Indigenous perspectives of trauma-sensitive yoga using community-based and consensual qualitative frameworks

Area of Science:

• Trauma-informed care
• Yoga-based interventions
• Indigenous health

Background:

• Indigenous communities face significant intergenerational trauma.
• Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) is an evidence-based intervention for complex trauma.
• Facilitator training involves a 20-hour training and a 300-hour certification program.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document the perspectives of the first Indigenous TCTSY Facilitator Training Cohort.
• To assess the acceptability, feasibility, and utility of TCTSY within Indigenous communities.
• To explore culturally relevant adaptations of TCTSY.

Main Methods:

• Community-based research protocols developed with Indigenous partners.
• Twenty interviews conducted with 15 adult participants (14 trainees, 1 mentor).
• Consensual qualitative research method used for interview analysis.

Main Results:

• Participants reported positive impacts on trauma care approaches and alignment with healing practices.
• Key takeaways included understanding trauma effects and the value of invitational language.
• Participants intended to integrate TCTSY using culturally specific methods like smudging and land-based practices.

Conclusions:

• A community-based research approach facilitated culturally relevant and trauma-informed exploration of TCTSY.
• TCTSY demonstrated feasibility, acceptability, and utility for Indigenous communities.
• The study highlights potential for TCTSY in Indigenous trauma recovery.