Trauma-Informed Yoga with Anouk Prop and Lara Land, moderated by Harmony Slater.

by Lara Land | Feb 24, 2025 | COACHING, COMMUNITY, LAND BLOG, LARA LAND, Self Improvement, SELF-IMPROVEMENT

Trauma-Informed Yoga
with Anouk Prop and Lara Land,

MODERATED BY HARMONY SLATER
8:00am – 9:00am PST
11:00am – 12 noon EST
5:00pm – 6:00pm GMT

New Year Intention-Setting Workshop with Lara Land

During this session, expert teachers will shed light on the teaching and practice of trauma-informed yoga – a gentle approach to yoga practice that can help practitioners to manage and heal from trauma symptoms. A yoga practice that is sensitive to historical trauma experiences allows practitioners to feel more connected to their bodies, regulate their nervous systems, and reduce and overcome the symptoms of trauma such as fear, anxiety, guilt, shame, depression, anger, and dissociation. A trauma-informed yoga practice teaches us to regulate our flight or flight responses and promote body-mind self-awareness.

The Impact of Sharon Salzberg on Loving-Kindness Meditation

by Lara Land | Sep 29, 2024 | COACHING, COMMUNITY, LAND BLOG, LARA LAND, Self Improvement, SELF-IMPROVEMENT

Sharon Salzberg is a pioneering figure in the field of mindfulness and meditation, renowned for her deep commitment to spreading the practice of loving-kindness..

As one of the first teachers to introduce Buddhist meditation to the West, her work has transformed countless lives and made profound teachings accessible to a broader audience.

Early Life and Background

Born in New York City in 1951, Salzberg’s journey into meditation began during her college years. After studying Buddhism in India, she returned to the U.S. and co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in 1975, alongside fellow meditation teachers Joseph Goldstein and Jack Kornfield. This center became a cornerstone for those seeking a deeper understanding of mindfulness and compassion.

The Essence of Loving-Kindness

Loving-kindness meditation, or metta, is a practice that fosters an attitude of love and goodwill towards oneself and others. Through repetition of specific phrases, practitioners cultivate feelings of compassion, acceptance, and connection. Salzberg emphasizes that loving-kindness is not merely an abstract ideal but a practical tool that can enhance emotional resilience and interpersonal relationships.

In her influential book, “Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness,” Salzberg articulates the transformative power of this practice. She provides a clear framework for integrating loving-kindness into daily life, helping readers understand that cultivating compassion is both a personal and collective endeavor.

Contributions to Mindfulness and Meditation

Sharon Salzberg’s contributions extend beyond her teachings on loving-kindness. She has authored several bestsellers, including “Real Happiness” and “Real Love,” which explore mindfulness and self-compassion in depth. Her engaging writing style and relatable anecdotes make complex concepts accessible, encouraging readers to embark on their own mindfulness journeys.

Salzberg’s workshops and retreats draw participants from all walks of life, demonstrating the universal relevance of her teachings. By incorporating elements of psychology and modern science, she bridges the gap between ancient wisdom and contemporary issues, making her insights particularly resonant in today’s fast-paced world.

Creating Community and Accessibility

One of Salzberg’s significant contributions has been her ability to foster a sense of community among practitioners. Through her public talks, online courses, and podcast, “The Meta Hour,” she invites individuals to share their experiences and challenges in meditation, emphasizing that the journey toward loving-kindness is a shared one.

Her commitment to accessibility is evident in her efforts to reach diverse audiences. She advocates for the integration of mindfulness in various contexts, including schools, prisons, and mental health settings, making loving-kindness meditation a vital resource for healing and growth.

The Legacy of Loving-Kindness

Sharon Salzberg’s influence on the meditation community is profound. By popularizing loving-kindness meditation, she has encouraged a generation to explore the depths of compassion within themselves and towards others. Her teachings inspire practitioners to see loving-kindness as an antidote to the divisiveness and stress of modern life.

As we navigate a world that often feels disconnected, Salzberg’s work reminds us of the power of love and compassion. Her teachings encourage us to cultivate a mindset of kindness, fostering connections that transcend barriers and promote healing.

