Why do I teach a “trauma informed” approach to fitness?

In my experience, trauma made me feel like nobody or like I’d become somebody else.  In order to overcome trauma, I had to get back in touch with my body.  

While dealing with my own challenges, I made a conscious decision to include my body in my mental and emotional recovery. Exercise became therapeutic. Exercise became an expression of acceptance and of vulnerability.  Exercise became a method of self-exploration. Exercise became my way of processing so many complex feelings and discovering my own strength -- strength I didn't know was there. 

I figured I was not alone in finding exercise to be so beneficial.  I stumbled upon the trauma informed fitness movement.  The movement doesn’t seek to cure trauma, but invites people to work out in targeted ways that build strength, stamina and focus in an environment that is inviting and sensitive to triggers. During trauma informed fitness classes, there will be physical challenges, but you will always have choices.  We will not use negative language or employ shame.  We won’t ask each other “what’s wrong with you?” but will ask “how can I support you?” when we come together. We will be safe. We will bring our authentic self to our space, and let music and movement guide us.  Sometimes it will guide us to sweat, sometimes it will guide us to cry, and sometimes it will guide us to fatigue.  But in the end, the goal is to guide ourselves to a place where we can let joy in. 

I now believe that by getting in touch with our bodies, we will regain a sense of who we are, our priorities, our needs and our values.  The goal is not a specific weight, look or measurements.  The goal is to reestablish trust in our body as a source of strength or pleasure as opposed to fear or pain.

In sum, the type of fitness I want to teach is rooted in viscerally connecting with ourselves.  Using a trauma informed approach to fitness, we can work together to resurrect what was lost and find beauty in building strength. Together, we will not just work out -- we will pick up weights and put them down, we will open our hearts and minds, we will break down barriers and break through obstacles, we will meet and exceed limits, and, we will get to know and celebrate ourselves like we never have before.