By Bronwen Firth Esther van der Sande is a somatic neuro-psychotherapist (MA), yoga and trauma therapist, TCTSY-facilitator, and a faculty member at the Centre for Trauma and Embodiment at JRI Boston and trainer & supervisor of the Certification Program of TCTSY. As a faculty member of the Yoga Therapy Institute, Esther teaches the ‘Trauma-Informed [...]
The leaves are falling, colors turning and the weather’s about to change. And along with everything else that Autumn brings, your body will change too. Here’s how, and what you can do about it. More dry skin than usual Your skin might react to the changing of seasons, every time, and in Autumn the [...]
I consider myself fortunate. As a somatic psychotherapist I get to work every day, with people I can truly support. People who have suffered complex and developmental trauma, and really need support to find a way through. And what I realised over the years, was that self-care was distinctly lacking not only in those individuals, [...]
By Aine Doris | June 23, 2021 A study led by Emory University’s Ursula Kelly finds trauma-sensitive yoga programs just as effective, faster to work, and easier to complete than cognitive therapy. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a sizeable issue in the United States military, affecting approximately 20 percent of all Veterans. Among women, [...]
We continue exploring how anxiety and fear behaves, especially in the light of Covid-19 measurements and quarantining. We might also feel anxiety and fear about society starting up again and streets becoming busier and back to “normal”. This can be shocking and anxiety provoking after a long time of the opposite. What happens after [...]
This month we would like to share with you some ways of how to deal with overthinking and the anxious thought patterns we all have, exploring one idea of how to manage anxiety and fear, and offering you some tools that you might find valuable. Many people are experiencing high levels of anxiety and [...]
“Let this just not be another trend” Nesrine Malik is stating the importance of acknowledging actions outside of the courtroom that delivered some accountability of George Floyd’s death. Let’s all continue this work. On and off the mat: “The arc of the moral universe does not bend on its own. It is bent in [...]
To the so many white people who practise yoga, please don’t stop, but please do take a moment to look outside of yourself and understand how the history of yoga practice in the United States is intimately linked to some of the larger forces of white supremacy. The origins of yoga can be traced [...]
by Sophia Hengelbrok Esther van der Sande is the director of Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Nederland, somatic psychotherapist, EMDR clinician and a qualified yoga (500+ hrs), mindfulness teacher and practitioner. She guides her clients through their challenges, enabling them to emerge from the other side feeling renewed, strong, and ready to face the world on their own terms once again. [...]
When we speak about the importance of self-care, we think about how it might calm us down or how it teaches you to perhaps learn to know where your boundaries and tolerances lie. Or maybe you think about taking a bath, meditating and putting on a face-mask. One way or another, we are perhaps [...]