Trauma- Informed Yoga and Play Therapy With Angie Berrett | Ep 25

Host Liz Albanis talks with Angie Barrett about trauma-informed yoga, polyvagal theory, and playful movement. To explore why standard yoga and meditation can feel overwhelming for trauma survivors. Especially when stillness, breathwork, or classroom dynamics trigger freeze responses and body memories for some. Angie shares her background as a child abuse survivor. How betrayal later in life unlocked repressed memories. Why traditional “mind-only” approaches weren’t enough. They discuss the window of tolerance, trauma stored in the body. Trauma-informed yoga principles ( language, pacing, modifications, and nervous system education). Plus polyvagal theory’s ventral and dorsal vagal states. Angie explains how playful, intuitive movement and imagination can be supportive. Release stored stress, expand tolerance, and support recovery without forcing painful experiences. Including a guided swaying/tree exercise and practical tips for rhythmic, repetitive movement. As practical ways to widen the window of tolerance without forcing yourself through overwhelm. Key Topics:• Angie’s story of repressed memories, betrayal, and body memories returning • Why calm environments can feel threatening after trauma • How standard yoga cues, stillness, and loud breathing can trigger • Trauma-informed yoga choices that reduce shame and increase agency • Window of tolerance basics and recognising when you are outside it • Play and imagination as a bridge to safety and connection • A guided play practice• Red light green light as a simple nervous system model • Polyvagal theory an important part of trauma-informed yoga• Three quick tips for when you are struggling About The Guest:Angie Berrett (she/they) is a trauma-informed coach and founder of Angie Berrett Movement, where she helps women survivors of childhood sexual abuse reconnect with their bodies and begin to experience safety, freedom, and self-trust from within. After years of feeling disconnected, unlovable, and stuck in patterns that no amount of success could fix, Angie reached a breaking point in 2017 that forced her to find a different way forward. Traditional approaches weren’t enough—because the impact of trauma wasn’t just in her mind, it was in her body. Through her own healing, she discovered the power of play, movement, and imagination as tools to access and release what words alone couldn’t reach. This became the foundation of her ALT Method™ (Awaken • Liberate • Thrive), a body-based approach that helps women unwind survival patterns, reconnect with themselves, and step into a more embodied, self-led life. Angie is also the host of the podcast Healing Doesn’t Have to Be Heavy, where she explores a new way of healing—one that creates real change without staying stuck in heaviness.Connect: https://angieberrettmovement.com Youtube Facebook⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Love the show? We’d love a review!Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Want to make video and audio editing quicker and simpler? Get 50% off the first 2 months of the Descript Creator Monthly Plan. Instagram:  Youtube