With the right, trauma-sensitive approach, yoga therapy can help heal individuals with Complex Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD).
This book presents an integrative model of yoga therapy for the treatment of complex trauma, which results from repeated or prolonged traumatic events. The model focuses on five key elements, with panchamaya kosha at the center:
· Panchamaya Kosha - the ancient yoga therapy system
· The Gunas - the yogic and Ayurvedic concept that there are three universal qualities of rajas, tamas, and sattva
· Fundamental Movements - a modern somatic psychology concept that aligns with both Panchamaya Kosha and Attachment Theory
· Phase-Based Treatment - a trauma-informed approach to clinical care
· Community Care and Self-Care - we hold the value that yoga professionals must take care of themselves to be good caregivers to others
Yoga Therapy for Complex Trauma covers three distinct age groups - children, adolescents, and adults - and offers an evidence-informed approach to providing yoga specifically for CPTSD.
Michelle Fury caught the yoga bug in 1992. It had such an impact on her life that she started saying, "Yoga is my therapy." Several yoga certifications and a Masters Degree in Contemplative Psychotherapy later, Michelle is now a yoga therapist at Children's Hospital Colorado. She holds her Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) status through the State of Colorado. She has a specialty in trauma therapy, as well as extensive training and experience using mindfulness-based therapy models such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT). She has been involved in several yoga research projects. Her work with children in the field of yoga therapy as a psychotherapeutic intervention has been featured in a number of local and national publications including Yoga Journal, the Wall Street Journal, and Social Work Today. She wrote a feature article for the Spring 2013 issue of Yoga Therapy Today.
Ayala Homossany is a yoga therapist, educator, and co-author of Yoga Therapy for Complex Trauma: Working with Child, Adolescent, and Adult Clients (Singing Dragon, 2025). With over two decades of experience, she specialises in trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness for children, adolescents, families, and educators.
Ayala holds a Yoga Therapy Diploma from The Minded Institute, where she also serves as a supervisor. She is a Senior Yoga Teacher Trainer accredited by BWY and Yoga Alliance US, with additional studies in restorative yoga, somatic movement, and mindfulness practices. Her work is grounded in extensive training with the Himalayan Institute, as well as with leaders in anxiety, depression, and self-compassion.
Her long-standing practice in London schools, studios, and community centres has seen her develop and deliver targeted interventions for children and teens facing trauma, bullying, ADHD, and ASD. She is known for creating emotionally safe spaces through invitational language, self-regulation tools, and creative engagement.
Ayala is the author and co-creator of the award-winning Enchanted Wonders A-Z Yoga Cards and founder of Empowering Children Through Yoga & Creativity, a respected training programme that blends therapeutic principles with imaginative practice.
She lives in London with her husband, where they've raised three sons who continue to inspire her journey.
