“You don’t have to be fully healed to show up. You just have to feel safe enough to begin.” – Unknown
Hey lovely,
Have you ever stepped onto your mat and felt like something deeper than just your muscles were stretching? Like your body was holding onto more than just tension from a long day?
That’s because yoga doesn’t just work on the physical body; it also touches the places where our stories, stress, and sometimes even our wounds live.
I was recently approached about teaching a private session on trauma-informed yoga. And it got me thinking about what that actually means. Trauma-informed yoga is sort of a new and trendy buzzword in the yoga world, but in reality, it is what yoga has always been, at its core, it’s a gentle, compassionate approach to teaching and practising yoga that honours the truth that everyone comes to the mat with a different history. Some of it joyful, some of it heavy, and some of it unseen.
And while all yoga can be healing, when we approach our practice or teaching from a "trauma-informed yoga" perspective, then we find that it is specifically about creating a space that feels safe, empowering, and choice-based; it's not wrapped in any kind of "guru worship" or branded style. It’s less about what the pose looks like and more about how it feels and whether or not it feels right for you, in that moment. Basically, this encompasses my whole teaching philosophy.
Why It Matters
Trauma doesn’t always look like what we think it should. It isn’t always something dramatic or visible. It can be anything that overwhelms your system and leaves you feeling unsafe, unseen, or disconnected from your body. And let’s be honest, we’ve all experienced some kind of trauma. It might be emotional, physical, chronic stress, grief, loss, or something else entirely.
Trauma-informed yoga acknowledges that. It doesn’t ask you to “push through” or “go deeper.” Instead, it invites you to notice, to choose, to honour where you are. Because sometimes, the bravest thing you can do in class is rest. Or breathe. Or say no to a pose that doesn’t feel good in your body that day.
What Does Trauma-Informed Yoga Look Like?
It might not look all that different on the outside but the energy is very different. In a trauma-informed class, you might notice:
- Language of choice – The teacher offers options rather than commands. Phrases like “if it feels right for you” or “you’re welcome to try…” become part of the rhythm.
- Consent around touch – Physical assists are either avoided or offered only with clear, enthusiastic permission.
- Invitations over instructions – Instead of correcting, the focus is on supporting your own inner wisdom.
- No pressure to perform – It’s not about doing the “right” version of a pose, it’s about feeling safe in your body.
- Emphasis on agency – You’re encouraged to make choices, modify, pause, and explore your practice in a way that feels empowering.
Trauma-informed yoga isn’t about being fragile or treating people like they’re broken. It’s about acknowledging that we are complex, layered beings, and the practice should reflect that. It’s about respecting boundaries, celebrating self-awareness, and making room for healing, not just flexibility.
The Studio as a Sanctuary
At The Yoga Pantry, we hold a deep respect for the unseen stories that walk through our door. Whether you’ve been practising for years or you’re brand new to yoga, you are always welcome to show up just as you are. If you need to lie down during class, if you don’t want to close your eyes, if you need to skip a pose or modify everything, that’s more than okay. That’s the practice.
Our role as teachers is not to “fix” anyone but to hold space. A safe space. A brave space. A space where you’re in charge of your own experience, and we’re simply here to support you with open hearts and open minds.
Gentle Reminders for All of Us
Even if you’ve never experienced big “T” trauma, approaching your practice with trauma-informed awareness can deepen your connection to yourself and others. It reminds us to move with kindness, to listen without judgment, and to soften the inner critic.
So next time you come to class, give yourself permission to be the author of your own experience. Trust your body. Take the pose or take the rest. Opt out, opt in, listen to your body and trust the process. That is the yoga.
And remember, your instructor is only human too and sometimes we have shitty days, sometimes we mess up, sometimes we are dealing with our own trauma. But we show up, we do the work and we breathe through it all to get to the other side just like you do. We are all on this crazy ride together and it's our honour to share it with you.
💛 May our practice always be a safe place to land.
What's happening in The Pantry? 🧘♀️OH SOOOOOO MUCH!
Closed for Easter and ANZAC. Yup, we like holidays too and will be closed this Friday to Monday and again next Friday to Sunday although there is a Restorative Yoga Workshop that Sunday afternoon :)
The first of our series of Restorative Yoga Workshops is on at the end of this month
Your beloved 2 hours of restorative yoga is back at the end of both April and June on the last Sunday of those months at 5pm.
Restorative yoga is a completely different experience from most other styles of yoga. Restorative yoga is a restful practice that is all about slowing down and opening your body through passive stretching. If you take a restorative class, you may hardly move at all, doing just a few postures over the course of the session. It is a practice of deep relaxation that emphasises the meditative aspect of yoga, the union of body and mind. Through the use of props for support, many of the postures are held almost effortlessly.
