WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.370 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): We're here, but welcome to our… our office hours and our exploration for today. It is Wednesday, August 13th, 2025. 2 00:00:13.800 --> 00:00:28.059 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And I thought we would explore what it means to be trauma-informed in a not-trauma-informed context, right? Like, our world, our society, our culture. 3 00:00:29.570 --> 00:00:36.440 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): For many of us, for some of us, maybe we are in, like, an immediate community that is, but for many of us, we might be living in… 4 00:00:36.490 --> 00:00:52.509 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): social structures or work-in-work environments that are not, you know, that are not actually caring for our choice, our agency. They're not using invitation-based language or giving us permission to opt in and out. 5 00:00:52.510 --> 00:00:58.699 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): That maybe are overwhelming to our nervous systems, and so I thought we'd explore 6 00:00:58.700 --> 00:01:01.770 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): What it is, like, how can we care for ourselves? 7 00:01:02.040 --> 00:01:03.730 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and others. 8 00:01:04.530 --> 00:01:07.759 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): In conditions that are not trauma-informed. 9 00:01:07.890 --> 00:01:11.130 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Nice. Okay, Caitlin, hi. So great to… 10 00:01:11.450 --> 00:01:15.799 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): See you, and thank you. And, … 11 00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:22.900 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): it was sort of shocking, the first yoga event that wasn't exactly trauma-informed. Bonnie, what do you… what do you mean? 12 00:01:25.800 --> 00:01:37.280 Bonnie@YogaConnexus: I recently did a yoga intensive with a teacher I've been following for years, and who actually helped us when, like, we needed to call attention to a not-great situation. … 13 00:01:37.650 --> 00:01:47.590 Bonnie@YogaConnexus: But her teaching wasn't exactly trauma-informed, and it was just kind of a shock to my nervous system, like, to not have the invitation, and just to kind of notice, like. 14 00:01:47.990 --> 00:02:06.140 Bonnie@YogaConnexus: you know, when we were kind of being bossed around, and we weren't doing it the right way, even though she was calling out everybody else for their wrong way, but then we had to do it her right way, I just, I was like, it was sort of like that Scooby-Doo, like, what? What? So, yeah. 15 00:02:06.490 --> 00:02:14.350 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Yeah, yeah, and it can be so disorienting, I think, when we're in spaces that we think are going to be… 16 00:02:15.070 --> 00:02:21.969 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): You know, I think it's… It's almost like an expansion for me of the word trauma-informed to… 17 00:02:23.140 --> 00:02:36.289 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): to community-centered, to empowerment-centered. I don't even know if we have all the words, right? But it's actually a complex, combination of things that we're doing. 18 00:02:36.500 --> 00:02:50.599 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): to create a space that returns a locus of control and empowerment to each individual, and not us as teacher, right? And I think about this with 19 00:02:51.530 --> 00:03:08.409 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): my parenting as well, right? There's so many places, right, and for folks in workplace, you know, in our workplaces, in our relationships with colleagues, you know, if we're essentially the superior of someone or a subordinate, right? Such a weird word, superior or subordinate, but… 20 00:03:08.470 --> 00:03:12.669 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): You know, there's hierarchies in workplaces, and… 21 00:03:13.540 --> 00:03:20.939 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): making that power explicit, and then choosing how we either wield it or respond to it, you know? 22 00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:23.320 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And all of those things. 23 00:03:23.490 --> 00:03:36.740 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): all of that is a part of, for me, what it is to be trauma-informed, and I see… Amy said, I got my 200 hour from someone like that. Yeah, embodies… almost all of us probably did, it's true. … 24 00:03:37.160 --> 00:03:38.270 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And… 25 00:03:38.610 --> 00:03:50.270 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): certainly many folks have been in classes like that, right? Or learning experiences like that, and so we can kind of know from trusting 26 00:03:50.290 --> 00:03:59.639 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): our own nervous systems, trusting our gut, like a little gut check. Our breath, right, what's happening in our bodies, like, does this space feel… 27 00:04:00.080 --> 00:04:13.279 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): like, expansive, or does it feel more contractive? And we're conditioned from when we're very young, through the school system, to just, one, like, tolerate, two, expect. 28 00:04:13.450 --> 00:04:23.440 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And then three, like, reinforce these… those more power-over, not-trauma-informed types of, ways of being. And so it is… 29 00:04:23.590 --> 00:04:31.150 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Radical and liberatory when we can… even when we can just notice it, even if we can't do anything about it. 30 00:04:31.490 --> 00:04:45.619 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): So, yeah, thank you for all of that. And I want to just start us off with a little, check-in, a little practice in our bodies, so you can find a way to be that's easeful. 31 00:04:46.300 --> 00:04:50.630 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): maybe seated… Standing, lying down. 32 00:04:51.230 --> 00:04:53.179 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Noticing your breath. 