In this blog article, you’ll learn about why practicing yoga after sexual assault can be a great way to heal and feel better. It includes six poses that are specifically designed for recovery.
Where Does Yoga Practice Start?
Where does yoga practice start for survivors of sexual assault? For many people, the answer is simply: with themselves. Yoga can be an incredibly self-care tool for survivors of sexual assault, both physically and emotionally. It’s important to find a sequence that feels comfortable for you and that meets your individual needs. Here are some tips for starting your own yoga practice:
-Start by finding a comfortable place to sit or lie down in a room with low light. This will help to reduce stress and encourage relaxation.
-Create a safe space in which to practice by removing any objects that could be used as weapons or hurt you in any way. If you’re uncomfortable practicing in public, consider finding a private yoga studio or instructor.
-Begin with a few simple poses that focus on your breath and relaxation. Be patient with yourself; it may take some time to get used to the exercises. As you continue practicing, add more challenging poses until you reach the level of difficulty that’s right for you.
-Remember to always take breaks throughout your practice and sip water or other fluids if you feel thirsty or hot.
Yoga Sequences Yoga Practice For Survivors Of Sexual Assault Photo Gallery
How Can Yoga Be Used As A Therapy?
As a form of self-care and healing, yoga has been shown to be beneficial for survivors of sexual assault. The practice can help to improve physical and mental wellbeing, reduce stress levels, and provide emotional support. Furthermore, yoga sequences can be tailored specifically to meet the needs of survivors.
If you are interested in incorporating yoga into your healing process, here are five yoga sequences that can be helpful.
Preliminary Sequence: This sequence is designed to prepare the body for deeper work. It includes exercises that stretch the ligaments and muscles throughout the body, as well as breathing exercises that promote relaxation.
This sequence is designed to prepare the body for deeper work. It includes exercises that stretch the ligaments and muscles throughout the body, as well as breathing exercises that promote relaxation. Basic Sequence: This sequence is a foundation for all other types of yoga. It focuses on stretching the entire body and developing awareness of your breath.
This sequence is a foundation for all other types of yoga. It focuses on stretching the entire body and developing awareness of your breath. Power Practice: This sequence builds strength and stamina through poses that require balance and focus. Poses are dynamic and challenging, but ultimately rewarding.
Different Kinds Of Yoga Practice
One of the most common things that survivors of sexual assault do is self-care. This can include anything from spending time alone to doing yoga.
There are many different types of yoga, and there are also many different sequences you can do to help with self-care. If you’re looking for something relaxing, try a sequence that features twists and turns. If you’re more focused on stretching, try a sequence that focuses on the legs or the back.
Whatever type of yoga practice you choose, make sure to pay attention to your body and focus on how it feels. This will help you connect with your own healing process and find peace in your own mind and body.
How to Create a New Mind and Body Awareness Through yoga practice
If you are looking for a way to improve your mind and body awareness, then yoga may be the perfect practice for you. Yoga is a form of exercise that can help you develop concentration, flexibility, and balance. It can also help you relieve stress and improve your mood. In addition, yoga can help you learn how to relax your body and mind. This can be helpful if you have experienced sexual assault or other trauma. Here are some tips on how to create a new mind and body awareness through yoga practice:
1. Start by choosing a pose that is comfortable for you. You can try any pose that feels good to you. Just make sure that the pose is challenging enough to keep your attention but not so difficult that it becomes frustrating.
2. Make sure to focus on your breathing while in the pose. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. If you find that you are getting too tense, take a few deep breaths to calm yourself down before continuing with the pose.
3. When you finish the pose, exhale all of the air from your lungs and let all of the tension go from your body. This will help to relax your mind and body even further.
Techniques for self care through yoga practice
If you have been through sexual assault, or know someone who has, your yoga practice can provide you with tools for self-care. Sarah Platt, a yoga teacher and survivor of sexual assault herself, offers these sequences as a way to start your own self-care journey.
Practice regularly to cultivate a sense of wellbeing and peace. These sequences are designed to help you connect with your body and mind in a calm and peaceful way. When you connect with yourself on a physical level, it can help you to process the emotional trauma that you may experience.
1) Sequence 1: Warrior I pose
2) Sequence 2: Child’s pose
3) Sequence 3: Camel pose
4) Sequence 4: Triangle pose
5) Sequence 5: Chair pose
6) Sequence 6: Downward dog/warrior 2
7) Sequence 7: Cat/cow pose
8) Sequence 8: Half moon pose
9) Sequence 9: Child’s pose (modified version)
10) Final sequence: Savasana
Posture Guides and Challenges
Many survivors of sexual assault find it difficult to maintain a regular yoga practice. This is because they may feel self-conscious or scared of what others might think if they see them practicing. However, there are several posture guides and challenges that can be used to help survivors regain their practice and feel comfortable doing so.
