How do we bring polyvagal theory into our yoga practice and teaching to support healing and growth?

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Dr Arielle Schwartz (she/her), a fellow clinical psychologist and yoga teacher, and a leading voice in the healing of trauma, to dive into this fascinating topic.

Arielle is an internationally sought-after teacher and author of seven books including The Complex PTSD Workbook, The Post-Traumatic Growth Guidebook, EMDR Therapy and Somatic Psychology, and Applied Polyvagal Theory in Yoga. As the founder of the Center for Resilience Informed Therapy, she offers a mind-body approach to therapy for trauma and mental health.

Arielle had just finished reading my new book, Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers before our conversation, and she shared that there were so many parallels in our journeys, particularly in how we came to integrate yoga and psychology into our work. In the interview, we hear Arielle’s story about how she started yoga and how she eventually integrated it into her work as a clinical psychologist, and we also dive into some really juicy topics around polyvagal theory, trauma, how yoga can support our mental health through both a top-down and bottom-up approach, and how trauma recovery is an awakening of the spiritual heart.

Connect with Dr Arielle Schwartz at https://drarielleschwartz.com

Reserve your free place for the online Mental Health Aware Yoga book launch event on the 13th of September 2024 or the in-person event in Mullumbimby Australia on the 28th of September 2024 at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar/ 

Join the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting on the 31st of October at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Get on the waitlist for the March 2025 hybrid Mental Health Aware Yoga training in Mullumbimby Australia at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid 

Find a yoga teacher who really understands mental health in our global graduate directory at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au 

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.