Explore body based healing and Learn more about how a compassionate understanding of trauma and trauma sensitivity can lead to powerful change with our personal communites and work. Together we can make a difference in the lives of those suffering.
Bring the body into Healing
Conventional, top-down trauma therapies
often neglect the impact of trauma on the body.
An embodied, bottom-up approach makes healing possible for the whole person.
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Join thousands of trauma-informed professionals
around the world who successfully treat trauma
by centering body awareness in the healing process.
Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) is a program of Center for Trauma and Embodiment (CFTE)
TCTSY ​is the first yoga-based empirically validated, clinical intervention for complex trauma or chronic, treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
​​It is the only yoga model of its kind to have met the criteria for inclusion in the US-based National Registry of Evidenced-based Programs and Policies (NREPP) database published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
ABOUT The Trauma Sensitive Yoga Foundational Trainings
This 20-hour (14 hours in person or live via zoom; 6 hours self-study) foundational training will emphasize the core components of the practice of trauma-sensitive yoga, and how those fundamental elements relate to any anti-oppressive and trauma-informed work.
Designed for anyone interested in deepening their understanding of the whole-system impact of complex trauma (both systemic and interpersonal), this training will review the significant effects of trauma on the brain, body, and relationships, as well as the psychological and neuroscientific underpinnings of the TCTSY model. Participants may include, but are not limited to, yoga instructors, social workers, mental health clinicians, educators, activists, somatic practitioners and healers, or other health care professionals, as its applications can extend far beyond the yoga mat.
Experiential in design, the training will encourage you to explore your understanding of trauma and the how it impacts the whole of the survivors life. It will emphasize the core components of the practice and process of Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga and will provide specific tools to support participants to facilitate body based movement and breath practices that are vital to the healing process.
Participants will learn how to meet survivors on their healing journey and explore a shared authentic experience of embodiment. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of this empowerment based program that facilitates a present moment experience of safety and predictability. This training is intended to support participants in expanding their current clinical or movement-based practice to incorporate some of the TCTSY methodology, focusing on movements and language that actively share power and agency with practitioners. Group lectures, practice through movement and breath, as well as group practicum will be offered.​
There are NO prerequisites to attend this foundational training.
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​Foundational Trainings are approved for 20 Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Hours (CEs):
​18 CEs with International Association of Yoga Therapists
4 self-care CEs with the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork
(these credits are retroactive to NCBTMB certified therapists who took a foundational training after October 2022).
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This training is also the primary prerequisite to our yearly 300-hour Certification Program in TCTSY.
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​ Explore:​
• Trauma Theory, Attachment Theory and Neuroscience (Interoceptive Theory)
• Neurophysiology & Biology of Stress and Trauma (How Trauma Impacts the Brain)
• Spectrum of Trauma Impacts & Complex Trauma as Lived Experience
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• Power, Oppression, & Intersectionality
• Building Trauma Sensitive Relationships
• TCTSY Practice Facilitation
• Key Elements of TCTSY
• Challenges in Implementing
• Overview of Studies on TCTSY
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About the Trainer
​Keri Sawyer E-RYT 500, YACEP, TCTSY Licensed Trainer
Keri Sawyer, owner of Openview Yoga, has over a decade of experience facilitating movement and breath practices, embodiment, and trauma informed practices. She is a seasoned speaker and facilitator who has trained thousands of people as an experienced 500 hour yoga teacher and licensed Trainer with the Center for Trauma and Embodiment. She provides support, creates community and communicates between trainers and the Center for Trauma and Embodiment as the Trainer Liaison. She provides Trauma Sensitive yoga to trauma survivors of all ages, facilitates trainings for yoga teachers and healthcare workers, and provides research-based information and trauma-informed treatment practices to the therapeutic world. She oversees the implementation of of trauma informed practices into therapeutic models in clinical and residential treatment programs across the country along with agency trainings and regular consultation for mental health clinicians, therapists, nurses, massage therapists, yoga teachers and more. Her passion is to provide an opportunity for survivors of trauma to have an authentic experience with a safe and predictable felt sense of their body along with spreading awareness of trauma-informed practices.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY About Keri Sawyer
Keri is a great presenter and a master teacher. It is evident she cares about her clients and believes deeply in this modality. She is attentive to questions and knowledgeable. Very Enriching.
Keri is extremely knowledgeable and does an excellent job translating her clinical knowledge into a lecture format in a way that is engaging, inspiring and easy to understand even if you do not have a background as a yoga teacher.
Keri is great! Awesome presenter and gives very understandable examples on he topics discussed, made things easy to understand. She is patient and also gives awesome resources for continuing.
Keri is kind, warm, clear, approachable, knowledgeable and straight forward. I learned a lot from her training. She models TCTSY in a professional and repeatable way.
Keri is thoughtful, knowledgeable, and present as a TCTSY facilitator. It was a privilege to have the opportunity to train with her, and empowering to explore this new modality with her and learn about her approach to teaching TCTSY
Keri was so wonderful through out this weekends session. She leads by example with such a calm demeanor and makes herself available for further explanations as needed. I enjoyed my time working with and learning from her.