The Yoga of Sex: A-MYSTERY Miniseries | Modules Six and Seven

Welcome to module six, trauma, disconnection, and the return to embodiment.

Throughout our journey together, we have explored sexual wellness, holistic sexuality education, identity development, media influences, objectification culture, power, gender, and sexual scripts.

In this module, we turn toward a topic that lies beneath many of these experiences, trauma.

More specifically, we will explore what trauma is, why trauma can disrupt connection with self and body, the relationship between trauma and sexuality, dissociation and disembodiment, the healing role of embodiment practices, how compassion supports recovery, how a mystery integrates trauma-informed approaches.

This module is grounded in a simple and profound truth.

Healing does not require becoming someone new.

Healing often involves remembering who you were and how you related with yourself and the world before survival became necessary.

Understanding Trauma When many people hear the word trauma, they imagine a catastrophic event.

Yet trauma is not necessarily defined solely by a single event.

Trauma is also about what happens inside of us when our capacity to cope becomes overwhelmed.

Two people may experience the same event differently.

One may feel supported, safe, and able to process what occurred.

Another may experience profound overwhelm, helplessness, fear, or disconnection.

Trauma is not a sign of weakness.

Trauma is a human response, a nervous system response, a survival response.

An intelligent adaptation to experiences that exceed our ability to integrate them at the time they occur.

From this perspective, trauma is not pathology.

Trauma is adaptation.

The challenges arise when adaptations that once protected us continue operating long after the original threat has passed.

Sexual trauma.

and relational wounds.

The literature reviewed throughout the A Mystery dissertation highlights the significant impact sexual trauma, interpersonal violence, abuse, and relational harm can have on wellbeing.

These experiences may affect emotional health, sexual health, self-concept, trust, intimacy, and connection to one's body.

Trauma can influence how people experience safety, trust, vulnerability, desire, intimacy, pleasure, connection relationships, identity, self-worth, and embodiment itself.

Many survivors describe feeling disconnected from themselves following traumatic experiences.

Welcome to module six, trauma, disconnection, and the return to embodiment.

Throughout our journey together, we have explored sexual wellness, holistic sexuality education, identity development, media influences, objectification culture, power, gender, and sexual scripts.

In this module, we turn toward a topic that lies beneath many of these experiences, trauma.

More specifically, we will explore what trauma is, why trauma can disrupt connection with self and body, the relationship between trauma and sexuality, dissociation and disembodiment, the healing role of embodiment practices, how compassion supports recovery, how a mystery integrates trauma-informed approaches.

This module is grounded in a simple and profound truth.

Healing does not require becoming someone new.

Healing often involves remembering who you were and how you related with yourself and the world before survival became necessary.

Understanding Trauma When many people hear the word trauma, they imagine a catastrophic event.

Yet trauma is not necessarily defined solely by a single event.

Trauma is also about what happens inside of us when our capacity to cope becomes overwhelmed.

Two people may experience the same event differently.

One may feel supported, safe, and able to process what occurred.

Another may experience profound overwhelm, helplessness, fear, or disconnection.

Trauma is not a sign of weakness.

Trauma is a human response, a nervous system response, a survival response.

An intelligent adaptation to experiences that exceed our ability to integrate them at the time they occur.

From this perspective, trauma is not pathology.

Trauma is adaptation.

The challenges arise when adaptations that once protected us continue operating long after the original threat has passed.

Sexual trauma.

and relational wounds.

The literature reviewed throughout the A Mystery dissertation highlights the significant impact sexual trauma, interpersonal violence, abuse, and relational harm can have on wellbeing.

These experiences may affect emotional health, sexual health, self-concept, trust, intimacy, and connection to one's body.

Trauma can influence how people experience safety, trust, vulnerability, desire, intimacy, pleasure, connection relationships, identity, self-worth, and embodiment itself.

Many survivors describe feeling disconnected from themselves following traumatic experiences.