Events
Yoga for Mental Health: Bringing Your Body Into Mental Health Care
Sundays | 3:00–4:00 PM
Mental health isn't just about what happens in your mind. Your body and nervous system are part of the conversation, too.
Anxiety, depression, and trauma can affect more than your thoughts and emotions. You might notice persistent tension, restlessness, fatigue, difficulty relaxing, feeling disconnected from your body, or even a sense of being overwhelmed by physical sensations. Sometimes these experiences are difficult to put into words, but you can still feel their impact.
Neuroscience helps us understand how your brain and body continually communicate, influencing your emotions, stress responses, energy, and sense of well-being. Research suggests that body-based practices, including yoga, mindful movement, and breathing techniques, may help reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma-related distress.
Yoga for Mental Health brings together neuroscience-informed practices, somatic awareness, and evidence-informed therapeutic principles to support nervous system regulation, mind-body connection, and a greater sense of agency and choice.
Unlike traditional fitness-oriented yoga, this trauma-informed class integrates principles from Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY), mindfulness, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
Through accessible yoga shapes, breathing practices, and relaxation techniques, you're invited to explore your internal experiences, strengthen awareness of your body, and discover practical tools that may support emotional regulation.
The emphasis isn't on flexibility or achieving a particular shape. It's on noticing, exploring, and discovering what feels useful for you.
Location: Dedicated yoga space within a Chapel Hill therapy office
Time: 3pm-4pm
Cost: $20
Pre-registration is required for each class, as space is limited to 10 participants each week.
Giving back: 50% of proceeds will be donated to the Orange County Rape Crisis Center.
Previous Events
Ayurvedic Workshop for Balancing Vata
Learn Ayurvedic daily routines, diet, and lifestyle practices that we can do on and off the mat to create balance, warmth, and to stay grounded. This workshop includes a gentle Ayurvedic vata balancing yoga session. You will leave with a one-page document with seasonal guidelines. Seasonal Ayurvedic treat and vata balancing herbal tea is included.
Stress Relief & Rejuvenation
Participants will be guided in the Ayurvedic ancient healing technique of abhyanga, self-oil massage, using organic oils and focusing on releasing tension. Abhyanga can provide calm during times of uncertainty, soothe anxiety, improve sleep, stimulate circulation, and provide grounding. The Sanskrit word for oil is snehana, which also translates to love. This healing self-massage method promotes self-love. While the oil soaks in, enjoy an extended yoga nidra to promote deep physical, mental, and emotional relaxation. We will finish with breathing practices to calm the nerves and relax the mind.
RISE-Kripalu’s Signature Approach to Resiliency
In this two day retreat you will be introduced to the core concepts of RISE, Kripalu’s signature resilience-building program. Through accessible practices of meditation, breath, and gentle movement, learn how to:
- Navigate stress with skill to avoid burnout
- Build positivity, productivity, and mental clarity
- Improve stress resilience in the moment and over time
Anchored in the science of mindfulness, yoga and positive psychology, the RISE curriculum balances practice, research, and real-world application. Published research on RISE has shown that participants sustained a boost in mindfulness, empowerment, and resilience, as well as a 32% reduction in day-to-day stress levels. Return home or back to your office more mindful and with experiences you can easily apply to your life.
Ayurvedic Workshop for Spring-Balancing Kapha
Learn Ayurvedic daily routines, diet, and lifestyle practices that we can do on and off the mat to promote stimulation, vitality, and move stagnation that accumulates during the winter. This workshop includes an Ayurveda kapha balancing yoga session. You will leave with a one-page document with seasonal guidelines. Seasonal Ayurvedic treat and kapha balancing herbal tea is included.
Spring Community Cleanse In-Person Kick Off Session & 10-day Community Cleanse
Ayurveda considers the transition of seasons to be the ideal time for cleansing. Spring is the time to give your body the space to move stagnation, shed the protective layers from the cold winter season, and rid your body of excess mucous. An Ayurvedic cleanse rests and resets the digestive system and eliminates toxins.
Common signs that you might need a cleanse:
- Feeling puffy
- Sluggish appetite or bowels
- Brain fog
- Gas or bloating
- Lack of vitality or motivation
Cultivating Resilience through Yoga Philosophy and Ayurvedic Principles
This workshop is for anyone navigating life’s challenges, seeking greater clarity, inner peace, balance, and resiliency. In this workshop, we will explore teachings from yoga philosophy such as ahimsa (non-violence), santosha (contentment) and pratipaksha bhavana (cultivating positive thoughts) as tools for managing stress and cultivating resilience. We will also explore the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, the science of life, to understand the concept of sattva (goodness/purity) and learn practical techniques to develop and nurture this quality.
During the workshop, you will:
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- Dive into the wisdom of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and learn how these ancient texts offer practical guidance for building resilience and emotional well-being.
- Explore key concepts such as santosha (contentment), tapas (self-discipline), and vairagya (non-attachment) as tools for navigating life's ups and downs with equanimity.
- Gain an understanding of the three gunas (qualities of nature) in Ayurveda: sattva (purity), rajas (activity), and tamas (inertia).
- Learn how sattva influences your physical health, mental well-being.
- Discover Ayurvedic lifestyle practices, dietary guidelines, and daily routines to enhance sattva and promote balance.
- Explore mindfulness techniques, meditation practices, and self-reflection exercises to cultivate inner clarity and peace.
- Experience gentle yoga asanas, pranayama (breathwork), and guided relaxation to harmonize your mind and body.
- Receive practical tools and strategies for integrating yoga and Ayurvedic philosophy into your daily life to enhance resilience and well-being.
Ayurvedic Workshop for Summer-Balancing Pitta
Learn Ayurvedic daily routines, diet, and lifestyle practices that we can do on and off the mat to promote cooling, relaxation, and acceptance. This workshop includes an Ayurveda pitta balancing yoga session. You will leave with a one-page document with seasonal guidelines. Seasonal Ayurvedic treat and pitta balancing herbal tea is included.
Intro to Trauma Sensitive Yoga for Yoga Instructors
The purpose of this workshop is to assist instructors in teaching yoga in a more trauma-sensitive manner. Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) is an empirically validated, clinical intervention for complex trauma or chronic, treatment resistant, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This seminar serves as an introduction to Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY). It includes:
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An experiential TCTSY session
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Introduction to Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY)
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The theoretical underpinnings of TCTSY
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Trauma theory
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Attachment theory
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Neuroscience
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Review complex and developmental trauma, and adverse childhood experiences
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Underpinnings of TCTSY methodology
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Key evidence based research
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Practical approaches to make your teaching more trauma informed
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Grounding techniques that can be used for yourself or participants if triggered during practice
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Self-Reflection
The seminar will be led by Kathy Kondas, a certified Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator.
Upon completion of the seminar, participants will receive a certificate of attendance that can be submitted to Yoga Alliance for continuing education credits.
Attendance at the seminar does not imply that the participant is certified to facilitate TCTSY. Only certified facilitators are permitted to facilitate TCTSY.