participants in the group. Additionally, a yoga therapist is a highly trained yoga practitioner with more than 1,000 hours of training and mentoring and is certified by the International Association of Yoga Therapists.
Yoga classes typically offer an opportunity for students to learn a variety of practices, including asana (poses), pranayama (breath control), and meditation, to support their self-care routines and help them in developing Self-awareness. Classes are guided by a trained yoga instructor ideally certified by the Yoga Alliance with at least 200 hours of yoga teacher training.
What should I wear?
Both yoga therapy clients and yoga class students are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing that is easy to move in. For classes, students may want to have a blanket, shawl, sweater, and/or socks nearby to keep the body comfortable and warm throughout the practice. Just rememember – if choosing to wear socks during asana (movement) practice, be careful about slipping!
What do I need?
For in-person yoga classes and yoga therapy, SARA Roanoke provides a variety of yoga mats & props. For online classes, students may want to have a few props available as well as a mat; however, none of these are required: students may use a yoga mat, a chair (without arms if possible), a clean/empty wall, yoga blocks (or full rolls of toilet paper/paper towels), a yoga strap (or scarf, belt, neck tie), 1-2 blankets, bolster/cushion (or couch cushions/throw pillows), yoga sandbag (or Ziploc bag filled with dry beans, sugar, rice, or flour), and an eye pillow (or a wash cloth/hand towel). Props are useful in making our practice more creative, fun, supportive, and interesting so use whatever you have on hand!
Who is the yoga therapist/teacher?
Laura Guilliams (she/her), MA, E-RYT, C-IAYT has served SARA Roanoke since October 2016 as both Director of Crisis Services (until April 2023) and now as Director of Support Services, providing counseling, advocacy, and yoga therapy for survivors. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication at Radford University, a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership at University of Central Florida, a 500-hour Yoga Teacher Certification from the Breathing Space in Blacksburg, VA, and an 800-hour Yoga Therapy Certification from the Institute for Living Yoga in Portland, Oregon. She is registered with Yoga Alliance, is a Certified Accessible Yoga Teacher, and is a Certified Yoga Therapist with the International Association of Yoga Therapists. Through her yoga therapy practice and yoga classes, Laura seeks to provide students and clients with a safe, compassionate, and inclusive space to navigate their own healing through the teachings and practices of yoga as well as neuroscience-based therapeutic approaches.