Sedona Yoga Festival 2019

For many of us, the practices of yoga have changed our lives. That statement may seem dramatic, but it’s true. These practices teach us to turn inward, to pay attention, and to notice without judgment. They enable us to find balance in our bodies and minds, as well as develop our overall well-being. Because of those benefits, yoga is an invaluable asset for veterans who are coping with trauma-related psychological difficulties.Yoga practices are a powerful complement to professional treatment for Post Traumatic Stress. A mindful, embodied yoga practice can provide relief from symptoms and develop the supportive skills that veterans need in their everyday lives. Yoga does not cure Post Traumatic Stress, but it has proven to aid in a veteran’s healing journey.Mindful Yoga Therapy is an Embodyoga® based, empirically informed, clinically tested program comprised of five practices: Pranayama (breathing), Asana (postures connected with breath), Yoga Nidra, Meditation, and Gratitude. Each practice is a tool veterans can use to cope with Post Traumatic Stress, and together, they form a comprehensive system—a toolbox—that will carry veterans into a life of strength and resilience.The healing effects of these ancient yogic practices have begun to receive recognition from modern scientists. Research has discovered and validated what the yogis have known for centuries: yoga is one of the most effective ways to encourage and stimulate the healing process.Clinical trials have demonstrated that even the best yoga teachers need to acquire a specific set of skills and considerations to work in trauma recovery programs. This 15-hour training program is for 200-hour certified yoga teachers and service providers.  Mindful Yoga Center also offers 200-hour teacher training.Fifteen (15) hours of Yoga Alliance continuing education credits are available.

• Why yoga for trauma?
• The Toolbox and its five practices: Asana, Pranayama, Yoga Nidra, Meditation and Gratitude
• Special considerations and specific techniques for working with veterans
• The nervous system and using yoga as a therapeutic methodology
• Appropriateness and variations of asana
• Understanding veteran and military culture
• How to bring Mindful Yoga Therapy into the world
• 12 Week Protocol
• Post Traumatic Growth

Thursday, March 14th 8am - 5pm
Friday, March 15th 8am - 12pm
Saturday, March 16th 8am - 12pm
Sunday, March 17th 8am - 12pm
Held in the Auxiliary Gym at Sedona Red Rock High School, 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road, Sedona AZ 86336

For many of us, the practices of yoga have changed our lives. That statement may seem dramatic, but it’s true. These practices teach us to turn inward, to pay attention, and to notice without judgment. They enable us to find balance in our bodies and minds, as well as develop our overall well-being. Because of those benefits, yoga is an invaluable asset for veterans who are coping with trauma-related psychological difficulties.Yoga practices are a powerful complement to professional treatment for Post Traumatic Stress. A mindful, embodied yoga practice can provide relief from symptoms and develop the supportive skills that veterans need in their everyday lives. Yoga does not cure Post Traumatic Stress, but it has proven to aid in a veteran’s healing journey.Mindful Yoga Therapy is an Embodyoga® based, empirically informed, clinically tested program comprised of five practices: Pranayama (breathing), Asana (postures connected with breath), Yoga Nidra, Meditation, and Gratitude. Each practice is a tool veterans can use to cope with Post Traumatic Stress, and together, they form a comprehensive system—a toolbox—that will carry veterans into a life of strength and resilience.The healing effects of these ancient yogic practices have begun to receive recognition from modern scientists. Research has discovered and validated what the yogis have known for centuries: yoga is one of the most effective ways to encourage and stimulate the healing process.Clinical trials have demonstrated that even the best yoga teachers need to acquire a specific set of skills and considerations to work in trauma recovery programs.  This 15-hour training program is for 200-hour certified yoga teachers and service providers.  Mindful Yoga Center also offers 200-hour teacher training.Fifteen (15) hours of Yoga Alliance continuing education credits are available.

• Why yoga for trauma?
• The Toolbox and its five practices: Asana, Pranayama, Yoga Nidra, Meditation and Gratitude
• Special considerations and specific techniques for working with veterans
• The nervous system and using yoga as a therapeutic methodology
• Appropriateness and variations of asana
• Understanding veteran and military culture
• How to bring Mindful Yoga Therapy into the world
• 12 Week Protocol
• Post Traumatic Growth

Thursday, March 14th 8am - 5pm
Friday, March 15th 8am - 12pm
Saturday, March 16th 8am - 12pm
Sunday, March 17th 8am - 12pm
Held in the Auxiliary Gym at Sedona Red Rock High School, 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road, Sedona AZ 86336

At some point in our lives we’ve all encountered trauma, and while some of us have managed to process it and move forward without lasting implications, others of us have not. Unresolved trauma shows up in many forms, frequently in some form of addiction (to a substance or a behavior) and can also manifest physically. Yoga provides us all of the tools we need to repair the root cause of our addictions. We can learn to be gentle with ourselves, to stay present, to feel gratitude and to ultimately feel and heal. In this workshop you’ll learn some of the latest neuroscience about trauma, addictions and the brain, how yoga is becoming an accepted healing tool in cutting edge trauma and addiction therapy, and most importantly how you can use this to improve your life. Be prepared to explore movement (asana), breathwork (pranayama) and meditation (dhyana) with compassionate curiosity. This workshop is suitable for everyone, from beginners to experienced teachers who wish to learn about how to help themselves and others overcome addictive behavior and the effects of trauma.

