Yoga for Trauma Recovery
Tuesdays - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Led by Gayla Downey, RYT-500 (she, her)
Founder of Grateful Heart Rituals
Class Description
Yoga for Trauma Recovery is a gentle, trauma-informed practice designed to support connection to self and healing through the body.
Together, we’ll explore accessible movement, breath, grounding, mindfulness, and moments of stillness while honoring that every body and nervous system is different. Rather than focusing on perfect poses or pushing through discomfort, this practice invites curiosity, choice, and self-compassion.
Drawing from trauma-informed yoga, somatic awareness, and holistic approaches to recovery, we’ll practice noticing what is happening in the body and developing tools that can support greater steadiness, presence, and increased capacity for resilience—both on and off the mat.
Each practice is especially supportive for those navigating recovery, stress, trauma, or major life transitions. No yoga experience is necessary. You are always invited to move in a way that feels supportive and nourishing for you. You may choose to pause, rest, or simply observe.
The invitation is to build a more compassionate relationship with your body, one practice at a time.
What to expect:
• Gentle somatic yoga and mindful movement
• Breath and body awareness
• Opportunities to explore choice and self-trust
What to bring:
• Comfortable clothing
• Water
• Mats and props are provided but feel free to bring your own.
• Anything else that helps you feel comfortable and supported
Equity Pricing
At Empowered Spaces we value community care, we are committed to making our offerings accessible, and we believe in leveraging our privilege and resources when we can in order to support one another. This Equity Pricing Scale acknowledges that as a result of systemic injustice our ability to pay for services, and access those services, varies. Choosing a rate that is accessible and meaningful is a justice-oriented practice that honors our interconnectedness.
Choose your rate below:
Sustainer Rate - "I can pay my way" - $15 - Use discount code: SUSTAINER$15
Community Rate - "I can use support from my community" - $10 - Use discount code: COMMUNITY$10
Supporter Rate - "I can help support my community" - $20 as listed
Full & Partial Scholarships:
At Empowered Spaces, we believe healing spaces must be intentionally accessible—not just in theory, but in practice. Our Equity Scholarships prioritize access for Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BI&POC), as well as others who have faced systemic or financial barriers to participating in yoga and other healing modalities. This is part of our ongoing commitment to equity, collective care, and justice-rooted healing. To inquire about the Empowered Spaces Equity Scholarship, please contact Kelly at kkcaul@yahoo.com.
Health and Safety Precautions
We value community care and showing up for one another. Currently: Masks are optional. Please stay home if you have symptoms, test positive, or were exposed to someone with COVID-19. We use a HEPA air purifier in the studio. If anyone would like to participate and would only feel comfortable if everyone is masked, please email Kelly kkcaul@yahoo.com.
Accessibility
The Empowered Spaces studio is located on the ground floor. There is a 12-car parking lot adjacent to the studio & additional free parking on neighborhood streets. Restroom is wheelchair-accessible and ramp-accessible in the main building. Please reach out to Kelly kkcaul@yahoo.com if there is anything more we can do to make our offerings more accessible. Empowered Spaces is committed to accessibility, and strives to be accessible and inclusive of all abilities and all individuals.
Questions?
Email Gayla at gayla@gratefulheartrituals.com
Meet Gayla
My path to healing began more than eight years ago and continues to shape the way I support others today. Through my own recovery journey, I discovered the power of holistic healing practices to reconnect the mind, body, and spirit—and I now feel deeply honored to guide others as they navigate their own paths toward wholeness.
As a holistic recovery coach and trauma-informed practitioner, I offer compassionate, integrative support for individuals healing from substance use, trauma, mental health challenges, stress, and burnout. My work weaves together somatic practices, yoga, mindfulness, sound healing, nervous system regulation, and compassionate self-inquiry to create space for meaningful and lasting transformation.
I believe healing happens by cultivating a felt-sense of being safe, seen, and supported. Whether you are beginning your journey or deepening your healing process, I strive to hold a supportive and nourishing space where you can reconnect with yourself, cultivate resilience, and move toward a more grounded and empowered life.
I am currently continuing my professional training in Somatic Experiencing® at the Intermediate Year level, deepening my understanding of nervous system healing, trauma resolution, and embodied resilience.
*Coach for SHE RECOVERS® Foundation, which means that I am trained in, and my work aligns with the SHE RECOVERS® Intentions & Guiding Principles. I support the foundation as a volunteer facilitator and trauma-informed yoga teacher.