Yoga and mindfulness practices help to enhance health and happiness by incorporating the principles of neuroscience, neuroplasticity, body/mind communication and supports the cultivation of self awareness. These evidence-based practices can help clients release trauma imprints, calm worried minds, soothe painful emotions, replace harmful thoughts, cultivate compassion, enhance concentration and teach the joys of present moment awareness. Join Martine McDougall to practice interventions that teach your clients how to:

• Normalise mental health issues

• Regulate their emotions

• Relate to their thoughts cultivating a wise mind

• Treat themselves and others kindly

• Focus on cultivating wellness

Who is this training course designed for?

• Yoga Teachers and yoga teachers in training who are interested in expanding their teaching skills and developing more confidence in working with students / clients who suffer from trauma and mental health difficulties. Yoga teachers will develop a much deeper understanding of the concepts of Yoga Psychology and it’s capacity to empower students by providing safe and inclusive yoga practices with awareness.

• Mental Health Professionals who are interested in bringing the body into treatment. There is now a significant body of evidence that has seen a marriage between yoga and Psychology. Neuroscience has shown that the mind and body are intrinsically linked and that trauma resides in the body. It has been my experience that when clients learn to befriend and trust their body, the capacity for clients to engage in therapy in a much safer and satisfying way is achieved. Yoga engages the nervous system teaching distress tolerance by balancing the nervous system, enhancing opportunities for neuroplasticity to occur by moving and breathing in a community setting with intention and on purpose.

• Wellbeing professionals who are interested in the mind body connection and working in a holistic way towards healing and recovery.

• Students of Yoga who are interested in further and deepening their knowledge in the context of ‘self’, working on their own journey towards total wellbeing and personal discovery.

• Teachers, nurses, first responders and all human service workers who come into contact with students/ patients who are distressed and overwhelmed and require significant support and containment. This course will give you the confidence to use grounding and stabilising techniques by using the body, breath and awareness of how the brain responds to anxiety.

What are the modules?

There are 5 modules each consisting of 20 hours of study. The course can be done as a whole 100 hour course or participants can choose to do the modules individually.

Each modules run over 20 hours on:

Friday 9.30am – 5pm

Saturday – 1pm – 6pm

Sunday – 9am – 3pm

Module 1 – February 16th, 17th & 18th 2024

Trauma Sensitive Yoga

• Learning the theory behind trauma sensitive yoga.

• Learning the differences between trauma sensitive yoga and trauma informed yoga and having a clear awareness of what is necessary to safely run a trauma sensitive yoga class and the difference of creating a trauma informed class.

• Understanding how to create a safe space in which to work with survivors of trauma.

• Practicing the utilisation of invitational language, choice making and supporting students to practice having present moment experiences.

• Understanding the role of interoception in creating opportunities for neuroplascticity.

• Understanding the role of the mind, the brain and the nervous system in managing trauma responses and in healing from trauma.

• Having the opportunity to experience being in a trauma sensitive yoga class, go over posture breakdown and having opportunities to practice teach

Module 2 – April 19th, 20th & 21st 2024

Yoga For Anxiety and Depression

• Exploration of the neurobiology of anxiety and depression.

• Normalising anxiety as a necessary and adaptive behaviour for survival and understanding the role of genetics, personality, environmental and situational factors and attachment style in determining how to work with your student / client.

• The role of the nervous system and gaining an understanding of left and right brain presentations of anxiety and depression and the need to be able to recognise both.

• Teaching postures, breathing and mindfulness techniques that can be utilised to create a program that is suitable for a group and for individuals depending on the type of class or presentation of the individual.

Module 3 – June 21st, 22nd & 23rd 2024

Yoga Psychology & the neuroscience of pain and stress related disorders

• The interaction between body and mind, Breath and Energy.

• The sensory motor mind (manas).

• Memory and repression (chitta)

• The sense of “I” (Ahankara) Attachment and relationships.

• The Psychology of Pain and the process of change

• The Chakra system – The 7 centres of consciousness.

• Modern day applications of yoga psychology for anxiety, depression, mood disorders, phobias, eating disorders, drug addictions, childhood disorders (ADHD, autism)

• The impact of early attachment and the formation of Core Sensitivities

• The role of Bodhichitta – The Awakened Mind

• Psychological Insight work

• Ayurveda and the Mind

• Explore the ventral vagal brain/ heart connection

• Healing the whole person – Higher knowledge and Practice

• Breath and Energy

Module 4 – August 23rd, 24th & 25th 2024

Trauma Informed Yin for the Nervous System

• Gaining an understanding of how to use Yin as a healing and restorative practice.

• Learning to support students to use their bodies to calm the nervous system.

• The use of meditation and pranayama in Yin classes.

• Understanding the link between meridian theory and the chakra system and the embodiment of emotions.

• The concept and importance of Chi.

• Incorporating a mindfulness practice and psychological inquiry element into our Yin practice.

• Learn about the role of the Vagus nerve and Polyvagal Theory

• Exploration of Yin postures as prescriptions for emotional and mental wellbeing

Module 5 – November 8th, 9th & 10th 2024

The use of self, vicarious trauma, self care and compassion

• Learning how to care for ‘Self’ whilst caring for others.

• Making sense of our belief systems and roles we play as carers personally and professionally.

• Understanding the impact of Vicarious Trauma and Compassion Fatigue

• Gaining an understanding of the role of transference and counter transference when working with others in the context of mental health.

• Learning the warning signs of Trauma Exposure Response and finding balance.

• The use of sound in healing.

Meet your teacher:

Martine McDougall is a Senior Clinical Social Worker and Psychotherapist and an Accredited Mental Health Practitioner. Martine has worked in the area of Mental Health for many years in both the public mental health system and in private practice. Martine is also a 500 hour trained yoga teacher having completed her training with 8 Limbs, she has also completed Yin yoga training with Jo Phee. Martine has completed a further 300 hours with the Boston Trauma Centre completing the Trauma Sensitive Yoga teacher training and is an accredited facilitator of Trauma Centre Trauma Sensitive Yoga.

Yoga for Embodiment & Healing

This course has a rolling start and can be started with any module.

• Full course can be purchased by booking below or modules can be attended separately. Individual modules will be advertised on the website separately.

• When enrolling in the full course, you can start with any of the 5 modules and once all are completed, full certification will be awarded.

• This course is accredited with Yoga Alliance International (Australia). The Yoga Clinic is a CEAS Provider (Continuing Education Accredited School).

Full course costs $2,650

Please note dates may be subject to change, please check the website for up to date information.