Background

Trauma is highly prevalent among vulnerable populations, including those who are incarcerated, in treatment for substance use, or seeking mental health services. Trauma-informed yoga seeks to create a safer yoga practice for individuals with a trauma history and may improve emotional and physical wellbeing. Thus, we conducted an evaluation of a trauma-informed yoga program to gain insight into participant experiences.

Methods

Trauma-informed yoga classes were led by trained volunteers and held in three sectors that work with vulnerable populations: corrections and reentry, substance use treatment and recovery, and community and mental health. Data were collected via anonymous survey using a retrospective pre-post design. The survey instrument captured reasons for student participation and perceived effects of yoga on emotional and physical wellbeing.

Results

Students were motivated to participate in yoga classes by expectations of physical, mental, and spiritual benefit. Students reported perceived improvements in emotional and physical wellbeing and greater use of self-regulation skills after starting yoga.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest trauma-informed yoga is perceived as beneficial by vulnerable individuals, especially those in the correctional system or recovering from substance use. Our results support the value of offering trauma-informed yoga in institutionalized and community settings. Improvements in emotional and physical wellbeing warrant formal study.

中文翻译：

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针对弱势群体的创伤知情瑜伽项目评估

背景

创伤在弱势群体中非常普遍，包括那些被监禁、接受药物治疗或寻求心理健康服务的人。创伤相关的瑜伽旨在为有创伤史的人创造一种更安全的瑜伽练习，并可能改善情绪和身体健康。因此，我们对创伤相关的瑜伽项目进行了评估，以深入了解参与者的体验。

方法

创伤相关的瑜伽课程由训练有素的志愿者领导，在与弱势群体一起工作的三个部门举办：矫正和重返、药物使用治疗和康复，以及社区和心理健康。数据是通过使用回顾性事前设计的匿名调查收集的。该调查工具记录了学生参与的原因以及瑜伽对情绪和身体健康的感知影响。

结果

通过对身体、心理和精神上的益处的期望，学生们被激励去参加瑜伽课。学生们报告说，在开始瑜伽后，他们的情绪和身体健康状况有所改善，并且更多地使用了自我调节技能。

结论

我们的研究结果表明，创伤知情瑜伽被弱势个体认为是有益的，尤其是那些在惩教系统中或从物质使用中恢复的人。我们的结果支持在制度化和社区环境中提供创伤知情瑜伽的价值。情绪和身体健康的改善值得正式研究。