As we enter a new year, the impulse toward deeper self-care and mental well-being is strong. Yet, starting that journey can feel overwhelming. This workshop, Yoga for Mental Health - Nervous System Reset, offers a supportive, trauma-informed space to begin, gently, sustainably, and with profound compassion right here in North Brisbane.
Theme 1: Foundations of Safety: Polyvagal Theory & Nervous System Mapping
This first quarterly workshop of our Embodied Nervous System Reset series dives into the foundation of your inner world. We will explore the principles of Polyvagal Theory, a revolutionary way of understanding how your nervous system constantly responds to safety and threat.
You'll learn how to "map your own states" with clarity, recognizing the subtle cues your body sends, from the alertness of sympathetic energy to the shutdown of dorsal vagal states, and the calm of the ventral vagal (safe and social) state. This awareness is the first step toward self-understanding and regulation, empowering you to meet yourself where you are without judgment.
A Trauma-Informed Practice for Regulation
The session is carefully structured to move you toward feeling settled and restored:
Gentle Movement: Used to safely meet and release excess sympathetic energy (restlessness or anxiety).
Restorative Shapes: Supported, passive postures designed to soften into a feeling of genuine safety.
Guided Rest Meditation: A powerful final technique to settle and restore deep balance.
This offering is grounded in trauma-informed principles of safety, choice, consent, and inclusivity. All bodies, all identities, and all levels of experience are welcome. No prior knowledge is needed, just an openness to learn simple ways to guide yourself back toward regulation.
Meet the Instructor: Nicole Sanders
The class is led by Nicole Sanders, an instructor with both professional expertise and deeply personal insight.
Nicole is an eating disorder, mental health & trauma informed yoga teacher. She has lived experience with her own mental health issues and all the techniques you will be taught, Nicole uses to manage and control her own mental health & well-being. This workshop will be taught from a trauma & mental health informed perspective.
“As the owner and director here at SoHo Yoga, I am passionate about making mental health support accessible to all... our goal is to empower you. Our senior, experienced teachers give you the tools you need to take the principles of your yoga practice and apply them directly to your daily life, giving you greater presence and resilience, both on and off the mat.”
This is an empowering way to begin your year with intention, nervous system awareness, and practices that nourish your whole self.
You can find the event details and share the original Facebook post with friends here: Yoga for Mental Health Post
Secure your spot for this essential reset workshop.
[Link to Workshop Booking Page: https://www.sohoyoga.com.au/whats-on/yoga-for-mental-health]