Nityda has a unique way of creating a sacred space that feels safe for doing deep healing work within the asana practice. The Trauma-Conscious Yoga Method℠ integrates yin yoga and gentle vinyasa flow with somatic psychotherapy techniques, always from a heart-centered & trauma-aware space. In this practice Nityda will empower you to approach personal feeling states that you might otherwise reject, from a space of curiosity and compassion. This practice is intended to inspire new insights and evoke shifts in consciousness that support your healing and personal evolution, and connection to your highest Self. The asana portion of this practice is appropriate for all levels, including absolute beginners. We will integrate gentle vinyasa flow with longer yin-style holds and restorative postures with the use of supportive props. Nityda will guide you through internal dialogues and contemplative practices within the asana that are inspired by her training in Somatic Experiencing, Internal Family Systems and EMDR therapy. This practice includes pranayama and meditation. Nityda is conscious of the common triggers for trauma survivors and so she always provides disclaimers and offers variations and differing options for those who may be triggered by breathwork and/or closing their eyes. Expect this class to feel like a combination of yoga and therapy and to be highly transformative.

For many of us, the practices of yoga have changed our lives. That statement may seem dramatic, but it’s true. These practices teach us to turn inward, to pay attention, and to notice without judgment. They enable us to find balance in our bodies and minds, as well as develop our overall well-being. Because of those benefits, yoga is an invaluable asset for veterans who are coping with trauma-related psychological difficulties.Yoga practices are a powerful complement to professional treatment for Post Traumatic Stress. A mindful, embodied yoga practice can provide relief from symptoms and develop the supportive skills that veterans need in their everyday lives. Yoga does not cure Post Traumatic Stress, but it has proven to aid in a veteran’s healing journey.Mindful Yoga Therapy is an Embodyoga® based, empirically informed, clinically tested program comprised of five practices: Pranayama (breathing), Asana (postures connected with breath), Yoga Nidra, Meditation, and Gratitude. Each practice is a tool veterans can use to cope with Post Traumatic Stress, and together, they form a comprehensive system—a toolbox—that will carry veterans into a life of strength and resilience.The healing effects of these ancient yogic practices have begun to receive recognition from modern scientists. Research has discovered and validated what the yogis have known for centuries: yoga is one of the most effective ways to encourage and stimulate the healing process.Clinical trials have demonstrated that even the best yoga teachers need to acquire a specific set of skills and considerations to work in trauma recovery programs. This 15-hour training program is for 200-hour certified yoga teachers and service providers.  Mindful Yoga Center also offers 200-hour teacher training.Fifteen (15) hours of Yoga Alliance continuing education credits are available.

• Why yoga for trauma?
• The Toolbox and its five practices: Asana, Pranayama, Yoga Nidra, Meditation and Gratitude
• Special considerations and specific techniques for working with veterans
• The nervous system and using yoga as a therapeutic methodology
• Appropriateness and variations of asana
• Understanding veteran and military culture
• How to bring Mindful Yoga Therapy into the world
• 12 Week Protocol
• Post Traumatic Growth

Thursday, March 14th 8am - 5pm
Friday, March 15th 8am - 12pm
Saturday, March 16th 8am - 12pm
Sunday, March 17th 8am - 12pm
Held in the Auxiliary Gym at Sedona Red Rock High School, 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road, Sedona AZ 86336

This is part of a multi-section course designed to develop an understanding of the effects of the military culture, the biological impacts of trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress (Disorder)/PTS(D) and the healing dynamics of Trauma-Conscious Yoga. Participants will learn how to use the information that they have gained in this course to teach a CW Trauma-Conscious Yoga class to Servicemembers, Veterans and their Families in local communities. In addition to learning about military culture and the physiological and biological impacts of trauma you will learn how to yoga can be used as a tool for post-traumatic growth and the specific CW yoga class protocols including language, environmental considerations and sequencing. The training is designed in three parts to certify yoga teachers who are committed to supporting this demographic. For those participants who want to teach for Connected Warriors the following are the eligibility requirements: 1) Completion of the 4-hour training at SDY 2) Completion of the 2-hour class and training at SDY 3) Self-study – this can be completed after the in-person trainings or prior if you contact programs@connectedwarriors.org 4) Training Evaluation – on-line questionnaires – this is completed after the trainings or prior if you contact programs@connectedwarriors.org 5) Yoga Professionals – Specific requirements a. Professional yoga teacher with a 200-hour Yoga Alliance (or equivalent) or C-IAYT certification b. Minimum of 30-hours yoga teaching experience c. Proof of personal professional liability insurance (Required prior to teaching a CW class) d. Current CPR certification (Required prior to teaching a CW class) 6) Mental Health Professionals a. Mental health and wellness professionals interested in personal growth and/or professional development are also invited to attend our training b. Please note: If you are not a yoga professional, a working knowledge of the practice of yoga including poses and breathing techniques is helpful to participate 7) 8 CEU’s are available for yoga professionals after completion of all requirements and payment of the administrative processing fee to Connected Warriors of $80.00

