Yoga has played various roles in my life—acting as exercise, providing discipline, serving as a refuge, and offering guidance. It created a safe space where I could reconnect with my body and find a sense of peace in stillness. I would enter a yoga class with a mind full of worries and distractions, only to discover that by the end, they had quieted down. The concept of allowing oneself to relax was a revelation.
Most importantly, yoga has served as my medicine. It aided in healing not just my physical spine, but also the hidden scars of past traumas that have molded my body, mind, and spirit. As I continued to practice, yoga transformed from mere physical exercise into a fundamental tool for emotional and spiritual growth.
Here are the valuable lessons I’ve learned on my journey, which might assist you in finding healing through your own practice.
Understanding Trauma in the Body
Throughout my upbringing, I carried trauma that left significant imprints in both my mind and body. My teenage years were marked by scoliosis that distorted my spine, compounded by the unspoken stress of family dynamics that left me feeling tense, anxious, and overwhelmed with responsibility.
Initially, yoga was just a form of exercise—a means to stretch and alleviate pain. However, beneath the surface, I yearned for something greater: a way to reconcile with a body I perceived as broken, and a life that felt burdensome.
Lesson 1: Tune In to Your Body.
Pain and tension speak volumes; they are the body’s language. Begin by noticing areas of tightness or instability, and inquire: What message is my body conveying?
Taking Initial Steps
Yoga provided immediate physical relief. A simple hamstring stretch alleviated discomfort in my lower back, while gentle backbends created space where I had previously felt constricted. I approached it like physical therapy, and it was effective.
However, I quickly became aware of something deeper. With each session, my breath would slow, my nervous system would calm, and I felt a diminishing need to exert control. Yoga began teaching me more than just anatomy; it was guiding me in the art of surrender.
Lesson 2: Begin with the Body, but Pay Attention to the Breath.
Even if yoga starts as physical practice, let the breath be your grounding element. Healing initiates within the connection of body and breath.
Beyond the Physical
As my practice deepened, I recognized its parallels with my life. On the mat, I often overexerted myself in pursuit of perfection, echoing my tendencies off the mat to please others while neglecting my own needs.
Yoga urged me to soften my rigid areas and find strength in places where I felt weak. This mirrored both my physical scoliosis and my emotional state, teaching me that the goal was not to attain perfection but to embrace myself as I truly am.
Lesson 3: Reflect on the Mat.
Identify your patterns during practice. Do you push too hard? Do you collapse without support? The mat offers a safe environment to explore new ways of being.
Cultivating Steadiness and Ease
When I began teaching, it became about demonstrating what I needed to learn myself. Each time I guided a student towards steadiness and ease, I was also reminding myself of that essential truth.
In my role as a physical therapist, it became evident that back pain was never solely a matter of isolated muscles and bones. It often reflected how we approached life—either too rigidly or too passively. Yoga provided a path to regain equilibrium.
Lesson 4: Share What You Learn.
In any capacity, sharing your healing journey helps reinforce the lessons you most need to internalize. Teaching or mentoring others aids in solidifying your own understanding.
Silence, Space, and Transformation
My most profound transformation occurred in the desert. Alone amidst the silence and vastness, I let go of structured sequences. I moved according to my body’s desires—sometimes flowing, sometimes remaining still, or simply lying on the ground and focusing on my breath.
In that expansive open space, I realized that yoga transcended mere postures. It became about freedom, presence, and wholeness, scars and all—even with a crooked spine.
I would begin my sessions in Tadasana (mountain pose), feeling the grounding weight of my feet. The earth below and the vast desert ahead were resources of strength, guiding me from my overactive mind back into my body and the present moment.
Lesson 5: Allow for Unstructured Practice.
Occasionally, abandon the structure. Move as your body desires. This is when yoga evolves from being merely healing to becoming liberating.
Healing Means Living Fully
Today, yoga continues to be my foundation. My guiding mantra is simple: Please reveal my dharma (purpose) and empower me to fulfill it.
Steadiness and ease, strength and softness, stability and freedom—these attributes are not only for yoga postures but also for life. Healing doesn’t signify erasing the past or perfecting the body; it demands living fully as we are, embracing the wisdom that arises from balancing discipline with grace. It’s a journey from trauma to resilience, from rigidity to flow, from brokenness to wholeness, and embodying that narrative every day, on and off the mat.
Author Bio
Rachel Krentzman, PT, C-IAYT, MBA is a yoga and physical therapist, as well as a certified Hakomi psychotherapist. Growing up in Montreal within an Orthodox Jewish family, she faced the trauma of her father’s arrest as a rabbi, ultimately leading her to shed her strict upbringing and discover her true self. She focuses on personal healing through somatic and body-centered psychotherapy and yoga therapy. Enduring scoliosis and damaged discs herself, she has developed an effective therapy that has benefited numerous students and patients globally.
Currently, she resides in Israel with her husband, son, and two dogs. She has authored several books on yoga, including Scoliosis, Yoga Therapy and the Art of Letting Go (2016). Her latest work is As Is: A Memoir on Healing the Past Through Yoga. Discover more at happybackyoga.com.
