Therapy

Ujjayi Yoga Tasmania specialise in Trauma Sensitive Yoga, Somatic Experiencing and body-based therapies to assist in trauma recovery. Our services are guided by clinical evidence and best practise in trauma recovery. Our approach to therapy can help you to:

Our Services

Ujjayi Sessions

Private body-based therapeutic sessions with Sarah to assist in your healing from trauma.

During these sessions we use Trauma Sensitive Yoga to help you develop resources to ground and anchor, build awareness of felt sensations in the present moment and find comfort and trust in the body. We can also work with Somatic Experiencing to help you re-negotiate and release the hurt and pain of trauma trapped in the body and create new positive rhythms and experiences in the body.

You do not need a diagnosis to book sessions.

All sessions are face to face at the Studio.

Suited to people with complex trauma, early childhood trauma, PTSD and single incident trauma; or people who live with chronic pain, anxiety, dissociate, live with tremendous grief, struggle with impulse control or other symptoms of trauma.

Terms & Conditions

^ Payment to be made prior to appointment

^ Valid Concession card must be presented to receive concession price

^ Same day cancelations can not be refunded; payments made are included as a 50% deposit towards reschedule and 50% cancelation fee

^ Cancelations made day before appointment may be rescheduled at no extra charge according to availability

* Full payment to be made prior to first session

* Valid Concession card must be presented to receive concession price

* All sessions must be used within 13 weeks of purchase and pre-booked in advance where possible

* Maximum of 2x cancellations and reschedules per 6x session bundle

Embodiment

This is our signature, 8-week, therapeutic group yoga program for trauma recovery.

During this program we learn and practise a new theme each week, developing our present moment self-awareness, skills and resources to ground and anchor, creating new ‘feel good’ rhythms in the body, how to make empowering choices, create boundaries and self-reflect.

Small class sizes, consistent teaching & shared authentic experiences.

Facilitated by Sarah, a qualified trauma informed Hatha Yoga teacher.

No referral, no yoga experience and no diagnosis is needed to participate.

Please contact the studio for details and to discuss if this program could assist you.

"I would recommend Embodiment to anyone. The techniques shared are so useful for taking care of how you feel, having more trust in your body & your ability to process emotions. The yoga studio is welcoming & Sarah is a great teacher - very knowledgeable & helpful in her approach."

- Embodiment participant

Tailored TSY Group Program

We can talk with you about the needs and goals of your cohort and develop a special program to suit your group. We have experience working with vulnerable and at-risk groups, as well as providing self-care yoga groups for professionals to mitigate vicarious trauma.

We can provide services for groups of up to 12 people at our George St Studio, or travel to your organisation.

Past programs have including delivering tailored TSY groups at: Yemaya, Engender Equality, Richmond Fellowship of Tasmania, Pheonix Centre, Capstone College and Department of Health Services.

Trauma Informed Care Professional Development

As a trauma specialist Sarah Van Est has experience in developing and delivering training and disseminating information regarding the delivery of best practise in trauma informed care for professionals working with vulnerable and at-risk groups.

Sarah has developed and delivered a 12 week training program for mental health professionals working with women impacted by domestic and family violence; authored a manual for GP’s to work with women impacted by DFV; authored a report on the experiences of women accessing services for DFV in Tasmania; delivered White Ribbon Training for workplaces, presented on best practise in trauma sensitive care at TASCOSS annual conference; presented on Trauma Sensitive Yoga at the Interprofessional Conference for DoE (all State-wide School Social Workers, Psychologists & Speech Pathologists) and; presented a poster on best practise in delivering trauma informed services for women at ANROWS annual conference.

If you would like to discuss how we might help create a culture of trauma sensitive care and at your organisation, please contact Sarah.

What is Trauma Sensitive Yoga?

Trauma Sensitive Yoga is a serious, empirically validated form of therapy for people wanting to recover from trauma.  This gentle practise of embodiment helps to build connections and trust in the body and release the sensations of feeling trapped in past traumas.

When guided through this style of yoga with a skilled practitioner, you can learn how be feel the truth of your body in the present moment, develop the resilience to tolerate the physical and emotional sensations you feel and find ways to self-regulate, soothe, calm and and resolve uncomfortable and painful sensations of trauma trapped in the body.

During a TSY session you may be guided through a range of physical activities (making shapes with your body) or practise gentle breathing exercises, to help you explore what you experience in the present moment.

With Trauma Sensitive Yoga you can get to know and experience the innate wisdom of your body and hold yourselves in a comfortable, empowered and safe space.

Trauma Sensitive Yoga is not a new way of thinking – it helps us to experience a new way of living in the world.

"I whole heartedly recommend it for a sane, practical process to help anyone suffering as a result of trauma."

- Embodiment participant

What is Somatic Experiencing

Developed by Dr. Peter Lavine, Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a pioneering therapeutic modality for healing trauma. Based in the knowledge that trauma is an affect of the flight, flight and freeze response becoming trapped in the body, SE helps people cultivate their own unique and innate ability to recognise, feel and release the trapped trauma.

In a safe environment, with the guidance of a skilled practitioner, you can safely release the trapped energy within your nervous system without overwhelm and intolerance for the sensation. SE can be a very gentle form of therapy, guided by the individual and does not require talking directly to the traumatic events. SE may help restore a sense of aliveness, relaxation and wholeness in the aftermath of trauma or after periods of chronic stress. SE has tremendous recorded success in assisting people in trauma recovery.