33 00:04:57.380 --> 00:04:58.660 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Hmm… 34 00:05:03.010 --> 00:05:04.170 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And… 35 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:11.619 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Beginning to connect in deeply. 36 00:05:12.770 --> 00:05:24.220 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): to your own body, your own felt sense or rhythm. If it feels supportive to bring awareness to your body, then do that. If you prefer to bring awareness to your breath. 37 00:05:25.660 --> 00:05:29.600 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Or just some other sensation, invitation to do that. 38 00:05:53.660 --> 00:05:58.880 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Deep breath in… And full breath out. 39 00:06:10.640 --> 00:06:17.260 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Noticing where you might feel ease and safety in your body. 40 00:06:18.970 --> 00:06:24.599 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Could be in one small place, like, maybe in your little pinky finger. 41 00:06:38.840 --> 00:06:40.640 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Noticing… 42 00:06:45.100 --> 00:06:50.640 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): If you can expand… The feeling of that ease and safety. 43 00:06:51.330 --> 00:06:53.760 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Through your whole body. 44 00:07:09.230 --> 00:07:16.349 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Now letting your awareness… Move from your breath, or whatever point of focus. 45 00:07:18.470 --> 00:07:21.510 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Into a reflection. 46 00:07:22.120 --> 00:07:26.310 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): On a time where you felt… Grounded. 47 00:07:27.370 --> 00:07:35.989 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And safe enough to take a risk. And this could be big or small. This could even be, like, a moment of… 48 00:07:37.430 --> 00:07:41.619 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Maybe on your yoga mat, being on all fours, and… 49 00:07:41.750 --> 00:07:48.530 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Reaching out and lifting up your left arm, sending your right leg back behind you. 50 00:07:50.360 --> 00:07:53.200 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): A little bit of a balance. 51 00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:57.949 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): We're standing up for Rakshasana, Tree Pose. 52 00:07:59.860 --> 00:08:04.320 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): There's all these ways that we… Ground. 53 00:08:04.470 --> 00:08:07.299 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Feel the points of contact with the Earth. 54 00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:09.370 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And then extend. 55 00:08:10.980 --> 00:08:13.139 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): In our asana practice. 56 00:08:13.410 --> 00:08:15.500 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And also in our lives. 57 00:08:17.420 --> 00:08:23.769 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And so you might… Bring your arms up, expanding out. 58 00:08:24.210 --> 00:08:28.110 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): As much as you want, any amount, away from your body. 59 00:08:28.230 --> 00:08:32.419 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Feeling what it's like to… Extend. 60 00:08:33.929 --> 00:08:36.110 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And then exhale. 61 00:08:37.260 --> 00:08:45.390 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Bringing your hands back to tend, placing your hands on your own heart, or on your own body, anywhere that feels supportive. 62 00:08:48.120 --> 00:08:53.599 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I… am doing… exactly what I need to do. 63 00:08:55.770 --> 00:08:57.690 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Just as I am. 64 00:08:58.130 --> 00:09:00.849 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I honor and accept myself. 65 00:09:06.200 --> 00:09:15.139 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): You can stay right here if you'd like, expanding and stretching your arms out. Again, maybe the same direction, or another one, maybe up. 66 00:09:15.420 --> 00:09:21.570 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Towards the sky, or down towards the earth, or back behind you. 67 00:09:25.690 --> 00:09:34.540 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And then inhale, bringing your hands somewhere else on your body that might want to be tended to, cared for. 68 00:09:49.070 --> 00:09:52.150 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I can protect what's precious. 69 00:09:52.970 --> 00:09:57.649 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And that's in that protection and that care of myself. 70 00:09:58.220 --> 00:09:59.660 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I find strength. 71 00:10:04.280 --> 00:10:08.219 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And I can do that to the best of my ability right now. 72 00:10:09.570 --> 00:10:15.879 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): With what I know, and all the tools and wisdom and knowledge that's available to me. 73 00:10:21.630 --> 00:10:28.129 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And then one more time, if you'd like, stretching in either the same direction or a different direction. 74 00:10:29.760 --> 00:10:37.000 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Practicing with the spanda, the movement of energy, Contraction and expansion. 75 00:10:38.010 --> 00:10:44.840 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And I think often in our society, we think of expansion as, like, the desirable, right? Like, more do. 76 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:48.689 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): But playing with expansion is just, like… 77 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:56.389 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): The little kind of break between the contraction, the care, bringing your hands to care somewhere else. 78 00:10:57.500 --> 00:10:59.090 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): for yourself. 