Image courtesy of Pilates Anytime
Issue #397
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Trauma – by Dianne Gard
Trauma… a word not typically used in the Pilates vocabulary, is receiving greater attention, especially in recent years. Trauma can be defined as “an emotional response to a distressing incident.” Awareness of the effects of current and past trauma is becoming an important issue in the Pilates community and the fitness world at large. Somatic therapies, amongst others, are being utilized with great success. Unresolved trauma can cause emotions to become frozen in the body until they are released; movement and exercise can serve as outlets for this trauma.
Pilates seems to me such a natural conduit in this arena – the support of the equipment and control it offers helps to ground clients in their bodies; it develops mindful movement creating trust in one’s own strength; it offers dual awareness of the internal and external body in space – all contributors to establishing safety and restoration of the nervous system which are keys to working with those in distress (B. Rothschild, Trauma Essentials). Movements designed for trauma programs are naturally encompassed in the Pilates repertoire: balance, breathing, contralateral movements, crossing midline, primal and functional movements (such as squats, lunges, twisting), along with strength and control. (E. Clapp, MFT)
During my years of teaching, some clients, while consciously journeying through their Pilates repertoire, have experienced the unleashing of deep and long-trapped emotions. This probably sounds familiar to many of you. Tears began to flow, and stories of past pain moved from within to the surface. These are very sacred times to me. I believe the vulnerability that occurs is such a connector of humanity, something I believe this world needs so much today. Though the client stops physically moving, movement is still occurring from within, often in profound ways. We are not therapists, but if we are open, we are invited to hold this time with them and allow a safe space for emotions or stories that might arise. Research shows that being attentively listened to lowers blood pressure, slows heart rate, and decreases stress hormones, resulting in a more balanced body. Perhaps allowing a client to express what surfaces during a session, even if that means completing fewer exercises, is well worth it to help the whole body integrate and move more consciously.
On intake forms, we ask about physical limitations and issues, but generally not “issues of the heart.” Clients understandably may not want to share, or remember, very personal history such as grief and abuse. Two poignant words I’ve read recently in my research on trauma are attune and attend (thank you, Dr. Gabor Maté). Our clients’ bodies tell us stories every single time we see them. If we attune – notice their carriage as they walk in the door, tone of voice, change in body rhythm, forced smiles and sad eyes – therein lies an opportunity to attend to them in their spirit, as well as their physical being.
As example, if a client enters the studio deviating from their normal posture, perhaps seemingly rounding into themselves, this could potentially alert us to their need to self-protect. Initially working gentler, ‘less exposing’ exercises such as rounding over a physio ball, half roll down, flexion exercises on the ‘cocoon-like’ spine corrector, or restorative poses synergizes more with the current state of the nervous system and reassures its safety. The theory is that if the emotional body is met where it is, it has the power to regulate itself to a calmer state. Gentler exercises can help proprioception, another key to feelings of safety and connecting to the present (C. Hibbert, PhD).
This correlates to a topic that deserves further discussion, the psoas, theorized as the “muscle of the soul.” Research suggests that since the psoas originates in the lumbar and thoracic spine and is the only muscle connecting our spine to our legs, it is part of our central nervous system and stores our emotions of fight/flight and freeze (L. Koch, The Psoas). One client of mine became very emotional while in the inversion part of short spine massage. I believe this pose innately connected to her protecting herself from 20 years of suppressed grief over her son’s suicide. This, with the combined support of the equipment and safety she felt with the environment, seemed to unleash her grief. I cherished holding that space with her as she wept.
Often clients have a piece of equipment where they feel most comfortable. Safety is a key when working with trauma, so learning to watch subtleties in their bodies on different equipment helps to know where to take them on days of anxiety, challenges in focusing, and even holding of breath. I appreciated a tip once to watch hands, as their tension/rigidity speaks volumes. Perhaps our awareness also causes us to soften our voice, select different imagery, and carefully choose our cues, as certain words can be triggering. Touch can also be a powerful trigger, so our professional guideline of asking permission to use tactile cues carries even greater importance. There is so much to discuss on the topic of trauma and emotional distress. We may not know whether or not someone has experienced, or is experiencing, traumatic situations. However, if we sharpen our tools of emotional attunement, are receptive, and meet clients where they are, we have another avenue for shining our light even brighter. Our smiles, kindness, following-up on details about their lives, positivity, and encouraging words carry more weight than we might know. The more I teach, the more I realize that the heart of Pilates for me is truly that … connected hearts. The worlds of movement and trauma are connected, whether we realize it or not. Pause…breathe…what a privilege to share in that space.
Dianne’s love of movement, and background in multiple styles of dance, as well as a desire to help others, became the “strong whisper” that led her from a corporate environment to becoming a nationally certified Pilates teacher over fifteen years ago. A continuing education devotee, she is certified as a Scoliosis Coach and holds certification for coursework in Dance Movement Therapy. She has been a guest speaker and presenter at health events throughout the years. Dianne feels truly privileged and grateful to share the movement of Pilates as her career, and to witness its healing, for body and soul.