Trauma-informed yoga for positive mental health: A qualitative study.
Journal of bodywork and movement therapies September 1, 2025 Tracey Mulvihill, Sandra Grace, Joanne Bradbury et al.
Adults who completed a 10-week online Trauma-Informed Yoga program reported increased positive mental health and self-empowerment. Fifteen participants aged 27 to 65 kept weekly diaries and seven took part in interviews. Thematic analysis identified gains in slowing down, self-awareness, finding meaning, choosing one's best self, living truthfully, and establishing mutuality. Skills appeared to transfer to other life areas. A conceptual model of empowerment in trauma-informed yoga is proposed, linking slowing down to self-awareness, meaning-making, and intentional living. Further research is needed to confirm these findings in other groups.