79 00:10:59.290 --> 00:11:03.959 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Maybe gently massaging wherever your hands are, if that feels good. 80 00:11:06.760 --> 00:11:08.810 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I surrender. 81 00:11:10.440 --> 00:11:12.350 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Surrender and release. 82 00:11:12.590 --> 00:11:23.540 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): my ability… To know, to control… But despite… Everything. 83 00:11:23.710 --> 00:11:25.909 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I love and care. 84 00:11:26.640 --> 00:11:27.980 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): For myself. 85 00:11:37.650 --> 00:11:45.400 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I'm releasing… Your hands resting them down anywhere on your body. 86 00:11:50.970 --> 00:12:05.150 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I'm gonna tell a little story. You're welcome to listen or turn the sound down if you prefer to just sit in silence, and I'll bring my hands together in front of my face in case your sound is off, so you can see when we're complete. 87 00:12:05.630 --> 00:12:24.269 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): But this story, as we're coming up to the celebration of the birth of Krishna, is… and I won't go into detail, because it can be kind of an activating story, but the story of Krishna's birth was a fraught… a fraught moment. It wasn't an easy moment. 88 00:12:24.870 --> 00:12:34.619 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): It was a time when… There was a lot of oppression and control in the… 89 00:12:35.410 --> 00:12:39.080 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): community. There was very harsh conditions. 90 00:12:39.970 --> 00:12:50.680 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And… there was a ruler named Kamsa who was just kind of… Wreaking havoc across the community. 91 00:12:52.710 --> 00:13:04.980 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And he… it was not safe for his wife to be pregnant or give birth, and so she was trying to take care of her child, the child that would be Krishna. 92 00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:20.190 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And the texts say on the night that she went into labor, the stars shone really brightly, the river flowed gently and full, and there was a kind of stillness over the land. 93 00:13:21.140 --> 00:13:28.619 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): In a trauma-informed perspective, we might call this a moment of co-regulation with the universe. 94 00:13:29.250 --> 00:13:31.730 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): The environment shifting. 95 00:13:31.890 --> 00:13:33.170 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Just enough. 96 00:13:33.660 --> 00:13:37.300 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And sometimes we might notice these subtle shifts. 97 00:13:37.810 --> 00:13:44.109 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): If we're able to attune to them the gentle temperature or breeze on our skin. 98 00:13:45.670 --> 00:13:50.710 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Maybe the warmth or cool of the environment, the sunlight. 99 00:13:51.460 --> 00:13:53.919 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): The coolness, whatever it is. 100 00:13:54.570 --> 00:13:59.600 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): That's supportive, and in this moment, Krishna was born. 101 00:14:02.940 --> 00:14:09.670 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And so, though he was not safe where he was, he was placed 102 00:14:10.260 --> 00:14:17.470 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): In a basket, and began a journey. And… in this journey. 103 00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:33.749 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): He was carried by someone who was caring for him, and their journey was not easy. It was through storms, through darkness, and he even came to the Yamana River. And at the river, although the waters were really high, the… 104 00:14:34.010 --> 00:14:42.629 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Tales say that they parted enough for Vasudeva Krishna's… Caretaker to pass. 105 00:14:45.310 --> 00:14:54.259 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And in the community that he arrived at, there was a new family who cared for him, embraced the vulnerable. 106 00:14:56.760 --> 00:15:03.709 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And his childhood was so nourishing, full of music and play and connection. 107 00:15:06.070 --> 00:15:11.219 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And soon, from… You know, his year passed to year past. 108 00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:24.650 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Krishna grew into the divine being, right, and acknowledging that, for many, Krishna is not just a person or a human form, but also 109 00:15:25.030 --> 00:15:32.230 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): … also a divine being, right? So… or an energy or a quality. 110 00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:41.350 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And he embodied these qualities of kindness, of playfulness, sometimes cheekiness, joy. 111 00:15:41.570 --> 00:15:48.689 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Through having been nurtured in community care, in an environment that nourished him. 112 00:15:50.040 --> 00:15:59.690 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And he would grow to challenge the rule of the oppressive king, and restore justice and equality and… 113 00:16:00.550 --> 00:16:06.969 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): More ease, harmony in the universe to the community where he lived. 114 00:16:08.270 --> 00:16:11.109 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And so, from this story. 