Namaste, Reader!

Hello to all our readers, including those joining us from the Maryland Yoga Teacher Community and the Kids and Family Yoga Community! We’re so grateful for your continued support and dedication to learning how we can make yoga a more inclusive and safe space for all.

Celebrating the Fall Kids Yoga Series!

We're excited to share that our fall kids yoga series at Shift Yoga Studio has wrapped up this week, and it's been such a joy working with these young yogis! Watching them connect, build confidence, and explore mindful movement has been a highlight of this season. A big thank you to the families who joined us - we can't wait to offer more fun and mindful experiences in the future!

Last week, we focused on the principle of Creating Reliability and Consistency in our classes, helping students feel grounded and supported. This week, we’re exploring the third principle of trauma-informed teaching: Invitational Language.
​

What Is Invitational Language?​
​

Invitational language is a tool we use as teachers to offer options and empower our students to listen to their bodies. Instead of commanding or directing movement, we invite students to explore what feels right for them in each moment. This shift in language creates a space where students feel more in control of their experience, which is especially important for those whose sense of control may have been compromised due to trauma.
​

By saying phrases like, “If it feels good in your body, you might try…” or “Feel free to modify in any way that works for you,” we’re offering students autonomy and reducing the power dynamic often present in teacher-student relationships.
​

Why Is This Important for Trauma Survivors?​
​

For many trauma survivors, their autonomy over their own bodies may have been violated. Using invitational language allows them to reclaim that autonomy, fostering a sense of safety and empowerment. It helps them feel that their experience in the yoga space is entirely their own, and they have the freedom to move at their own pace, with their own choices.
​

Reflective Prompt: How Do We Invite Rather Than Instruct?​
​

Take a moment to reflect on how we, as yoga teachers, can make our cues more invitational. Are we offering our students the freedom to choose what feels best for them? How can we ensure our language reflects openness, allowing students to feel empowered in their practice?
​

In every class, we have the opportunity to help students regain a sense of agency over their bodies—let’s continue creating spaces that invite, rather than dictate.
​Thank you for being part of this movement toward more mindful, trauma-informed teaching!

From My Heart 2 Yours,
Taylor Lee Hitaffer, RYT-500, CYMC
Heart2Brain Yoga

P.S. If you haven’t already downloaded the FREE Trauma-Informed Yoga Teaching Checklist, you can grab your REVISED copy HERE! This resource will help guide you in integrating trauma-informed principles into your teaching.

P.P.S. Follow Heart2Brain Yoga on Instagram and Facebook for more mindfulness!

Download the FREE Checklist NOW! Click Here!