As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, I have a first-hand understanding of what it means to live with the guilt, shame, and overwhelm that comes with trauma and abuse. After disclosing my abuse at 12 years old, all of these relatable thoughts and emotions led me to retract my story. I love with the shame for the next 6 years until I was able to break my silence at 18.

I began to find glimpses of freedom to pursue the life I had always envisioned for myself; to find my own voice again, and help others do the same.

Talk therapy alone was limited in its efficacy and speaking about my abuse didn’t feel enough to equip me with the tools I needed to deal with my trauma in a practical way and start living to my full potential.

I had found yoga in late 2019, and it quickly became the center of my healing journey.

Before yoga became a foundational element in my life, I had a disconnect in my body. Yoga grounded me in the present and allowed me to feel safe in my body. I learned how to use my breath to regulate my triggers and was finally able to respond to the challenges of everyday life in a healthy way instead of succumbing to reactivity.

Yoga helped me move through my body and emotions in a way that talk therapy couldn’t do.

Knowing that only 1 in 5 survivors actually get to a point where they feel they can disclose their abuse, I knew that I wanted to share the freedom and confidence that trauma-informed yoga had gifted to me, so in 2020 I became a trauma informed yoga teacher and established Beauty for Ashes Wellness Cultivation, where I offer private virtual trauma-informed yoga sessions and facilitate trauma-informed programs and classes for colleges. Here, I create a safe space for those who have experienced trauma to move gently into healing and find the strength they need within themselves to achieve their most ambitious goals.