Gentle yoga practice in a peaceful indoor setting

Ōtautahi Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (ŌTSY)

Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (ŌTSY) classes offer a warm, inclusive and choice-led space to explore movement at your own pace and reconnect with your body and your self.

Our priority is supporting each of our clients in their trauma recovery through gentle movement, breath and body awareness. We are committed to creating the conditions that allow the space for clients to explore what helps them to feel settled in their bodies, more connected with themselves, and experience greater choice in how they respond to life.

ŌTSY's embodied approach

We understand trauma as a lived experience that affects the whole person: body, nervous system, emotions, relationships and sense of self.

Somatic awareness

Awareness relating to or affecting the physical body.

Our approach is grounded in somatic awareness with a focus on building flexibility — not only into your body but also your nervous system. Rather than simply managing symptoms, you develop awareness, build capacity and grow in easeful connection.

Key ways in which we do this:

Recognising sensations: We learn to notice what is happening in the body — tension, warmth, movement, breath, pressure or ease — without judging it.
Recognise and anchor to cues of safety: We become more familiar with sensations associated with settling, comfort, connection and ease.
Developing an inner sense of choice: The gentle pace and cueing to safety builds awareness of the pause between sensing something and reacting to it. This can support choices about movement, rest, boundaries or connection.
Building tolerance: With gentle practice, people can gradually develop more capacity to stay present with sensations that might previously have felt overwhelming.
Building trust: Over time, listening to the body and responding with care can create a stronger, more coherent sense of Self.

Our practice is non-religious and is not affiliated with a particular yoga tradition. It draws on the Trauma-Sensitive Yoga approach developed by Bessel van der Kolk and David Emerson at the Boston Trauma Center and Dr Arielle Schwartz's Yoga for Trauma Recovery, alongside contemporary somatic and relational understandings of wellbeing.

Rather than focusing on getting the shapes and movement “right”, we focus on choice, curiosity and listening to your body. You are invited to notice what feels comfortable and make choices about how, or whether, you move. Over time, this can support a greater sense of safety, agency and trust in your body.

Applied polyvagal theory

Polyvagal Theory is a framework created by Dr Stephen Porges in 1994 that explains how the autonomic nervous system regulates physiological states in response to safety or threat.

The structure of our classes is guided by applied polyvagal theory and the therapeutic potential of safe connection with others in group work. We offer the opportunity for a short check-in practice before the class begins and leave space to come together again at the end of the group. This grows a sense of safe connection within the group.

However, how you participate is always your choice. You decide how you want to participate, including whether you speak or simply be present. There is absolutely no pressure; we invite you to notice what feels right for you and to make choices that support your comfort, recognising that group settings can feel difficult for some people.

Key principles underpinning our groups

You are your very best teacher. Take time to grow a supportive relationship with yourself.
Honour your body, your pace, and let your breath be your guide.
Each class is an opportunity to explore movement that feels good for you.
There is nothing that you can do that is wrong, nor any goal to achieve.
Stop and rest as often as feels good. Sometimes that may be the whole class.
Learn to listen to the cues you receive from your body, mind, and breath.
Let this practice nourish your body, mind, and spirit.

Our venue and class details

All our classes are delivered at SOMA, Centre of Somatics, 433 St Asaph St, Central Christchurch — a specifically designed trauma-informed space with onsite parking available.

Classes are 1.5 hours, with 15 minutes before and after each class available for further support.

There are approximately 10 participants in each class, the majority of the classes being female only, but we also include one gender-inclusive class. Classes are facilitated by a TSY teacher and an ACC group therapist.

Current class times

Term 1 2027

Monday 10:00 to 11:30 with Jacinda Gilligan and Jo Stewart
Monday 12:30 to 14:00 with Jacinda Gilligan and Jo Stewart
All gender / gender inclusive class
Tuesday 10:00 to 11:30 with Ellen Barry and Lucy Matthews
Tuesday 12:30 to 14:00 with Natasha Godetz and Lucy Matthews
Wednesday 17:30 to 19:00 with Ellen Barry and Mareile Stoppel
Thursday 10:00 to 11:30 with Jacinda Gilligan and Jo Stewart
Thursday 12:30 to 14:00 with Jacinda Gilligan and Jo Stewart

Term 4 2026

Thursday 17:30 to 19:00 with Ellen Barry and Emma McKinlay

Term 2 2027

Monday 10:00 to 11:30 with Jacinda Gilligan and Jo Stewart
Monday 12:30 to 14:00 with Jacinda Gilligan and Jo Stewart
All gender / gender inclusive class
Tuesday 10:00 to 11:30 with Ellen Barry and Lucy Matthews
Tuesday 12:30 to 14:00 with Natasha Godetz and Lucy Matthews
Wednesday 17:30 to 19:00 with Ellen Barry and Mareile Stoppel
Thursday 10:00 to 11:30 with Jacinda Gilligan and Jo Stewart
Thursday 12:30 to 14:00 with Jacinda Gilligan and Jo Stewart

Term 3 2027

Monday 10:00 to 11:30 with Jacinda Gilligan and Jo Stewart
Monday 12:30 to 14:00 with Jacinda Gilligan and Jo Stewart
All gender / gender inclusive class
Tuesday 10:00 to 11:30 with Ellen Barry and Lucy Matthews
Tuesday 12:30 to 14:00 with Natasha Godetz and Lucy Matthews
Wednesday 17:30 to 19:00 with Ellen Barry and Mareile Stoppel
Thursday 10:00 to 11:30 with Jacinda Gilligan and Jo Stewart
Thursday 12:30 to 14:00 with Jacinda Gilligan and Jo Stewart

Ready to register?

