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October 28–November 2, 2012 Sunday–Friday 5 nights
Continuing Education Credits

Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Instruction: A Teacher's Certificate Training

Presenter(s)
David Emerson and Bessel van der Kolk
David Emerson

David Emerson, E-RYT, is coauthor of the book Overcoming Trauma through Yoga, an accomplished yoga instructor, and founder of the Black Lotus Yoga Project, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to teaching yoga to individuals with PTSD.…
Full Bio & Programs

Bessel van der Kolk

Bessel van der Kolk, MD, is a clinical psychiatrist whose work attempts to integrate mind, brain, body, and social connections to understand and treat trauma. His research ranges from the impact of trauma on development…
Full Bio & Programs

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Program Details

For certified yoga teachers.

Research done at the Justice Resource Institute’s Trauma Center is establishing empirically that yoga may be helpful for people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A groundbreaking study funded by the National Institute of Health, conducted from 2009–2011, showed that trauma-sensitive yoga reduced PTSD symptomology to a clinically significant degree.

The Trauma Center Yoga Program team has taught hundreds of classes to thousands of students from survivors of rape and childhood incest to Iraq War veterans. The team now offers a 40-hour certificate for yoga teachers in which you learn

  • The latest trauma theories and neurophysiology
  • Chair and mat postures for a wide range of physical abilities
  • How to modify existing yoga classes to make them trauma-sensitive
  • What you need to start a trauma-sensitive class.

David Emerson is joined by members of the Trauma Center Yoga Program team and welcomes Bessel van der Kolk for a special presentation at one of the program sessions.

Required reading and writing, as well as additional program information, can be found here.

CE Credits
This program is eligible for :
  • 30.5 credits for Yoga Alliance (YA), $20 additional charge
  • 30.5 credits for Social Workers (SW), $20 additional charge
  • 30.5 credits for Psychologists (PSY), $20 additional charge
  • 30.5 credits for Certified Counselors (NBCC), $20 additional charge
  • 30.5 credits for Athletic Trainers (BOC), $20 additional charge