115 00:16:11.340 --> 00:16:20.749 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And this is definitely a more trauma-informed kind of liberatory reading, right? There's many ways to read the story, so just acknowledging that. 116 00:16:21.470 --> 00:16:26.079 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): It's asking us to explore. You know, we're… 117 00:16:26.310 --> 00:16:36.090 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): We are born as sentient beings into the world that is filled with challenge, sometimes external challenges, like oppression. 118 00:16:36.680 --> 00:16:40.210 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): War, violence, gender-based violence. 119 00:16:40.700 --> 00:16:43.660 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Sometimes internal challenges. 120 00:16:43.990 --> 00:16:47.690 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Mental health challenges, physical challenges, right? 121 00:16:49.150 --> 00:16:55.519 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And so in… these causes and conditions, yoga… 122 00:16:55.720 --> 00:17:04.120 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): practice is no guarantee of removal of suffering, right? There's not an immediate, like, lifting of oppression. 123 00:17:04.930 --> 00:17:09.789 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): But what in us is being born that we can care for? 124 00:17:09.910 --> 00:17:17.460 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): How can we protect our joy? Our… Playfulness. 125 00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:28.310 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And are there small acts that make it possible for peace or power, joy, or playfulness, ourselves or others? 126 00:17:28.550 --> 00:17:29.790 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): to grow. 127 00:17:30.500 --> 00:17:31.870 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): to emerge 128 00:17:36.750 --> 00:17:43.179 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): So, reflecting on what creates that kind of safety or choice and agency. 129 00:17:45.650 --> 00:17:50.179 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): where can we lean on our relatives, right? Not necessarily… 130 00:17:50.410 --> 00:17:57.160 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Just family, but, like, friend, family, community, relational, community care and support. 131 00:17:59.510 --> 00:18:01.989 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And protect what strengthens. 132 00:18:03.530 --> 00:18:04.950 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): The Protector. 133 00:18:06.020 --> 00:18:07.540 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And the protected. 134 00:18:13.760 --> 00:18:21.970 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): We can close our practice with… a little… phrase in English. 135 00:18:22.140 --> 00:18:28.299 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): If you would like to use this. Inhale. I am safe. 136 00:18:29.860 --> 00:18:31.340 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Exhale. 137 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:35.150 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I create safety. 138 00:18:39.850 --> 00:18:42.829 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Inhale, I am safe. 139 00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:48.370 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Exhale, I create safety. 140 00:19:00.610 --> 00:19:02.610 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Inhaling… 141 00:19:04.860 --> 00:19:15.520 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Gently coming out of this meditative practice. We'll move into journaling in a moment, but looking around you, taking in color and shape and form. 142 00:19:16.330 --> 00:19:26.080 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Maybe noticing if there's anything in your environment that helps cultivate a feeling of protection, protectedness, groundedness, safety. 143 00:19:30.860 --> 00:19:32.590 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And then we'll come back. 144 00:19:33.710 --> 00:19:34.880 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Together. 145 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:37.969 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I asked you a few questions. 146 00:19:40.250 --> 00:19:46.780 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And I'll put some of them in the chat, if you'd like to take a little time to journal. 147 00:19:47.380 --> 00:19:53.960 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): What in me is being born that needs Or wants protection. 148 00:19:57.630 --> 00:20:04.620 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): What small acts today make it possible for peace to live and grow? 149 00:20:12.630 --> 00:20:14.430 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): What conditions? 150 00:20:14.570 --> 00:20:17.880 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Have helped you feel safe enough? 151 00:20:18.710 --> 00:20:21.019 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): To take courageous action. 152 00:20:23.070 --> 00:20:31.610 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And the last question, how can you create or be a part of a network of care that protects the vulnerable? 153 00:20:33.710 --> 00:20:39.970 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): So you can choose one and journal on that, or choose to write a little bit on all of them. 154 00:20:40.250 --> 00:20:45.320 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I'll play some music with no lyrics while we're writing. 155 00:20:45.600 --> 00:20:49.769 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And then we'll… Talk in a moment. 156 00:20:50.590 --> 00:20:55.639 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): We'll journal till the music stops, so it's usually around four and a half minutes. 157 00:26:24.730 --> 00:26:29.589 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Taking some time to finish your writing, your reflection. 158 00:27:07.900 --> 00:27:14.390 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And I'll invite you, if you would like, to come back to our… circle… 159 00:27:14.710 --> 00:27:17.140 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): If you'd like to turn on your… 160 00:27:17.620 --> 00:27:23.239 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Camera, or just come back into the… into the space, that's great. 