One posture guide is the “Crow pose” which is a challenging pose that can help improve balance and flexibility. The pose can also help reduce stress and tension in the neck, shoulders, and spine. Another simple pose that can be helpful for survivors of sexual assault is the “Half Child” pose. This pose stretches both the neck and the lower back, making it a great way to relieve tension in these areas as well as increase flexibility.
There are also many challenges that can be used to help survivors regain their practice. One challenge is called “The Hero’s Journey” which helps participants learn how to confront fear head on. The challenge also includes poses that stretch the chest, neck, shoulders, and hips. Other challenges include “The Tree” which helps improve balance and stability, and “The Sun.
Flow Patterns and Breathing Exercises
Flow patterns are a great way to help you focus and stay connected during your yoga practice. By incorporating specific breathing exercises, you can help to calm and center yourself while you’re practicing.
The following yoga sequences are designed to improve your focus and concentration. Begin by focusing on your breath as you sit in the pose. Take a few deep breaths and then exhale slowly through your nose. Repeat the sequence for each pose.
1. Downward-Facing Dog: Place your hands on the ground beside your hips, legs bent at the knees, feet flat on the floor. Inhale and lift your torso up as you press down into the hands and heels, extending your legs out behind you. Exhale and let go of all tension as you slowly lower your body back to the ground.
2. Child’s Pose: Come to a tabletop position with both feet flat on the ground, torso upright, hands resting at your sides. Inhale and raise your head, chest and shoulders up towards the sky. Exhale and fold forward from the waist, dropping your forehead onto your palms with elbows close to your sides. Hold for 2–3 minutes before coming back to standing position.
3. Cat/Camel: Lie back on the floor, arms beside you with your hands together underneath your head. Inhale and bring your right knee up to rest on your left elbow; inhale as you arch your upper body up towards the ceiling while keeping the right leg straight, pressing it down into the ground. Exhale and let go of all tension as you slowly lower yourself back to the ground.
4. Downward-Facing Dog: Start in a tabletop position with both feet flat on the floor, knees bent, torso upright and flat on the ground. Inhale as you press down into your hands and heels, extending both legs out behind you so that they are parallel to each other at all times; exhale as you press your hips up towards the ceiling, bending both knees and spreading the toes of your feet apart.
5. Upward-Facing Dog: Begin in a tabletop position with both feet flat on the floor, knees bent, torso upright and flat on the ground. Inhale as you press down into your hands and heels, extending both legs out behind you so that they are parallel to each other at all times; exhale as you lift up into a tabletop position while pressing your hips up towards the ceiling, lifting your torso slightly higher than the mat.
6. Seated Forward Bend: Sit tall on your knees with your shins right next to each other but not touching one another; inhale as you press through the balls of your feet and open up your hips, softening the front portion of your body into a forward bend. Keep your shoulders relaxed and down away from your ears, feeling this stretch long through the lower back and sides of the body.
7. Side Angle Pose: Sit tall with both legs straight in front of you and slightly wider than hip-width apart; inhaled as you press through the balls of your feet to lengthen your spine towards your tailbone, exhale as you soften this forward bend into side angle pose.
8. Happy Baby: Lie flat on stomach on floor with arms stretched out above you; inhale as you bring one leg over the other knee so that it is straight out in front of you (the foot will be on the floor); exhale as you sit back into a forward bend, continuing to roll belly-forward until both knees are straight out from each side of your hips.
9. Lizard: Lie flat on stomach on floor; inhaled as you hinge at hips and lift your upper body up so that your chin is about 6 inches above the floor; exhale as you continue to pivot and roll onto your left side until your top leg reaches behind you and rests against the opposite hip (one foot remains on the floor), drawing both shoulder blades forward while tucking them towards each other. This pose only requires one leg, but since it requires shoulder rotation, it’s best to do this part lying down.
10. Cow Face: Lying down, place your bottom arm across your forehead, pressing it into the floor so that it’s perpendicular to the ground. The other arm is resting on the floor next to your head, palms down.
Table of Contents
Maybe You Like Them Too
- Mastering Virabhadrasana A: The Warrior Pose of Empowerment
- Embracing the Essence of Wide Legged Forward Bend: A Deep Dive
- Unlocking the Power of Prasarita Padottanasana: The Wide-Legged Forward Bend
- The Power and Elegance of the Wide Legged Forward Bend II Yoga Pose
- Mastering the Warrior II Pose: A Deep Dive into Its Benefits and Techniques