Trauma-Informed Yoga for Survivors of Sexual Assault

Practices for Healing and Teaching with Compassion

By: Zahabiyah A. Yamasaki M Ed RYT, David Treleaven - foreword, Shena Young - foreword

Narrated by: Erin deWard

Trauma-informed yoga guidance for survivors, instructors, and mental health professionals.

Trauma-Informed Yoga for Survivors of Sexual Assault provides a comprehensive overview of how to offer yoga to survivors of sexual assault in a safe, effective, evidence-based, and healing way. Zahabiyah A. Yamasaki, founder of Transcending Sexual Trauma through Yoga, draws on the framework of trauma-informed care and trauma-informed yoga program development and curriculum, while also weaving in personal narrative and inspiring survivor stories. This book explores practical considerations for survivors, as well as for yoga teachers, mental health professionals, educators, and other healing professionals who are interested in integrating trauma-informed yoga into the scope of their work and/or healing.

This book expands the scope and framework for healing and fills a much-needed gap in service delivery for survivors. Yamasaki provides holistic, trauma-informed, body-based, compassionate, and culturally affirming options for survivors as they navigate what is oftentimes a lifelong and nonlinear process of healing.

©2022 Zahabiyah A. Yamasaki (P)2022 Tantor

Subjects

While the book itself is exceptionally well-written—thoughtful, rich with insights, and deeply rooted in the realities of racial trauma—I found the choice of narrator quite distracting. The audiobook is read with a tone that feels overly animated and dramatic, more like someone reading a novel or a feel-good memoir. Given the seriousness and sensitivity of the subject matter, the high-pitched, overly expressive delivery felt mismatched and sometimes even jarring. It occasionally pulled me away from the depth and gravity of the message. For a book that speaks so powerfully to lived experience and healing, I feel a more grounded and emotionally attuned narration would have done it more justice. If you're considering this title, I recommend reading the text version for a more direct and resonant experience.

Informative, yet contradicting.

Kudos to the writer for a beautifully structured and generously informative book. With so many references made to racial trauma and pride to be of color, I just cannot figure out why the author approved of a perfectly white-sounding, high-pitched narrator. Most readers of the book will be those dealing with trauma. The narration of the book is read like it is "Eat, Pray, Love," a novel or romance drama where excitement, anticipation, and sometimes over-dramatization gives effect. In the context of this book though, it seems in contrast with the actual message of the book. At times, I've unwittingly found myself lacking conviction, even after the author so beautifully built credibility and rapport during the first chapters. I recommend reading the book rather than listening to it.

morally reprehensible

This book is using trauma as an opening to further a political ideology. And not just for the individual reader but through institutions. A whole lot of politics and very very little yoga.