Bessel Van Der Kolk’s The Body Keeps the Score, is a profound exploration of trauma and its long-lasting effects on both the mind and body. The book offers a comprehensive look at the way trauma alters the brain's physiology, emotional responses, and physical health, but what sets this book apart is its holistic approach to healing. Van Der Kolk integrates scientific research with personal stories and therapeutic case studies, highlighting traditional and non-traditional methods of trauma recovery, such as yoga and breathwork.
One of the most compelling aspects of the book is Van Der Kolk’s recognition of the body’s essential role in healing trauma. He explains that trauma survivors often feel disconnected from their bodies, leading to emotional numbness, dissociation, and chronic stress. In response, Van Der Kolk advocates for body-based practices, particularly yoga and breathwork, to reconnect the mind and body, helping survivors regain a sense of safety and control.
Van Der Kolk emphasizes that “trauma is stored in the body,” and that trauma recovery is not just about changing the way we think but about how we feel. Yoga, in particular, becomes a critical tool for trauma survivors because it teaches people to become aware of their bodily sensations and breath, fostering mindfulness and present-moment awareness. As he writes, “Body awareness puts us in touch with our inner world, the landscape of our organism. Simply noticing what we feel fosters emotional regulation, the ability to manage our feelings, and knowing what we need to do to take care of ourselves.”
In the context of trauma recovery, yoga offers a gentle, accessible way to regain a sense of control over the body. Van Der Kolk explains, “The act of focusing on the breath can provide a lifeline for people who feel overwhelmed by trauma-related sensations.” This emphasis on breathwork and bodily awareness helps people retrain their autonomic nervous system, which becomes dysregulated in trauma survivors. Yoga, with its rhythmic breathing and movement, allows trauma survivors to “calm down their nervous system and regain a sense of mastery over their bodies.”
He goes on to describe the transformative impact of yoga on trauma survivors, noting how breathwork, in particular, allows for a deep level of healing. “Neuroscience research shows that the only way we can change the way we feel is by becoming aware of our inner experience and learning to befriend what is going inside ourselves. Yoga does that.”
Van Der Kolk’s discussion of yoga and breathwork underscores the necessity of treating trauma as a physical as well as a psychological phenomenon. Traditional talk therapy alone, he argues, is often insufficient in helping survivors fully heal because it doesn’t address the body’s ingrained patterns of tension and fear. However, yoga allows individuals to access deeper layers of their trauma that are stored in their muscles and nervous system, helping to release tension and restore a sense of calm.
In conclusion, *The Body Keeps the Score* is an essential read for anyone interested in understanding the mind-body connection in trauma recovery. Van Der Kolk’s integration of yoga and breathwork as key components of trauma therapy is a reminder that healing is not just a cognitive process but a deeply embodied one. His work offers hope and practical tools for survivors to reclaim their bodies and lives after trauma.
If you wish to read this book I have a copy and I am happy to share it with you. I can also recommend listening to the book through audiable.
Namaste 🙏
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