161 00:27:31.260 --> 00:27:39.900 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I wanted to open up for any questions, could be on this, or anything else, any reflection. 162 00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:46.690 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Today, that's… Something that wants to be held with a supportive yoga at this time. 163 00:27:54.460 --> 00:28:01.720 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): maybe just a question that I have for you, as well, is how can we be… trauma-informed. 164 00:28:02.350 --> 00:28:07.749 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Even in situations, conditions that are not. 165 00:28:07.940 --> 00:28:09.630 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Right, trauma-informed. 166 00:28:09.910 --> 00:28:14.729 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): What does that look like for you? What supports that for you? 167 00:28:15.040 --> 00:28:24.390 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And… also… highlighting that… Leaving the situation is… If it is… 168 00:28:24.730 --> 00:28:37.209 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): if you're alone and don't have support, right, is an absolutely a trauma-informed response. We don't have to stay. If we can leave, we don't have to stay in conditions, you know? So just… 169 00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:42.759 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Really making clear that it's not… it's not, … 170 00:28:43.280 --> 00:28:56.099 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): saying that we have to stay in those situations. For example, Krishna leaving, right? And people taking that community care step of saying, these conditions are not supportive for life and growth and wholeness. 171 00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:58.079 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Let's go somewhere else. 172 00:28:58.370 --> 00:28:59.130 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Yeah. 173 00:29:00.810 --> 00:29:04.790 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And so… Floor is open. 174 00:29:04.940 --> 00:29:24.929 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And I also… and I'll come to you in just a moment, Caitlin, I just want to name, I just got news while we were journaling about a family, something that has come up for my family, so I'm letting you know we'll probably stop a little bit early today, because I do, speaking of, like, causes and conditions. 175 00:29:24.930 --> 00:29:27.710 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I… I think it would be good if I… 176 00:29:27.710 --> 00:29:34.690 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Take a little time to go intend to, to something that happened here, so… That's, … 177 00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:37.879 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): That's a deep, a deep and powerful thing. 178 00:29:38.560 --> 00:29:47.279 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): So, but I'd love to take the time to just share. We'll take about 10 minutes for us to share, and I'm coming to you, Caitlin. 179 00:29:50.030 --> 00:29:54.739 Caitlin (she/they): Hi, hey y'all. I'll take myself off video, or on video. 180 00:29:54.990 --> 00:29:56.649 Caitlin (she/they): Off of off video. 181 00:29:57.960 --> 00:29:59.000 Caitlin (she/they): Hmm. 182 00:29:59.410 --> 00:30:06.810 Caitlin (she/they): First, I would just like to say thank you for being completely honest and vulnerable, even just, like, sharing what you just shared, and… 183 00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:10.040 Caitlin (she/they): taking that space, because I'm getting emotional, just… 184 00:30:10.970 --> 00:30:19.710 Caitlin (she/they): that was my first response whenever you said, like, what do you do to remain trauma-informed in spaces that aren't? And, I knew immediately I wanted to get off. 185 00:30:19.860 --> 00:30:23.509 Caitlin (she/they): Of mute and share walking away or leaving. 186 00:30:24.430 --> 00:30:25.450 Caitlin (she/they): … 187 00:30:26.210 --> 00:30:34.219 Caitlin (she/they): it's about protecting my own peace, it's about protecting my energy, and when I feel triggered by other people or situations or anything. 188 00:30:34.450 --> 00:30:37.310 Caitlin (she/they): I have to do what I can do, and I've… 189 00:30:37.460 --> 00:30:49.280 Caitlin (she/they): I've spent time learning how to create an energetic boundary, and if I feel that I can't maintain that in a space, I give myself 100% permission to walk away. 190 00:30:50.280 --> 00:30:51.390 Caitlin (she/they): … 191 00:30:52.930 --> 00:31:00.970 Caitlin (she/they): And so I just wanted to say that I'm really grateful that you brought that up, because that's what I wanted to say, and it's confirmation that I'm… 192 00:31:01.870 --> 00:31:05.889 Caitlin (she/they): taking the care that I need when I need it, and I also… 193 00:31:06.300 --> 00:31:09.450 Caitlin (she/they): I want to say thank you for modeling that. … 194 00:31:10.270 --> 00:31:13.180 Caitlin (she/they): During a time when you're holding space. 195 00:31:13.410 --> 00:31:17.039 Caitlin (she/they): And I will, … Pass. Thank you. 196 00:31:22.280 --> 00:31:23.939 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Thank you, Caitlin. 197 00:31:25.440 --> 00:31:26.270 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Yeah. 198 00:31:27.340 --> 00:31:33.799 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): really appreciating that it's, like, deep… Powerful practice of brahmatarya. 199 00:31:34.570 --> 00:31:45.529 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And it's modeled, you know, in this very story, which I didn't even see until we were just there, and I was like, right, because even my question makes it sound like 200 00:31:45.870 --> 00:31:51.040 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Like, there could be that pressure to feel like we have to stay, right? 