In our conversation on the Beyond Trauma Podcast we piece apart the most important aspects of a loving-kindness practice, the elements to switch up for trauma-sensitivity, and the difference between assessing

Yoga Evolutions: Healing and Revolution Through Practice

by Lara Land | Sep 1, 2024 | COACHING, COMMUNITY, LAND BLOG, LARA LAND, Self Improvement, SELF-IMPROVEMENT

Yoga has become increasingly popular during the 25+ years I have been practicing. Parents, friends, teachers, and doctors often recommend it.

What it is about yoga that is so life-changing is often hard for those of us “in it” to give voice to. Yet, finding words to explain the benefits of this mind-quieting practice is important.

Greg Nardi found yoga in 1996 and was immediately drawn to it as an ongoing practice. Yoga helped him feel healthy after years of childhood illness, anxiety and depression and more importantly gave him a sense of meaning and purpose. He dedicated himself to a yogic lifestyle as part of his healing journey and has been practicing ever since. Greg took four separate teacher trainings in the United States and Europe between 1997 and 2003. He took a dozen extended trips to Mysore, India between 1999-2016

to learn yoga with a focus in asana, yoga history and philosophy, pranayama, meditation, and chanting.

Though always called to the social, transformational, and revolutionary aspects of yoga, it is in more recent years that Greg has been able to make this calling the central theme of his professional life in yoga. As the Program Director for Yoga 4 Change, Greg supports this trauma informed yoga services non-profit organization in its mission to foster holistic wellbeing, resilience, and transformation for individuals and communities though evidence-based trauma-informed curriculum. Yoga 4 Change serves youth, veterans, ustice-impacted and folks with mental health struggles in Florida to increase their self-esteem, calm their nervous system, and gain emotional awareness and regulation.

Greg also sits on the Board of Directors for Chainless Change, a community of recovery offering second chances to those negatively impacted by the criminal legal system. Through advocacy they fight for lasting change that prioritizes care over cages, housing and healthcare over handcuffs, books over bars, and jobs over jails.

Most recently Greg completed his Yoga Therapy certification from Kripalu School of Integrative Yoga Therapy. In our conversation together on the latest episode of Beyond Trauma, Greg discusses what it means to be a yoga therapist, how it overlaps with trauma-informed practices and how his dedication to trauma-sensitive approaches has increased throughout his years practicing and teaching this ancient art.

Take a listen and let us know what you think!

Mentorship and Training for Trauma Sensitive Yoga

by Lara Land | Aug 18, 2024 | COACHING, COMMUNITY, LAND BLOG, LARA LAND, Self Improvement, SELF-IMPROVEMENT

At Three and a Half Acres Yoga, we believe in the profound impact yoga can have on healing and transformation. Our Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Teacher Training program is designed to equip yoga instructors with the tools and knowledge necessary to provide safe, inclusive, and healing yoga practices to individuals and communities affected by trauma.

Trauma-Sensitive Yoga: A Path to Healing

Our trauma-sensitive yoga training is grounded in the understanding that trauma impacts the mind and body. Traditional yoga practices can sometimes unintentionally trigger trauma survivors, which is why our program focuses on creating a safe, supportive environment. We emphasize sensitivity, empathy, and adaptability in teaching methods, ensuring that every yoga session promotes healing and empowerment.

Unique Mentorship Opportunities

One of the standout features of our program is the unique mentorship opportunities we offer. We recognize that the journey to becoming a trauma-sensitive yoga teacher doesn’t end with certification; it requires continuous support, guidance, and growth. Our mentorship program pairs trainees with experienced trauma-sensitive yoga instructors who provide personalized guidance, feedback, and support.

Key aspects of our mentorship program include:

One-on-One Support: Trainees receive individualized attention, helping them to refine their teaching skills and deepen their understanding of trauma-sensitive practices.
Ongoing Education: Mentors provide resources, insights, and additional training opportunities to ensure that our graduates stay informed about the latest research and best practices in trauma-sensitive yoga.
Community Building: The mentorship program fosters a sense of community and connection among trainees, mentors, and graduates, creating a supportive network for sharing experiences, challenges, and successes.

