Movement as the medicine. Yoga as the therapy.
Specializing in somatics and mind-body therapies.
Offering virtual mind-body therapies across the United Kingdom and Canada.
Based in London, UK.
Neuro and Trauma informed Yoga Therapy
Neuro and Trauma informed Yoga Therapy
Trauma lives in the body.
Our bodies tell a story, they hold our emotions, as our bodies are the home to our central nervous system. Our nervous system is how we process and perceive the world around us. The central nervous system is a biofeedback system that processes and reacts to the information arounds us and within our environments. When we perceive threat our bodies respond and when we receive emotional stimuli our body responds via the nervous system. We don’t just experience the world through our minds, we experience our world through our bodies.
Through our sensory neurons, mirror neurons, pain receptors we make sense of the world around us. We feel emotions in our body. Anxiety may be felt in our chest, excitement in our stomaches, stress in our muscles. Our experiences of the world is processed through the body before being experienced (cognitively processed) within the mind. In my professional opinion based on the works of experts such as Peter Levine Ph.D, Gabor Mate’ M.d, Bessel Van Der Kolk Ph.D, Stephan W. Porges M.d. Ph.D, & Deb Dana LcSW the body needs to be included when healing any psychological trauma, as the body is where the trauma is first experienced.
- Jen Miles RYT, IAYT
“Being able to perceive visceral sensation is the very foundation of emotional awareness.”
— Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk
Writer Page and Info
Writer Page and Info
Healing the psyche and soma:
Writing is a psychosomatic practice. Writing itself strengthens the connection between the psyche and soma. We literally do in fact “heal through words” (Rupi Kaur, 2022). Writing can help us re-connect to the fragmented parts of ourselves such as the self, soma (body), and community when trauma/disconnection occurs. For myself, through writing alone I have done some of my deepest and most profound healing in coming back to my body.
To heal in latin means to become whole and “healing” refers to the process of coming back into wholeness. Though I believe we are never not whole but rather we merely just forget. It’s through the processes such as individuation (C.G. Jung, 1961) we are able to become and remember our wholeness within; by mending the parts of the ego that become fragmented when we are disconnected from the Self because of life experiences and trauma. The process of healing is about the remembrance that we are whole. To heal does necessary mean we have to change or there is or was something inherently wrong or deficit within us, but rather there is just something that needed to heal. Can you feel the difference? To me that is the meaning of wholeness.
Through the process of writing I’ve mended the fragmented parts of my ego, Self, and body within my own psyche. Wholeness is when you can finally see yourself, through the fog of the unconscious mind. For mind-body practices such as writing I am forever grateful.
- Jen Miles
Degrees, Certificates, and Continuing Education:
Yoga, Anatomy, and Movement Training:
50hr Pranayama & Respiratory Science Training, Julia Mccabe School
240hr Yoga Teacher Teaching, VSOHA
300hr Foundations of Yoga Therapy, VSOHA
500hr Advanced Yoga Therapy, VOSHA
Mind/Body Certifications:
“Fighting Inflammation” Training Certification, Harvard Medical School
Dr. Herbert Benson mind-body medicine training course, Harvard Medical School
The Neurobiology of Attachment and how that profoundly impacts the treatment of Trauma, National Institute of Clinical Application of Behavioural Medicine, Dr. Bessel Van Kolk MD Training
Intensive Foundation Certificate in Psychotherapy & Counselling Psychology*
Introduction to Somatic IFS (Internal Family System): An Embodied Approach to Healing Trauma Certificate 2024*
Somatic EMDR, The Embody Lab 2024*
The Degrees and Advanced Certificates:
Certificate in Analytical Psychology Winter Intensive Training, C. G. Jung Institute of Analytical Psychology, Küsnacht Switzerland
BA- Bachelors of Arts in Child and Youth Care and Youth and Family Counselling, University of Victoria
Completed with over 700hrs of practicum hours and clinical supervision.
Advanced Dip. 1000hr Yoga Therapy accreditation program IAYT (International Association of Yoga Therapy) Diploma, VSOHA
Registrations and Memberships:
IAYT - International Association of Yoga Therapy
EAPM - European Association of Psychosomatic Medicine
BCYT - British Council of Yoga Therapy
Designations:
IAYT - Registered Yoga Therapist under the International Association of Yoga Therapy
BCYT - British Council of Yoga Therapy
Having consistent clinical supervision, working in collaboration, and continuing education is a steadfast value of mine.
Client Testimony:
“Jen is more than just a knowledgeable therapist and teacher. Her lived experience & self practice has made her especially adept in offering compassionate & holistic healing practices backed by evidence based research. My favourite thing about Jen is she's always the first to acknowledge that healing from trauma is never linear but she's always there to support the heavy lifting anyway. If I were to simplify Jen's approach to healing it would be that she fills the cracks of the modern medical system with accessible practices that take into consideration ALL of me and not just the label put on me by doctors.
Jen does not see me as a disorder or an illness. Jen sees me as I am; a WHOLE person with their own experience. She teaches me how to cope and improve myself as a whole. She's never trying to "fix" me because I'm not broken and I love when she reminds me of that!”
- J.H. (Anon)
FAQs
-
Yoga Therapy is a form of mind-body therapy. It’s clinical approach is focused on how the nervous system influences the individuals overall health. It is rooted in the understanding of the bi-directional communication via the nervous system in how the brain effects the body and the body effects the mind. Yoga therapy integrates both Western science and Eastern practices for a holistic approach to addressing ones’ health and wellness. by applying specific yogic practices to manage psychological, physiological, and neurological pain.
-
Both are innately therapeutic! However, yoga therapy is an individualized practice focused on the clients specific needs and nervous system variation. Stress can manifest itself in numerous ways within the body, therapeutic yoga curates practices best suited for the clients unique musculoskeletal variation.
Yoga Therapy offers a more specific practice based on persons goals, needs, and objectives to support the clients healing.
-
A private session will consist of:
general intake
Physical + energetic assessment
Therapeutic conversation/facilitation
Therapeutic application
Psycho-education on nervous system regulation and anatomy
recommended home practices
-
Everybody! Yoga is meant for every body. I offer accessible adaptive yoga for all body types both disabled and abled bodied. All you need is a body and your breath.
Yoga Therapy has been used as supplemental treatment for:
Mental/Emotional: PTSD, anxiety, stress, depression, dissociative disorders, ADHD, addiction, addictive behaviours, insomnia
Physical: Acute pain, persistent pain, tension, limited mobility, inflammation, high blood pressure, sciatica, respiratory issues
Energetic: deficient energy, hormonal imbalance, lack of vitality, excess energy, unable to remain focused or still.
Spiritual: Feeling as if something is off or missing, lacking of purpose, difficulty connecting with others, lacking joy in life
Inquiries? Wanting to connect?
For any questions about my work, offerings, or general Q&A.
I humbly acknowledge that I work, learn, play and live on the unceded, traditional territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish ), xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations