Yoga for Anxiety & Trauma: a 6-week trauma-informed class series
Learn yoga, breath practices and gentle somatic movement to support your nervous system— live-online, in a small group, always at your pace
For anyone living with anxiety, trauma, or chronic stress who wants to feel more ease in their body, steadier in their mind, and more resourced in daily life.
This course is offered twice a year. Join the waitlist to hear when registration opens for the next session.
What is the Yoga for Anxiety & Trauma series?
Yoga for Anxiety & Trauma series is a six-week, live online, trauma-informed yoga program for people living with anxiety, trauma, and chronic stress. In small groups, you'll learn gentle movement, breath practices, and rest-based tools that support nervous system regulation — with choice and modifications at every step. No yoga experience needed.
You’ll be supported to go at your pace, with options— not pressure
A gentle, evidence-informed program where you’ll learn practical tools that support regulation without forcing anything. Everyone arrives with a unique set of circumstances — consideration is given to your energy level, what may be triggering, and how to make each practice feel supportive.
If you’re feeling nervous about joining — that makes sense. Many people I’ve worked with have tried yoga before and felt overwhelmed, like they don’t fit in or are “not good at it.” Not all yoga is the same, and not all classes are designed with anxiety and trauma in mind. Here, you’ll be guided in a way that prioritizes choice, stability, and dignity — so your practice can feel like support, not one more thing to get right.
✔ Your mind runs ahead (worry, racing thoughts, “what ifs”)
✔ You feel wired, braced, or exhausted from chronic stress
✔ You experience shutdown, numbness, or disconnection
✔ You experience pain from chronic tension and can’t seem to find relief
Who is this for …
✔ You want tools that help you in real moments (sleep, mornings, work stress, relationships)
✔ You’re craving a practice that feels steady and doable—not intense or performance-based
✔ You do not need yoga experience. This is appropriate for all levels, with modifications always available
What you’ll learn (and practice)
Each week we’ll practice and repeat core skills so your nervous system learns through experience—not willpower
Grounding + orienting practices to reduce overwhelm and bring you back to the present
Space to notice sensations, thoughts, and emotions with curiosity (no sharing required)
Breath practices that support settling — with options if breathwork feels activating
Trauma-informed movement to release holding and build body trust
Rest-based practices including guided relaxation / Yoga Nidra-style rest
Simple “between-class” tools you can use in 2–5 minutes at home
How classes flow: Each class begins with a short talk to ground you in why and how these practices reduce the effects of anxiety, trauma, and stress. Then we integrate — moving, breathing, and building capacity. Ample opportunity to ask questions for the group or privately. Over six weeks, you’ll build a toolkit you can actually use.
How is different from a regular yoga class?
Evidence shows yoga can be helpful for anxiety and trauma. But many classes aren’t designed for what you are carrying. Trauma-informed means we don’t push through.
✔ Small groups means you receive individual attention and guidance
✔ You’re always offered choice and options
✔ You’ll be empowered to work at your pace and rhythm
✔Language is non-shaming and non-demanding
✔ Modifications are normalized (including rest at any time)
✔ The aim isn’t perfect poses—it’s regulation, agency, and steadiness
Most yoga classes are generic. Here, the focus is helping you understand what works for YOU. We don’t just practice — we talk about why some things work and others might not. After the series, you should be able to join any yoga class and adapt it to suit your needs.
Live online - and that’s by design
This is not pre-recorded. Each class is taught live to a small group. For many people, practicing at home removes the stress of commuting, being seen, or walking into a new space. You’ll be guided in real time, with clear options for how to participate — props or no props, standing or seated, moving or resting — so you can choose what feels safest in the moment. Recordings are available if you miss a week.
What the research says
✔ From this series: 70% of past participants reported improvements in breath awareness, feeling connected to their body, critical self-talk, ability to relax, and overall mood
✔ Yoga and anxiety: Meta-analyses suggest yoga can reduce anxiety symptoms, especially for people with elevated anxiety.
✔ Trauma and PTSD: reviews of randomized trials suggest yoga can reduce PTSD symptoms and related depression, and is generally safe when appropriately delivered
✔ Trauma-sensitive yoga: in a large randomized trial with women veterans, trauma-sensitive yoga was as effective as cognitive processing therapy for PTSD symptoms — with more participants completing it
✔ Breathwork and Yoga Nidra: meta-analyses associate both with improvements in stress, anxiety, and mood
Research resources and citations and are available in the FAQ section
Overall, the evidence supports yoga, guided meditation, and breath-based practices as helpful, low-risk complements for many people living with anxiety, stress, and trauma symptoms.
Options to Join
Option 1: Intro Workshop: Nervous System Regulation for Anxiety
Great if you’re unsure about committing to the full class series.
A gentle, trauma-informed Yoga and Breath Workshop (online). nervous system basics with no jargon, what to do when you feel activated, and a take-home practice you can repeat.
DATES: Coming Soon
COST: $45
Option 2: Yoga for Anxiety & Trauma 6-Class Series (online)
Using evidence-informed techniques, you’ll learn tools to reduce the effects of anxiety, chronic stress, and trauma—guided in a way that respects your unique needs, energy level, and triggers.
Format: Live online (Zoom)
Access: Link sent after registration
Recording: Available for the duration of the series
DATES: Coming soon
COST: $297
About Katlin Robinson (C-IAYT)
Evidence-Informed. Rooted in Experience.
Katlin is a Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) and educator with over a decade of experience supporting people living with trauma, anxiety, and depression. Her approach bridges yoga philosophy with embodied, modern mental health principles—grounded, inclusive, and trauma-informed..
