Trauma-Focused Yoga

07/30/2026

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to write an article for the annual Health & Wellness Magazine. It's finally out, and I'm excited to share it.

In it, I explore why so many of us can feel exhausted but still struggle to truly rest, and how understanding the nervous system has shaped both my personal life and the development of Trauma-Focused Yoga℠.

I hope it encourages you to look at your body with a little more curiosity and a little less frustration.
Read it here, or better yet, pick up a copy of the magazine at the Herald-Banner.
🔗 https://joom.ag/vzUd/p18
Jewel Bethel West
Herald-Banner

Living a Physical, Mental, Social & Spiritual Life • Health and Wellness Guide is a publication of The Daily Iberian in LA.

06/22/2026

One thing I value in Trauma-Focused Yoga is paying attention to outcomes.

Not because everything that matters can be measured, but because when people invest their time, energy, and trust in a practice, we should understand how it’s supporting them.

The real question is: what are we looking for?

Sometimes progress appears as fewer symptoms.

Other times, it shows up in quieter ways. A participant notices tension in their body. They become more aware of their breath. They choose a different posture, decline an invitation, or realize that rest is exactly what they need that day.

Those are outcomes too.

06/12/2026

Follow on TikTok. 🙌🏻

35 Followers, 0 Following, 60 Likes - Watch awesome short videos created by Trauma-Focused Yoga

06/01/2026

I’m not leading this class, but I know who is 😊 and it will be great. Join me there.

Join us June 13th from 10–11AM for Mats & Mimosas — an all-levels yoga session led by Liz Jones inside the beautiful Duncan Pavilion, followed by a well-earned mimosa to sip and savor afterward.

Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or just looking for a fun excuse to reconnect with yourself (and maybe your friends too), this morning is all about moving gently, breathing deeply, and easing into the weekend feeling refreshed.

June 13th | 10–11AM
Duncan Pavilion
All levels welcome
Mimosa included

Bring your mat.
Bring a friend.
Leave feeling lighter than when you arrived.

06/01/2026

Sparkles N Sass Designs Thanks for the beautiful swag! 💗💗💗🔥🔥🔥

05/28/2026

The final breathing practice in our series is Nadi Shodhana, commonly known as Alternate Nostril Breathing.

This classical pranayama practice has been used for centuries to support balance, steadiness, and concentration through alternating the flow of breath between the nostrils.

A simple way to practice it:
• Rest your fingers lightly at your nose
• Close one nostril and inhale through the other
• Switch sides and exhale
• Inhale through the same side, switch again, and continue alternating slowly

Traditionally, Nadi Shodhana is believed to help balance opposing energies within the body. From a modern perspective, many people experience it as calming, centering, and regulating.

The alternating rhythm requires focus and attention, which can gently interrupt mental spiraling and bring awareness back into the present moment.

05/27/2026

The next breathing practice in our series is Bhramari, often called Humming Breath or Bee Breath.

This classical pranayama practice combines slow breathing with a gentle humming sound on the exhale. Traditionally, the practice also includes covering the ears and closed eyes to reduce external stimulation and deepen internal awareness. The vibration created by the hum can be calming, grounding, and deeply regulating for many people.

A simple way to practice:
• Inhale gently through the nose
• Lightly cover the ears and softly cover the eyes with your fingers
• Exhale slowly with an elongated soft humming sound

The vibration of humming may help stimulate the vagus nerve and support parasympathetic nervous system activity, which is associated with slowing down, settling, and regulation.

For some people, the sound and vibration also increase interoceptive awareness by creating something tangible to feel within the body.

05/27/2026

Excited to be bringing Trauma-Focused Yoga to the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence Summit next week through both a keynote presentation and breakout session.

I’ll be speaking on nervous system regulation, embodiment, and bottom-up therapeutic approaches, along with the personal experiences and professional insights that shaped the development of TFY.

As more survivor-centered organizations begin exploring the role of physiology, regulation, and the body in trauma recovery, these conversations continue to expand in important ways across advocacy, clinical, and multidisciplinary settings.

Looking forward to connecting with professionals who are continuing to push this work forward with thoughtfulness, compassion, and innovation.

05/25/2026

The next breathing practice in our series is Anchor Breath.

Unlike some traditional pranayama practices, Anchor Breath is a modern, accessible regulation tool often used in trauma-informed and clinical spaces to help bring attention back to the present moment.

The idea is simple: choosing one steady point within the breath to return to again and again.

That anchor might be:
• the feeling of air moving through the nose
• the rise and fall of the chest
• the expansion of the ribs
• the feeling of the exhale leaving the body

In moments of stress or overwhelm, attention often gets pulled into thoughts, scanning, or reactivity. Anchor Breath offers the nervous system something steady and rhythmic to return to.

The breath does not need to be deep or perfect. The practice is simply noticing when attention drifts and gently returning to the anchor.

05/22/2026

The next breathing practice in our series is Three-Part Breath, traditionally known as Dirga Pranayama.

This classical pranayama practice brings awareness to the natural movement of the breath through the lower belly, rib cage, and upper chest.

Rather than breathing shallowly into only one area, the breath gradually expands through all three parts of the torso.

A simple way to explore it:
• Breathe into the belly
• Expand through the ribs
• Allow the breath to rise into the upper chest
• Exhale slowly and completely

Three-Part Breath can help increase breath awareness, soften shallow breathing patterns, and support a greater sense of steadiness and connection within the body.

For many people, intentionally slowing down long enough to fully notice the breath is unfamiliar in itself.

The breath can move like a wave coming in and going out, gradually rising through the body on the inhale and softly receding on the exhale. Sometimes simply noticing that rhythm can begin to shift the pace of the nervous system as well.

Try a few slow rounds and notice what changes.