**A trauma-sensitive practice
Evening rituals, whether a full practice on the mat, or short amounts of time dedicated to processing the day and preparing for sleep, are a beautiful juxtaposition to the ways we give of ourselves throughout our day. In this series, Katie Morgan, RYT500, incorporates gentle movement, somatic practices, breathwork and restorative postures to invite regulation of the nervous system. This is a trauma-informed practice; this approach affirms that you alone are the expert of you, and thereby acknowledges (1) the instructor’s role in holding space for you to have your own experiences with the offerings that are shared, (2) the power of optionality that goes beyond “ability” and into the idea of what is right for your needs in this moment, (3) the establishment of trust, both with the instructor and community but most of all, within your ability to tune in to yourself.
In this 45-minute evening ritual, we will begin each class with moon salutations. This practice incorporates gentle asanas (variations will be taught) that are linked with the breath but held for 2 - 3 breaths each. After the rounds of salutations, restorative postures will be offered in unison with guided breathwork and meditation to help to prepare you for sleep.
You can expect to practice in a naturally lit space, with the addition of faux candlelight if/as needed, the support of bolsters, blocks and blankets and one set playlist (which can be previewed here). If you feel unsure about any of the musical offerings or would like to share any visuals (that could be part of the guided meditations) that feel like they could be barriers for you, you can feel free to contact me at thegriefritual@gmail.com.
** Trauma-sensitive practices are those that are tailored to meet the needs of those who have experienced some form of trauma, loss or grief.
****Trauma-informed practices are more traditional (western) yoga class offerings but that live in an awareness of holding space for participants to have the kind of experience that they most need.