Compassionate Guidance
Students describe Katlin’s teaching as steady, spacious, and deeply supportive.
Her mentorship model ensures every participant is seen and supported, blending nervous system education and yoga therapy principles into every element of her classes.
Bridging Yoga and Psychology
Katlin’s work has been integrated into Emotion-Focused Therapy for Complex Trauma and presented to clinicians across Europe and North America. She has trained psychologists and psychotherapists internationally and contributed a chapter to an APA-published book exploring the intersection of yoga, embodiment, and trauma recovery.
What others have noticed
Preview the practices
These videos demonstrate some of the gentle practices that are incorporated into classes.
FAQ: Online Yoga for Anxiety, Trauma & Nervous System Regulation
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No. Everything is taught with options and modifications. You can participate seated, on the mat, or resting at any time.
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You’ll be given options from the start, including ways to pause, re-orient, or rest. You’re encouraged to choose what feels supportive. You will have access to Katlin between sessions through “office hours” if you need to check-in about any of the practices.
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Yes—classes are live online (Zoom). Recordings will be available for up to one year. You will also get an online resources guide.
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You will have access to the recordings so you can catch-up.
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No. This is not group therapy. Sharing is never required.
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Yoga therapy is not a replacement for mental health care. It can be a powerful complement. If you’re currently working with a therapist, many people find this supports that work.
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If you’re in immediate danger or need urgent support, contact local emergency services. In Canada, you can call/text 988 for suicide crisis support.
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Overall, the evidence supports yoga, guided meditation and breath-based practices as helpful, low-risk complements for many people living with anxiety, stress, and trauma symptoms.
Here is a sample of some of the research supporting yoga (and related practices) for anxiety and trauma
The tools in this series are evidence-informed and commonly used as supportive complements for anxiety, stress, and trauma-related symptoms. Research quality varies by study, population, and protocol—so we avoid “miracle claims” and focus on approaches that are low-risk, choice-based, and adaptable.
Yoga + Anxiety
Cramer, H., Lauche, R., Anheyer, D., Pilkington, K., de Manincor, M., Dobos, G., & Ward, L. (2018). Yoga for anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Depression and Anxiety, 35(9), 830–843. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22762 PubMed
Yoga + PTSD (Trauma Symptoms)
Nejadghaderi, S. A., Mousavi, S. E., Fazlollahi, A., Asghari, K. M., & Garfin, D. R. (2024). Efficacy of yoga for posttraumatic stress disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Psychiatry Research, 340, 116098. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2024.116098PubMed
Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Compared with Evidence-Based Psychotherapy (Women Veterans)
Zaccari, B., Higgins, M., Haywood, T. N., Patel, M., Emerson, D., Hubbard, K., Loftis, J. M., & Kelly, U. A. (2023). Yoga vs Cognitive Processing Therapy for Military Sexual Trauma–Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A randomized clinical trial.JAMA Network Open, 6(12), e2344862. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.44862 PubMed
Breathwork + Stress/Anxiety Outcomes
Fincham, G. W., Strauss, C., Cavanagh, K., & Kuyken, W. (2023). Effect of breathwork on stress and mental health: A meta-analysis of randomised-controlled trials.Scientific Reports, 13, 432. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-27247-yNature
Bentley, T. G. K., D’Andrea-Penna, G., Rakic, M., Arce, N., LaFaille, M., Berman, R., Cooley, K., & Sprimont, P. (2023). Breathing Practices for Stress and Anxiety Reduction: Conceptual framework of implementation guidelines based on a systematic review of the published literature.Brain Sciences, 13(12), 1612. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13121612PMC
Yoga Nidra-Style Guided Rest + Stress/Anxiety/Depression Outcomes
Ghai, S., Odyniec, P., & Ghai, I. (2025). Effects of Yoga Nidra on Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (online ahead of print). https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.70149 PubMed
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Many people join because of panic, “what if” thoughts, and chronic stress activation. Practices focus on steadiness, grounding, and downshifting—always with options (especially if breathwork feels activating).
For most people yoga works best if it is practiced regularly and as a complimentary practice that you can use along with medical treatment and/or psychotherapy.
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You’re not alone—for some people paying attention to the breath can exacerbate anxiety. My approach is to go slowly and build skills around awareness. In this series we focus on gentle breath skills plus non-breath alternatives (somatic movement, grounding, orienting, movement, and rest) so you can choose what helps in the moment.
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Many people with trauma histories benefit from choice-based, trauma-informed practice. If you’re unsure, book a free consult to talk it through.
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This series is specifically designed for anxiety/trauma responses: small-group support, trauma-informed language, choice-based pacing, and a focus on regulation, agency, and steadiness rather than poses or performance.
Most yoga classes are generic rather than individualized. The focus on helping you understand what works for YOU. We not only practice yoga, we talk about why some things work and others might not. After the series you should be able to join any yoga class and modify the practice to suit your needs.
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You will need a yoga mat, chair (folding is great so you can move it closer to you but any chair will do), a blanket or firm pillow.
I also recommend yoga blocks but they are not essential.
You will need a camera for your video and a quiet space to practice.
If you have family or roommates it is a good idea to let them know that this is important quiet time for you and noise should be minimal.
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I ask that you keep your camera on so I can make check in on you.
For privacy Zoom will be set so that participants will not see each other.
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Yes—everything is offered with modifications and you can practice seated or resting.
It is valuable for me to understand any limitations you have before the class series. I will connect with everyone before the class to check-in.
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Choose the workshop if you want a gentle first step or you’re nervous about committing.
Choose the 8-class series if you want repetition, skill-building, and a regulation toolkit you can apply in daily life.