Mission
RWY’s mission is to promote and encourage emotional, mental, and physical healing for survivors of trauma by providing evidence-based yoga programming in conjunction with a group therapeutic experience.
RWY’s owner and founder, Tracy Serrano, is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT) and Licensed Professional Counselor, Mental Health Service Provider (LPC-MHSP). She possesses both the clinical and personal experience of incorporating yoga into a healing journey and her passion is to share it with others. RWY is committed to teaching a mind, body, spirit approach to healing and growth.
Spring Session
rwy Trauma-sensitive Yoga & Group Therapy
Explore the connection between your body and your breath and the power they have to heal. Each 90 minute session begins with 45 minutes of trauma-sensitive yoga, followed by 45 minutes of a supervised group therapeutic experience to ground the physical yoga practice. Learn relaxation techniques and skills to reclaim the power and choice over your own body, mind, and spirit.
The Spring Session is a women only with a maximum of 8 participants. A minimum of 5 participants are required for the group to begin.
For more information, please check the FAQ below.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact: contact@tracyserrano.com
FAQS
Click here to download a copy of the FAQs.
Trauma Sensitive Yoga Frequently Asked Questions
Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TSY) is a place where yoga, mindfulness, and breathing practices can help you become more familiar with your body and yourself. Since trauma can cause us to disconnect from our bodily experience and our emotions, you can also think of this as a safe place to start “befriending your experience” again. Class is a place where you are invited to spend more time with your body and yourself through your senses and your physical experiences rather than talking. Talking is limited to sharing about how your breath and your body feels before and after class, so most of the time is spent learning yoga practices and being guided through an experience of being “in” your body and connecting with this experience. The verbal “check ins” at the beginning and end of class are a way of helping you reflect on your experience and an opportunity to learn and build your own self awareness through hearing from others too.
What should I wear?
Wear anything that you feel comfortable to move in. Yoga clothes are helpful but not necessary. Bring layers so if you get too warm or cold you have options to keep yourself comfortable. It is possible that some participants would be uncomfortable if our belly area is exposed, so it is best to wear a tank top, t‐ shirt or yoga top that covers your belly.
What will I be expected to share or talk about?
Before, during and after class you will be invited to share only what feels comfortable for you. The yoga therapist only needs to know enough about you to guide you through yoga and mindfulness forms and help you take care of yourself if you become overwhelmed. This means that neither the yoga therapist or fellow participants need to know details of your past experiences or things going on currently in your life. The talking part of class will be focused on sharing your experience of your body and your breath before and at the end of class. You will not be asked to share more than this and you can also “pass” if you just don’t want to share this verbally on a given day. If there are things you want the yoga therapist to know in order to understand you better, feel free to share this. The topic could range from informing the therapist about an injury to letting them know that you’re having an emotional day.
What if I feel “triggered” or overwhelmed in class?
Since coming into connection with your body can bring up new feelings and body sensations, it is definitely possible that you could have a reaction to something and feel overwhelmed and “triggered”. Since this happens in life, it could happen in class. If this happens and you need support you can either choose to find a comforting posture that helps you feel safe and grounded until you feel calmer, or you can leave for a moment (or leave for the day) and use some other means of calming yourself down so you feel safer. You can talk to the yoga therapist ahead of time if there are things that you think might cause a trigger or reaction for you. When you meet with the yoga therapist ahead of time you can talk about plans and choices to take care of yourself if this happens.
What if I want to leave before class is over?
Leaving is always allowed. Feel welcome to leave early if this is what you need, your well being and emotional safety are of utmost importance. If you are to leave early, expect a phone call from the yoga therapist later. This is simply to make sure you are safe and and have the support you need to take care of yourself.
Do I have to do all of the postures, practices or forms?
No, all of the postures are offerings that you can choose to accept or not. Doing new practices by choice is likely to bring new experiences. The class is also a place where you have a chance to listen carefully and intently to yourself. Choosing to do what is right for you and your body in the moment, and see how you are responding to new things. This kind of listening and responding to yourself is what’s most important. There may be certain postures that don’t seem that helpful to you, or times when you just need to stay in a posture that comforts you even if the group is doing something different.
Can I ask questions during class?
Yes, it is common participants have questions about how to do certain postures or the breathing practice for example. Class is a safe and comfortable place to ask any questions that help you become more aware and feel more confident in your practice.
Will anyone touch me during class?
No. TSY does not include hands-on assists unless the participant requests and approves ahead of time. It’s important that you know you can choose to have a hands on assist if you want one, and you can also make it clear that you don’t. It’s important that you feel in charge of this choice at all times during class.
What is the purpose of talking to my primary therapist?
Giving the Yoga Therapist permission to talk with your primary therapist if needed, will allow us to support you if you have new experiences in your practice that deserve attention outside of class. Yoga can also help you move forward with healing in a way that’s more effective than talk alone and your therapist may or may not be aware of how this can happen through yoga. Since we won’t be spending time in class talking about other issues going on in your life, there may be times where it would be helpful for your therapist to have an idea of what is happening in the yoga therapy class so that they can support you in an informed way. With your permission, we can support both you and your therapist in integrating your experiences in class with other work you are doing.
Do I need experience with Yoga or Mindfulness?
Not at all. Just bring your curiosity. Allowing yourself to be curious is the best approach you can take whether you have previous experience with these practices or not.
Dates
6 Consecutive thursdays
March 28
april 4
april 11
april 18
april 25
May 2
Time
8:30 aM - 10:00 aM
Location
Restoration counseling associates
9724 Kingston Pike, suite 601
Knoxville, TN 37922
6 Week Spring Session Fees
$360
