Respite Yoga
Developed originally at the Trauma Center in Brookline, Massachusetts by Dave Emerson and Jenn Turner, in collaboration with Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) is now a program of the Center for Trauma and Embodiment. TCTSY is the first yoga-based clinical intervention for complex trauma, designed to support a variety of trauma survivors. With foundations in trauma theory, attachment theory, neuroscience, and Hatha yoga, TCTSY can support participants in reconnecting to their sense of self and healing from the effects of trauma. Elisabeth became a Certified Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator in March 2025.
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Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) is the first yoga-based, empirically validated, clinical intervention for complex trauma or chronic, treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder.
Although TCTSY employs physical forms and movements, the emphasis is not on the external expression or appearance (i.e. doing it "right"), or receiving the approval of an external authority.
Rather, the focus is on the internal experience of the participant. This shift in orientation, from the external to the internal, is a key attribute of TCTSY as a complementary treatment for complex trauma. With our approach, the power resides within the individual, not the TCTSY facilitator (TCTSY-F).
Further, by focusing on the felt sense of the body to inform choice-making, TCTSY allows participants to restore their connection of mind and body and cultivate a sense of agency that is often compromised as a result of trauma.
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Trauma can be defined as a profound impact on the nervous system and the body caused by an event that involves actual or threatened death, serious injury, or a threat to physical integrity, including sexual violence. TCTSY emphasizes that the experience of trauma can lead to a loss of choice and a disconnect from the body, and it aims to reintroduce safe spaces for individuals to practice making choices and reconnect with their physical sensations.
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TCTSY can be helpful for anyone, regardless of age, race, gender, body type or physical ability. It is intended for people who have experienced trauma or challenging life circumstances such as, but not limited to:
Intimate Partner Violence
Sexual Assault
Substance Use
Religious Trauma
Vicarious Trauma
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There are a few ways you could incorporate TCTSY into your healing journey. The recommended length of individual sessions to work as an adjunct treatment to complex trauma is 8 weeks, however, I offer a variety of options.
1:1 Virtual Sessions with Elisabeth
1:1 In Person Sessions with Elisabeth
Group TCTSY Sessions (Offerings vary)
Flexible Length of Participation, Minimum of 4 Weeks
TCTSY Informational Virtual Meeting with Elisabeth
TCTSY for your Staff, Clients, or Program
A Note from Elisabeth
Dear Reader,
If we haven’t met yet, my name is Elisabeth and I am the founder and facilitator of Respite Yoga. I was originally drawn to yoga over ten years ago in an effort to help my body remember how to breathe. Since then, I have continued to be amazed at the healing qualities of this practice. My work in direct services with survivors of domestic and sexual violence and people experiencing homelessness led me to pursue TCTSY. With a deep understanding of the impacts of both lived and vicarious trauma, I hope to offer a space for participants to find rest and connection within their own bodies and minds. I believe that the embodiment (awareness and integration of our physical sensations, feelings, and experiences into our overall sense of self and how we interact with the world) that can be discovered through TCTSY can be an integral part of one’s ability to heal, and contribute to healing in our world. As a service provider, I have had the privilege to get to know people from all walks of life. I am committed to creating a space that encompasses non-violence, dismantles harmful power dynamics, and honors the wholeness of humanity. I would love the opportunity to talk with you about how we might partner together.
With Gratitude,
Elisabeth Tropea, TCTSY-F