201 00:31:51.160 --> 00:31:54.619 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Like, oh, it's trauma-informed state, but no. No. 202 00:31:55.380 --> 00:31:59.000 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And then there's some situations we can't leave, right? Like… 203 00:31:59.500 --> 00:32:06.779 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): certain conditions within my own body, right? There's certain things that… that are not in this moment, and… 204 00:32:06.930 --> 00:32:13.690 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): probably not gonna change, right? And, like, the entire United States, yes, the government and the policies. 205 00:32:13.870 --> 00:32:19.210 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Some of us can leave, some of us can't leave, right? Like, and… 206 00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:22.620 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And so, what does it look like? 207 00:32:23.460 --> 00:32:28.529 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): to be trauma-informed, and one of the things I think about a lot is, like. 208 00:32:29.530 --> 00:32:35.010 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Even as we're under, like, duress, say, politically, you know, and all the isms. 209 00:32:35.260 --> 00:32:45.310 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): in my everyday relationships, my relationships with my friends, with my family, students, right? Like, just one example, it's a small example, but… 210 00:32:46.170 --> 00:32:57.769 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): we always say on programs, hopefully no one knows, it's just to be like, I want a refund now! We always say no refunds, right? But if someone writes to us with a particular story or situation. 211 00:32:58.190 --> 00:33:01.480 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Of course we honor their refund, you know? And… 212 00:33:02.630 --> 00:33:11.510 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): many companies don't do that. So they thought, this is the policy, we don't, you know, and… and so I just… it's like, we can bring humanity 213 00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:23.610 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and trauma-informed care everywhere we go. And it can be about checking in. For me, so much, it's about checking in with my values. 214 00:33:23.960 --> 00:33:28.259 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And that's really the Yamas and Yamas, you know a lot, maybe a few others. 215 00:33:28.400 --> 00:33:40.619 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): values, and then acting from that place. Like, what is the most kind, the most loving, the most truthful thing I can do here, right? And not power over, not coercion, not control, but… 216 00:33:41.030 --> 00:33:42.160 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): But care. 217 00:33:42.360 --> 00:33:44.779 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Yeah. Anyone else? 218 00:33:46.550 --> 00:33:48.810 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And welcome, Rivers. Hi, Bonnie. 219 00:33:48.810 --> 00:34:00.560 Bonnie@YogaConnexus: I… you know, I was trying to figure this out for a situation in my family. My brother and sister-in-law have a, like, 180-degree different parenting style than I do, and 220 00:34:02.450 --> 00:34:19.930 Bonnie@YogaConnexus: it's hard to sit there at the dinner table and watch them being unkind to my nephew, and just doing really passive-aggressive things. Like, my brother wouldn't order food because he thought Levi had ordered too much. 221 00:34:20.370 --> 00:34:23.230 Bonnie@YogaConnexus: And he sat there watching Levi eat. 222 00:34:23.820 --> 00:34:39.000 Bonnie@YogaConnexus: Waiting for him to not be able to finish. And I just sat there saying, we believe in you, Levi. I mean, he's almost 13. I'm like, that kid is gonna finish that plate, you know? I mean, burger and fries, 13-year-old boy, like, it's done. And so, I just… 223 00:34:39.630 --> 00:34:50.979 Bonnie@YogaConnexus: I don't know, I don't know if just sitting there and being like, Levi, we believe in you was enough. I mean, he finished it, and my brother had nothing to eat. I mean, it was just this ridiculous situation that I'm like… 224 00:34:51.250 --> 00:35:02.349 Bonnie@YogaConnexus: Like, how did we even come to that? I… I don't know, and I don't expect an answer from here, but that was just one situation where other people were not behaving in, like, a trauma-informed way, and I really was not sure how. 225 00:35:02.410 --> 00:35:14.839 Bonnie@YogaConnexus: to navigate it. So, as an example of, you know, and it's like, it's not the whole United States, but I also couldn't just walk… get up and walk away. I mean, it was… we'd literally been in Colorado for 3 days. 226 00:35:14.840 --> 00:35:25.170 Bonnie@YogaConnexus: They came down from Fort Collins, we met in the middle of Denver and Fort Collins, so it was supposed… it was like happy family reunion, but every happy family reunion also has that, so… 227 00:35:25.310 --> 00:35:37.190 Bonnie@YogaConnexus: I guess I'm just offering that as, like, a situation, what we all might encounter, and also, like, yeah, go Levi, we believe in you. It's like, I hope that was enough. 228 00:35:39.970 --> 00:35:47.090 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Thank you, Bonnie. Yeah, I… I… for me, in those moments… It's very hard. 229 00:35:47.230 --> 00:35:52.519 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Because, you know, we're not the parent, and so we can't, you know, even if we're related. 230 00:35:53.970 --> 00:36:05.859 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I do think it's that, like, modeling a playful another way for that young person. It's tricky with young people, right? Because, because, of course, we want to be able to 231 00:36:06.820 --> 00:36:07.700 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): help? 232 00:36:07.900 --> 00:36:14.920 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And yet, we may be in a situation that is totally not trauma-informed, and we can't, you know? But I do think that helps. 