Head here to book your sessions and join me, Tash, for a restful evening of deep relaxation.
NEW CLASS!
Due to popular demand, I have added another Chair Yoga class to the schedule. So now you can do chair yoga on a Monday morning AND Wednesday afternoons at 4.30pm! Yay!
KIDS YOGA IS BACK!
A new term of kids yoga is starting after the holidays, suitable for kids aged between 2 to 6, this half hour of frivolity is fun for the whole family.
Check out our website for more info
Our Amazing 8-Week Introduction To Yoga
This is a fantastic course that I have honed over a decade of teaching it to hundreds of new yoga enthusiasts. I love teaching it. I love sharing it, and I love seeing the results the students get from just eight 90-minute sessions each week.
It really is a fantastic course to upskill, hone, or start your yoga journey, and we have plenty of people take it as a refresher every year or so as well as bringing their friends and family along to introduce them to the joys of Yoga :)
If you need a refresher or just want to ease back into your practice, join us either on a Monday or Thursday evening and bring a friend ;)
SIGN UP TODAY and enjoy the myriad benefits of a regular yoga practice, plus be part of the best darn beginner yoga course in town.
Beginner Plus
We have just 2 Beginner Plus courses scheduled this year the first one starts in June so get your name on the list and join me on a Monday evening for some excellent pranayama, asana, mudras and bandhas along with some deeper yogic philosophies thrown in the mix.
Sign Up Here
Sound Bath!
Yup, that's back too. May 25th is not just my dad's birthday but also a day for you to immerse yourself in a luxurious sound experience. Soak in the tones of Tibetan bowls, crystal bowls, rain sticks, wind chimes, hand drums and gongs.
Check out our Workshop page to get more information and to register for this healing event.
Head here to book all your regular yoga classes
Remember you can join us online from anywhere in the world, live or at a time that suits you with our instant 14-day on-demand Zoom recording!
Don't forget you can also join us for a FREE meditation session every Saturday morning, and even if you can't you can book in via Zoom and do the meditation later in the day :)
Get To Know Your Teacher Series
Meet, Elle :)
Professional Background
How long have you been practising and teaching yoga? I started when I came to New Zealand in 2014, teaching probably from 2017.
What’s your teaching philosophy or approach to yoga? Yoga to me is liberation, freedom. Finding that inner connection that allows us to express as unique being in harmony with the whole that surrounds us (people, environment, energies). always!
What’s the one thing you want students to take away from your classes? I'd love for anyone to feel more connected within and a growing love and curiosity for our bodymind, it's not just an envelope
Personal Insights
What are your go-to ways to unwind outside of yoga? Definitely the ocean, swimming or being sitting in front of the big blue and music and dancing.
Do you have a morning or evening routine that keeps you grounded? Lying down on my back and checking in with myself, mindful breaths always work for me.
What’s your favourite way to incorporate mindfulness into daily life? Journaling and free movement
Fun & Quirky
If you could invite any 3 people (alive or historical) to a yoga class, who would they be and why? I’d love to have my best friend (not very spiritual ), Salvador Dalí to experience the genius creative energy in the room and see the outcome and probably Dante to the talk after class, it would be very interesting :)
What’s the most unexpected thing in your yoga bag? I don't have a yoga bag, but probably you will find a couple of tennis balls (for some myofascial release)
Describe yourself in three words! Loyal, kind and a weirdo
What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t guess? That I'm a big introvert but shameless if I start dancing
Studio Connection
What do you love most about teaching at The Yoga Pantry? Without doubt the People and the amazing plants around!
What’s your favourite thing about The Yoga Pantry community? Since the first day I've only seen welcoming eyes and smiles, it's so supportive!
What makes your classes unique or special? The opportunity to explore what's better for your unique self.
Quickfire Round
Favourite yoga prop: bolster
Favourite yoga playlist vibe: a vibrant Ecstatic dance set)
Favourite local spot to relax: in front of the Ocean
One thing you can’t live without: Music
Ele teaches Ripples of Being on Sunday mornings at 9.30am
Join her in person in our beautiful studio in Mt Eden or from the cosy comfort of your own home.
Book one of Eleonora's Classes and enjoy a wonderfully embodied experience. Dare I say it's better than church ;)
See you on the mat my awesome friend!
With gentleness and so much love,
Tash x
P.P.S Don’t forget to share your Yoga insights on social media with the hashtag #TheYogaPantryLife #Yogaislife
Let’s spread the yoga love far and wide!
I see you, and I appreciate you, you are awesome x
