What Mother Nature Teaches Us About Resilience and Life’s Fires

Hi,

When we experience trauma, it can feel like a fire has swept through our lives—sudden, destructive, and leaving behind damage that isn’t always visible. Trauma is not just an emotional memory stored in the mind. It often lives in the body, shaping how we breathe, move, and respond to everyday situations.

The After-Effects of Trauma
Trauma doesn’t always show up as one dramatic symptom. Often, it’s subtle, ongoing, and woven into daily life. For many, the after-effects linger long after the initial event.

Common after-effects include:

• Hyper vigilance: Feeling constantly on edge, as though danger is always around the corner.
• Sleep disturbances: Difficulty falling asleep or waking often from nightmares.
• Disconnection from the body: Feeling numb or cut off from sensations as a way of avoiding pain.
• Heightened stress responses: The nervous system remains “stuck” in fight, flight, or freeze mode.
• Physical pain and tension: Trauma often manifests as headaches, tight shoulders, back pain, or digestive issues.

This is why yoga for trauma has become such a powerful tool. It acknowledges that recovery isn’t just about processing thoughts. It’s about working gently with the body and the nervous system.

Lessons From the Garden
Recently, this truth was brought home to me as I tended my garden after a fire. Observing the aftermath, I noticed how different plants responded to the same adversity:

• One tree, though untouched by flames, withered and died. It reminded me that sometimes the deepest scars are internal, unseen, but no less real.
• The lilies, once reduced to ash, pushed back through the soil with vibrant regrowth—symbolising renewal and resilience.
• The citrus trees, though half-burnt, still produced fruit within months. This spoke to the potential within us to not only survive but to thrive despite injury or loss.
• The tall pines stood steady, singed but upright—a quiet symbol of endurance.
  These plants became metaphors for the ways humans respond to trauma.
• Some of us collapse, others regenerate quickly, some continue giving despite scars, and some stand steady through endurance. Each is a valid response.
   

How Yoga for Trauma Supports Recovery
In much the same way, trauma-informed yoga meets people where they are. Unlike traditional yoga classes that may emphasise performance or intensity, yoga for trauma is designed to be supportive, grounding, and choice-driven. It recognises that safety is the foundation of healing.

Here’s how it helps:

• Breath-work: Slowing the breath and extending the exhale calms the nervous system and reduces stress hormones like cortisol.
• Gentle mindful movement: Simple, grounding poses release stored tension and reconnect us with our bodies without overwhelming the system.
• Grounding techniques: Directing awareness to the feet, the mat, or the sensation of breath helps anchor us in the present moment.
• Choice-based language: Teachers offer options instead of commands, allowing each person to reclaim a sense of agency and safety.

In my own life and in my work with clients, I’ve seen how these practices open a pathway back to connection—helping people move from simply surviving trauma toward thriving.

Trauma and the Garden Metaphor
The fire in my garden mirrors what trauma often feels like. It isn’t always a single event—it’s the ongoing impact that shapes how we respond to life. Sometimes we collapse like the tree that looked fine but withered. Sometimes we rebuild with determination like the lilies. Sometimes we bear fruit despite scars, like the citrus trees. And sometimes we endure quietly, like the pines.
When we come to the mat with trauma-aware practices, the goal isn’t a perfect posture. It’s learning to feel safe in our own skin again. Just as nature adapts and regenerates after fire, yoga can guide us through recovery—one breath, one practice, one moment of safety at a time.


Nature teaches us that healing isn’t linear. Some parts of us regenerate quickly, others carry scars, and some need time we’d rather not give. Trauma reshapes us, but it doesn’t have to define us.
Like my garden, we can keep growing—sometimes slowly, sometimes defiantly, but always with the possibility of resilience and renewal.

May your yoga practice help you not only survive trauma but thrive beyond it.

Yours in resilience,

Liz