233 00:36:15.070 --> 00:36:34.170 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And that support. Sometimes it's just one person, like that kid knowing that there's someone that loves and accepts them as they are, you know, and is cool with them eating as little or as much as they want to eat, you know? It's like the, yeah, the ridiculousness of needing to control that or, like, shame that in any way. … 234 00:36:36.960 --> 00:36:43.560 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And I think you're right, there's not necessarily answers, but it's just like, okay, what can I do? 235 00:36:44.530 --> 00:36:47.259 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): In that moment that, like, shows some care. 236 00:36:47.870 --> 00:36:49.240 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and space. 237 00:36:51.040 --> 00:36:51.860 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Yeah. 238 00:36:55.120 --> 00:36:56.779 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Thank you for sharing. 239 00:36:57.970 --> 00:36:59.560 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Anyone else? 240 00:37:01.940 --> 00:37:11.220 Monica: I had one… I suppose I'm asking a question. The question that you've wrote, how can we be trauma-informed even in situations that are not trauma-informed? 241 00:37:12.100 --> 00:37:16.500 Monica: I suppose I'm putting it out to the community as What? 242 00:37:16.610 --> 00:37:21.119 Monica: Mike, you think we could do it when it comes to the medical community? 243 00:37:21.420 --> 00:37:26.899 Monica: So when… Medical practitioners are not… 244 00:37:28.300 --> 00:37:35.370 Monica: Hearing you, or listening, or doing anything to validate your experiences. 245 00:37:37.330 --> 00:37:49.010 Monica: Like, the recent one is that the doctor literally laughed and said, oh, well, you're just an enigma, we just don't know what's… what's happening with you, you know? 246 00:37:49.250 --> 00:37:51.849 Monica: And sort of sent me on my way. 247 00:37:52.130 --> 00:37:57.999 Monica: Or they say, Well, you have this condition, and don't really… 248 00:37:58.380 --> 00:38:01.540 Monica: offer any solution beyond that. It's just… 249 00:38:02.140 --> 00:38:16.270 Monica: you're experiencing that because you have this, and there's no follow-up of, well, I'm just expected to live like this now, or what is it? So, I suppose I'm putting out to the community what would… what might you suggest? 250 00:38:17.380 --> 00:38:23.040 Monica: yeah, I could do in that situation. I'm sure other people are experiencing… have experienced similar things. 251 00:38:25.810 --> 00:38:26.520 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Yeah. 252 00:38:26.950 --> 00:38:29.789 Monica: Yeah, yeah, that's a solid response, yeah. 253 00:38:29.790 --> 00:38:33.419 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Monica, remind me where you are in the world. 254 00:38:33.690 --> 00:38:36.370 Monica: I'm in, Leicestershire in England. 255 00:38:36.370 --> 00:38:38.760 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Right, so socialized medical care. 256 00:38:39.290 --> 00:38:40.090 Monica: Yes. 257 00:38:40.090 --> 00:38:40.810 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Yes. 258 00:38:41.140 --> 00:38:46.130 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Because I do think it makes some difference, right, to understand the context. 259 00:38:47.020 --> 00:38:53.029 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): It's terrible. It happens everywhere. It happens in the US, too. I'm, … 260 00:38:53.220 --> 00:38:56.220 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): with private medical care. I've had… 261 00:38:56.410 --> 00:39:09.169 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): terrible things, like, so, so not trauma-informed things happen all the time. Recently had a wonderful trauma-informed experience, though, so I want to just say it's not all, right, all medical. … 262 00:39:09.620 --> 00:39:10.950 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): situations. 263 00:39:11.820 --> 00:39:29.340 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I don't know if you have the opportunity to find alternative relationships, whether it's practitioners who are, you know, because of course it takes resources, but sometimes people are willing to trade or do other things, right? For me. 264 00:39:29.340 --> 00:39:32.989 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): when I am treated that way around things that are… 265 00:39:33.310 --> 00:39:38.740 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): like, I had a hyperthyroid issue, right? So it impacts all… most bodily systems. 266 00:39:39.000 --> 00:39:48.560 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): My doctor said something… similar, and I ended up going to different practitioners for a while to, like, get 267 00:39:49.120 --> 00:39:55.680 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): just get a more trauma-informed approach, and a more holistic approach, and so… I… 268 00:39:55.870 --> 00:40:09.859 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): struggle with this, because I don't know that the system which itself, like, engenders trauma upon doctors and nurses, you know? It's, like, asking so much for them to be trauma-informed. I wish they were, … 269 00:40:10.720 --> 00:40:20.180 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): So yeah, I like that, Bonnie. Like, inside… inside, or asking for a different provider, or alternate care. And then… 270 00:40:20.460 --> 00:40:26.210 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): The other thing that I do when I don't have that option, and I have to just go and meet with that person, they're the only one. 271 00:40:26.210 --> 00:40:41.140 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): You know, which also I've had, is I, like, really prepare myself, like, the blue bubble of light, or white bubble of light. I'm here to, like, I have my 20 questions, or whatever it is, written out, and, like, go through the questions. I get… try to get what I came for. 272 00:40:41.160 --> 00:40:56.370 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And then if they start going off on a judgment, or a tangent, or like a, you know, like, their opinion, like, excuse me, you know, I have this other question. Like, I just really try to direct so I'm not being moralized at or talked at. 273 00:40:56.430 --> 00:40:59.559 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): It's so hard. It's so vulnerable. 