To register, your therapist must complete both forms below. Please read the information on this page, and the checklist further down, before you begin.

Group Registration Form

For clients and their Lead Provider to fill out together.

Support Plan Form

Therapeutic considerations and support plan, completed with your therapist.

What our ŌTSY facilitators offer

Create a safe and supportive group environment.
Cater for all abilities, with the option of a chair and/or a yoga mat, blankets and bolsters in all classes.
Guidance and support to help with particular aspects of yoga including breath awareness, sensing, movement, and resting.
No physical adjustments.
Give support between classes via text or phone call.
Provide all equipment needed for class.
Liaise with participants and the lead provider before the group starts to ensure we are aware of any particular needs or safety concerns.
Liaise with your therapist, with your consent, for additional support.
Respect cultural perspectives and needs.

ŌTSY facilitators

ACC group facilitators

Mareile Stoppel

Counsellor · Supervisor · Group Facilitator

An ACC-registered counsellor, supervisor and group facilitator who has worked with ACC since 2003. She has an MS in counselling and is a qualified Somatic Experiencing Trauma Therapist (SEP) and EMDR treatment provider since 2017. She is a founding member of ŌTSY.

Lucy Matthews

Psychotherapist · Group Facilitator

An ACC-registered psychotherapist and group facilitator who has worked with ACC since 2016. She has a BSc in Psychology and is a Psychodramatist and Somatic Psychotherapist. She is a specialist in trauma work and has facilitated many therapeutic process groups for both adults and children.

Jo Stewart

Counsellor · Social Worker

A qualified counsellor and social worker with 20 years of experience facilitating groups for various programmes. Jo has completed training in both trauma-sensitive yoga and Mindfulness Somatic training in 2023.

Emma McKinlay

Clinical Social Worker · Supervisor · Group Facilitator

A clinical social worker, supervisor and group facilitator who has worked with ACC since 2020. She has a master's degree in applied social work and a diploma in teaching. She is a qualified Somatic Experiencing Trauma Therapist and a trained EMDR therapist.

Trauma-Sensitive Yoga facilitators

Jacinda Gilligan

Therapeutic Yoga Teacher · Trauma Educator · Somatics Teacher

Trained as a therapeutic yoga teacher, trauma educator and somatics teacher here and overseas. She has taught yoga for 15 years, specialising in metabolising trauma and applied polyvagal theory. She has taught under the ACC contract since it began approving TSY and is a founding member of ŌTSY. Jacinda recently founded SOMA, the first centre in New Zealand focused on somatic modalities.

Natasha Godetz

Yoga Teacher · Somatic Practitioner

A yoga teacher and somatic practitioner with a focus on trauma-informed, evidence-supported approaches to nervous system regulation. She facilitates classes designed to help individuals understand their physiological stress responses and develop practical tools for restoring a sense of safety and stability in the body.

Ellen Barry

Registered Yoga Therapist · Teacher

An experienced registered yoga therapist and teacher with somatic and trauma-informed training. She has facilitated regular group work since 2017, both in London and here, and has worked alongside multiple charities in the past to offer specialised, therapeutic classes for adults of all ages.

For you and your therapist to prepare

Before enrolling we request that you and your ACC therapist read the TSY information above.
To enrol you will need to be engaged in ongoing regular therapeutic support with your ACC therapist.
You must have an accepted ACC SCS claim. TSY classes are delivered as part of Tailored Support to Wellbeing A or B, so a Wellbeing plan requesting TSY must be submitted and responded to by ACC before completing the registration form. (At this stage do not specify the therapist or group you wish to attend.) You can ask for TSY in a Wellbeing plan and state, under hours and supplier, TBC (to be confirmed).
If both you and your ACC therapist agree the class is appropriate, you and your therapist fill out an online registration form and support plan, and wait until the enrolment has been confirmed before applying to ACC for a purchase order.
This is a block course, so a commitment of 8 weeks is required for enrolments to be approved.
Once attending a class you will have the option to continue on with yoga in the following term or the next available class if you have enough remaining ACC group hours. If you choose this option your therapist will receive the necessary information to adjust the purchase order with ACC.

The group is not suitable for people who:

Are currently experiencing psychosis (and may not be suitable if people have had psychotic symptoms historically).
Are acutely suicidal, or who have strong and frequent suicidal ideation.
Have been to the Emergency Department or Crisis Resolution for risk issues including suicide or self-harm within the last six months.
Have active substance use problems (including regular alcohol and cannabis use).
Are being treated under the Mental Health Act.
Are struggling with dissociative symptoms and/or Dissociative Identity Disorder.
Have problems with anger and angry outbursts.
Have the potential to be a risk to others.

Important — ACC enrolment commitment

The TSY course is an 8-week block course. Once enrolled, the space is held for the whole 8 weeks. Per ACC guidelines, if a client does not attend a session, it will be charged for and deducted from their annual group work allocation (32 hours). If a client wishes to disengage part-way through, we'll contact their Lead Provider so the decision can be discussed in a therapeutic context, and formal notice of disengagement is required. Until that notice is received, missed sessions continue to be billed per ACC guidelines.

Have a question?

Not sure if this is the right fit, or have a question before registering? We're happy to help.

All material has been produced by ŌTSY for its exclusive use and should not be replicated without permission.