This week on The Yoga Therapy Hour, Amy sits down with Halli Faulkner, a trauma-informed yoga therapist and trainer specializing in working with survivors of sexual assault and violence. Halli shares her deeply personal journey of healing from childhood trauma and how it led her to develop workshops and one-on-one sessions designed to create safe, empowering spaces for survivors. With a focus on autonomy, choice, and compassion, Halli has created impactful trauma-informed trainings and retreats that help individuals reclaim their agency and begin the process of healing. We have a Content Warning on this show due to the nature of the topic. Take the time and space needed to care for yourself while you listen.

Key Takeaways:

• The Power of Autonomy in Healing: Halli explains how creating trauma-informed spaces that prioritize choice and empowerment is foundational to the healing process for survivors of sexual violence.
• Personal Journey of Transformation: Halli recounts her own experiences with trauma, perfectionism as a coping mechanism, and how yoga and EMDR therapy became integral to her recovery.
• Trauma-Informed Yoga Practices: She outlines the importance of making all yoga practices optional and invitational, allowing participants to choose what feels right for their bodies.
• Kundalini Yoga's Role: Halli shares how specific Kundalini yoga practices helped her heal and how she continues to pass these tools on to others, even amidst the controversies surrounding Kundalini's founder.
• The Importance of Boundaries: Halli and Amy discuss the role of boundaries in personal and professional relationships, particularly as part of the healing process for trauma survivors.
• Community and Healing: Halli and Amy emphasize the significance of Sangha (community) in providing a sense of safety and belonging during recovery.

Halli’s work extends beyond yoga classes to include trauma-informed trainings for organizations, annual healing retreats, and individualized yoga therapy. Her approach is rooted in compassion, empowerment, and the belief that healing is a personal and non-linear journey.

Listeners are invited to explore Halli’s offerings, including her 40-hour trauma-informed yoga training and annual retreats in El Salvador, where participants can engage in healing practices amidst nature’s beauty. For more information, visit her website at www.hallifaulkner.com or connect with her on Instagram and Facebook @HalliFaulkner.

Whether you’re a yoga professional looking to deepen your trauma-informed practices or a survivor seeking support, this episode is a heartfelt exploration of resilience, healing, and the transformative power of yoga.

Visit Amy’s training section and free offerings:

Monday Night Yoga Therapy Clinic with Optimal State: www.TheOptimalState.com

Optimal State Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/yogatherapyhour

University of Minnesota Therapeutic Yoga Classes: https://csh.umn.edu/for-community/wellbeing-workshops/online-therapeutic-yoga-series

Polyvagal Institute App that Amy and Marlysa are the hosts: https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/pviapp