274 00:40:59.810 --> 00:41:15.669 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Oh, wow. Alda says, I tell my doctor, they're making money off my body, so care better be good. I'm not kidding, I tell them that to their face. A lot of places have a patient services office where I've gone to before to ask for better care. I love it! Thank you for sharing that! So direct! 275 00:41:16.470 --> 00:41:17.280 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And clear. 276 00:41:17.280 --> 00:41:21.910 Monica: Really, it's not just with one practitioner, I feel like it's been a story of my life. 277 00:41:22.530 --> 00:41:23.820 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Hmm…. 278 00:41:23.980 --> 00:41:38.440 Monica: And I'm finding it… and I appreciate the response, but I'm getting to that point where I don't have the energy to write to the manager or complain in that way, or I just don't go then, and it's just every single experience 279 00:41:38.570 --> 00:41:44.800 Monica: In different departments, different hospitals, different whatever, is… like that. 280 00:41:45.220 --> 00:41:48.209 Monica: And it just gets to a point where I'm just… 281 00:41:49.350 --> 00:41:51.929 Monica: How can I continue to fight? 282 00:41:52.180 --> 00:41:58.209 Monica: Or gather that strength to fight each time, because it is a battle each time. 283 00:41:58.850 --> 00:42:04.330 Monica: How can I continue to find that energy from a very depleted… source. 284 00:42:05.760 --> 00:42:09.529 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Is there anyone who can come with you, or be a patient's advocate? 285 00:42:11.490 --> 00:42:12.070 Monica: Yeah. 286 00:42:12.070 --> 00:42:16.150 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I don't have… because it doesn't sound to me like it's actually 287 00:42:16.390 --> 00:42:28.770 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): best for you to have to utilize your life force to fight, right? Like, it's more for your care, so having someone else take on the fight, help with the fight. 288 00:42:29.180 --> 00:42:31.090 Monica: Yeah, that's a good idea. 289 00:42:32.560 --> 00:42:38.360 Monica: Thank you, everyone. I'm not expecting, like, actual, like, just… it's just… yeah, I suppose. 290 00:42:38.600 --> 00:42:40.219 Monica: Thank you for listening. 291 00:42:40.710 --> 00:42:55.959 Bonnie@YogaConnexus: Yeah, of course, and it's… I do this all the time for my envy, you know, with autism and ADHD, they struggle with this all the time, and, you know, we had an amazing win last night where they actually advocated for themselves and got the appointment that they needed, and… 292 00:42:56.100 --> 00:43:11.549 Bonnie@YogaConnexus: And I didn't have to step in for the first time in years, so it's a real thing to just need to have someone there to help you through it. So, I hope you can find that person, or maybe there is a medical system advocate, patient advocate that you could call upon for help. 293 00:43:12.580 --> 00:43:13.440 Monica: Okay. 294 00:43:15.570 --> 00:43:16.620 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Thank you. 295 00:43:18.360 --> 00:43:27.319 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): So, my dear ones, I'm gonna be trauma-informed to myself and go and care for my family, my, … 296 00:43:27.920 --> 00:43:35.329 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): my family that needs me now, and so I just want to thank you for taking this exploration of 297 00:43:35.550 --> 00:43:43.319 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Of what it means to be trauma-informed, even in situations and conditions that aren't, and to honor 298 00:43:43.530 --> 00:43:57.839 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): you know, that we're doing our best in the situations that we're in, and we're not gonna do it perfectly, and I think sometimes putting that title of trauma-informed, we think that we need to do it so, so perfect, or so great, or… 299 00:43:58.220 --> 00:44:15.070 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And that's part of, actually, what this is as well, is unpacking that perfectionism, unpacking that expectation on ourselves, and not blaming ourselves for things that are systemic inequities or systemic, you know, stress. 300 00:44:16.270 --> 00:44:20.799 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): To me, that's a huge part of what it means to be trauma-informed, is to be like. 301 00:44:20.920 --> 00:44:27.320 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): this is not… like, I may be dealing with it, but it is not my fault, you know? It is not my… 302 00:44:27.440 --> 00:44:41.390 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): shame, or I should not feel bad or guilty about this, because this is a system that is not serving us. It's not a me thing, it's a… it's a systemic thing, which doesn't mean I can't work to change it, right? Of course I can. 303 00:44:41.550 --> 00:44:45.910 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): But I don't need to personally feel the responsibility, so I wanted to bring that. 304 00:44:46.170 --> 00:44:47.870 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): That last piece in. 305 00:44:48.320 --> 00:44:52.089 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Then we'll close, taking a big stretch. 306 00:44:55.950 --> 00:45:06.110 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And hands come down, if they were up, or anywhere that you would like, meeting at your heart, maybe giving yourself a little care, a little rocking. 307 00:45:08.680 --> 00:45:16.399 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Hmm… And we'll close with an OM, Shanti, shanti, shanty, om, peace, peace, peace. 308 00:45:16.810 --> 00:45:21.260 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Breathing in… Full breath out. 309 00:45:21.940 --> 00:45:24.169 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And inhale to chant. 310 00:45:32.880 --> 00:45:38.460 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Shanti. Shanti. 311 00:45:38.570 --> 00:45:42.520 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Shanti… 312 00:45:48.500 --> 00:45:50.820 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Thank you to each of you. 313 00:45:55.840 --> 00:45:57.120 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): See you soon. 314 00:45:59.790 --> 00:46:00.880 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Thanks, y'all.