Spotlight on Graduate Success: Demetrius Napolitano and Fostering Meditation

We are incredibly proud of our graduates, who go on to make meaningful contributions to their communities. One such inspiring individual is Demetrius Napolitano, a graduate of our Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Teacher Training program. Demetrius has taken his passion for healing and mindfulness and channeled it into his organization, Fostering Meditation.

About Fostering Meditation:

Fostering Meditation is dedicated to providing meditation and mindfulness practices to foster youth. Understanding the unique challenges faced by children in the foster care system, Demetrius has created programs that offer a safe space for these young individuals to explore meditation, yoga, and mindfulness techniques. His work is a testament to the power of trauma-sensitive practices in fostering resilience, emotional regulation, and self-awareness.

Key Initiatives of Fostering Meditation:

Meditation Workshops: Regular workshops that introduce foster youth to meditation techniques, helping them develop tools for managing stress and anxiety.
Yoga Classes: Trauma-sensitive yoga classes that provide a supportive environment for physical and emotional healing.
Mindfulness Programs: Ongoing programs that integrate mindfulness practices into daily routines, promoting long-term well-being.

Demetrius’s dedication and impact through Fostering Meditation exemplify the potential of trauma-sensitive yoga to transform lives. His work serves as an inspiration to all our trainees and graduates, highlighting the ripple effect of compassion, healing, and empowerment. Listen to Demetrius’s story on the latest episode of Beyond Trauma.

Join Us in Making a Difference

At Three and a Half Acres Yoga, we are committed to training compassionate, skilled yoga instructors who can bring the healing power of yoga to those who need it most. Whether you’re a yoga teacher looking to specialize in trauma-sensitive practices or someone passionate about supporting trauma survivors, our program offers the education, mentorship, and community you need to make a meaningful impact.

Explore our Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Teacher Training program and become part of a movement dedicated to healing, empowerment, and transformation. Together, we can create a more compassionate and resilient world, one breath at a time.

What is Wellness

by Lara Land | Aug 16, 2022 | LAND BLOG, LARA LAND

In case you haven’t noticed, the last few years have seen a real shift in the way folks are viewing, talking about, and experiencing yoga and the whole wellness industry. Gone are the days of gurus, clear lineages, and cookie cutter definitions of what wellness is.

Those who like categorizing and those who need homogenous interpretations to feel like they know something will feel stretched these days wading through the various information out there on health and wellness… And that’s a good thing?

As Kerri Kelly details in her recent release, American Detox, The Myth of Wellness and How We Can Truly Heal, the wellness industry has long been corrupted, offering us many ways to buy our health, while always leaving us needing more. This unending and careless approach convinces us we need money and products to be well and leaves many feeling confused and lonely when they haven’t reached the positive sumit they were promised.

It also leaves out one or two important facts about wellness… the biggest being that we can not reach it alone.

Wellness includes things like access to clean air and water, health care, time and space, education and compensation, systems we achieve through each other when we live in healthy and well societies. When the places we occupy lack in these areas all of us suffer, some, by design, more than others.

This is systemic trauma and it is a side of trauma that has not been studied or talked about nearly enough. Kerri Kelly is trying to change that.

She is also one of the strongest voices advocating for a personal definition of wellness. This type of agency is the empowerment trauma survivors need and deserve. The ability to define what is wellness for me, what I need for my mind/body/spirit system to thrive is integral to the wellness I wish to create.

For those of us in the trauma informed yoga or yoga service space like Kerri Kelly and I have been in for so many years, learning not just to bring in trauma informed yoga but to listen to what the trauma survivors we are serving are really asking for, has been crucial to our evolution.

I know it’s what we are doing at Three and a Half Aces Yoga.

Take a listen to Kerri’s work and actions on my latest Beyond Trauma podcast on iTunes or Spotify as we talk about systemic trauma and the harm it is doing to all of us, no matter how close we sit to privilege.