By Leslii Stevens Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher, ERYT500, YACEP, Ayurveda Practitioner
Being abandoned by the people you'd do anything for is one of the deepest pains a person can endure. Whether it's family, close friends, or trusted partners, the emotional impact of betrayal and abandonment can leave scars that feel impossible to heal. This kind of pain often leads to feelings of unworthiness, a shattered sense of trust, and the overwhelming sense that you're not being heard or seen. When lies are spread, and you're cut off from those who were supposed to be your support system, it can feel like the ground beneath you has been pulled away.
I know this pain. I've felt it firsthand. Abandonment, betrayal, and being misunderstood especially by those you trusted most can leave you in a spiral of anxiety, fear, and depression. It’s as though the walls close in, and the pain is compounded by not being able to share your truth or have your voice heard.
Yet, from these depths of despair, there is a way to rise. One of the most powerful tools I’ve discovered in my journey is trauma-informed yoga.
Finding Your Voice through Trauma-Informed Yoga
As a Trauma Informed Yoga Teacher, I've come to realize how vital movement, breathwork, and mindfulness are to healing emotional wounds. Trauma often gets stored in our bodies, especially when we’ve experienced situations that strip away our sense of self-worth or control. Trauma-informed yoga allows you to reconnect with your body in a safe, non-judgmental way. It empowers you to reclaim the parts of yourself that have been silenced or broken down by others.
In my classes, I’ve seen people come in carrying heavy burdens pain, abandonment, loss and leave feeling lighter. It’s not because yoga is some magical cure-all, but because it gives us a space to breathe and feel again. It reminds us that we are worthy of care, of attention, and of healing.
Trauma-informed yoga differs from traditional yoga in that it is more focused on creating a safe and supportive environment. You are always in control of your practice, choosing how far to go, how much to release. This approach recognizes that everyone’s journey with trauma is unique, and it offers tools to help navigate those dark waters at your own pace.
For those who feel abandoned, ignored, or misunderstood, yoga can be the lifeline that reconnects you with yourself. It’s about creating a sense of safety and trust within your own body when the outside world feels anything but safe. With each breath, each movement, you reclaim your power.
Rebuilding After Abandonment
Healing from abandonment is not linear, and it doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a continuous process of rebuilding your sense of self, learning to trust again starting with trusting yourself. Through yoga, I’ve learned that it’s okay to move slowly, to pause, and to reflect on what my body and mind truly need. The practice itself becomes a mirror, reflecting your internal world and giving you the opportunity to approach it with kindness and compassion.
Being left behind by people you once trusted is a wound that cuts deep. It challenges your belief in who you are and what you deserve. But here's the truth: You deserve to be heard. You deserve to be supported. You deserve to be healed. And while it might not come from the people who should have been there for you, it can start from within.
Yoga especially trauma-informed yoga provides the tools to start that healing process. It helps you find your voice again, even when the world has tried to silence you. It helps you build strength, not just physically but emotionally, so you can move forward with grace and resilience.
So, to anyone who’s feeling abandoned or broken down by betrayal, know that you’re not alone. There is a way to heal, and it begins with reconnecting with yourself. Take it one breath at a time, one movement at a time, and know that there is light at the end of the tunnel. You are stronger than you think.
Together, we can heal one breath at a time.
with Love & Light Leslii