Over half of Americans report more stress in their lives than five years ago. Worse, this stress is correlated with increased mental health problems, and one in five American adults, about 42.5 million people, will suffer from depression and/or anxiety in the next year. The philosophies and practices of Yoga provide a time-honored approach for healing the mind, and creating lasting emotional well being and freedom. And current scientific research is finally supporting what yogis have known for centuries: Yoga improves mood, decreases stress, and reduces depression and anxiety. This yoga intensive, taught by a psychologist and yoga teacher, will teach how yoga is a powerful intervention for not only improving mental health but and also cultivating what is best within ourselves. This course is ideal for health professionals (physicians, psychologists, nurses, social workers, therapists) wanting to integrate yoga into their healing work, for yoga therapists, yoga teachers, and anyone wanting increased emotional well being. In this workshop we will: • Review the current research and hypothesized change mechanisms that support the clinical value of yoga techniques for mental health • Contrast yoga vs modern medicine’s view on mental health • Understand the 6 attributes of well-being we all contain, and the 3 limiting beliefs that block our connection with our highest self • Learn and practice the key poses, breath practices, mudras, and meditations that you can quickly implement to shift mood

Experience the practice of TCTSY and open the door to a new perspective on teaching or working with clients.  Through a Trauma Sensitive lens, Facilitator Lori Edwards will guide a full length class whereby participants have an opportunity to embody empowerment through choice making based on sensation in their body.  We will begin with a brief introduction and there will be time at the end of the practice for some questions and reflections relating to the practice.  Please join us for an empowering experience! 

Nityda has a unique way of creating a sacred space that feels safe for doing deep healing work within the asana practice. The Trauma-Conscious Yoga Method℠ integrates yin yoga and gentle vinyasa flow with somatic psychotherapy techniques, always from a heart-centered & trauma-aware space. In this practice Nityda will create such a safe, sacred space to empower you to approach your chid within from a gentle and compassionate embodiment. This practice is critical in fostering self-compassion and moving through and past samskaras (faulty self-reflective beliefs and patterns that keep us stuck). This practice is intended to enable you to discharge from the body, mind and spirit, traumas that have remained trapped within. This practice will inspire new insights and evoke shifts in consciousness that support your healing and personal evolution, and connection to your highest Self. The asana portion of this practice is appropriate for all levels, including absolute beginners. We will integrate gentle vinyasa flow with longer yin-style holds and restorative postures with the use of supportive props. Nityda will guide you through internal dialogues and contemplative practices within the asana that are inspired by her training in Somatic Experiencing, Internal Family Systems and EMDR therapy. This practice includes pranayama and meditation. Nityda is conscious of the common triggers for trauma survivors and so she always provides disclaimers and offers variations and differing options for those who may be triggered by breathwork and/or closing their eyes. Expect this class to feel like a combination of yoga and therapy and to be highly transformative.

This is part of a multi-section course designed to develop an understanding of the effects of the military culture, the biological impacts of trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress (Disorder)/PTS(D) and the healing dynamics of Trauma-Conscious Yoga. Participants will learn how to use the information that they have gained in this course to teach a CW Trauma-Conscious Yoga class to Servicemembers, Veterans and their Families in local communities. In addition to learning about military culture and the physiological and biological impacts of trauma you will learn how to yoga can be used as a tool for post-traumatic growth and the specific CW yoga class protocols including language, environmental considerations and sequencing. The training is designed in three parts to certify yoga teachers who are committed to supporting this demographic. For those participants who want to teach for Connected Warriors the following are the eligibility requirements: 1) Completion of the 4-hour training at SDY 2) Completion of the 2-hour class and training at SDY 3) Self-study – this can be completed after the in-person trainings or prior if you contact programs@connectedwarriors.org 4) Training Evaluation – on-line questionnaires – this is completed after the trainings or prior if you contact programs@connectedwarriors.org 5) Yoga Professionals – Specific requirements a. Professional yoga teacher with a 200-hour Yoga Alliance (or equivalent) or C-IAYT certification b. Minimum of 30-hours yoga teaching experience c. Proof of personal professional liability insurance (Required prior to teaching a CW class) d. Current CPR certification (Required prior to teaching a CW class) 6) Mental Health Professionals a. Mental health and wellness professionals interested in personal growth and/or professional development are also invited to attend our training b. Please note: If you are not a yoga professional, a working knowledge of the practice of yoga including poses and breathing techniques is helpful to participate 7) 8 CEU’s are available for yoga professionals after completion of all requirements and payment of the administrative processing fee to Connected Warriors of $80.00