Somatic Yoga in Scottsdale, AZ
A Holistic Approach to Trauma Healing
At Mind Body Healing Collective, we offer Somatic Yoga in Scottsdale, AZ as a body-based wellness practice centered on mindful movement, nervous system awareness, personal choice, and emotional safety.
Somatic Yoga uses gentle movement and body awareness to help participants notice physical sensations and reconnect with their bodies at their own pace. Unlike yoga practices that emphasize performance or achieving particular poses, our approach prioritizes choice, accessibility, and individual comfort.
For people who have experienced trauma or chronic stress, this trauma-sensitive approach provides opportunities to explore movement without pressure or physical adjustments. Participants are encouraged to listen to their bodies, choose whether and how to participate, and modify movements based on what feels appropriate for them.
Creating a Safe Space
At the core of our approach is an emphasis on safety. Somatic Yoga prioritizes creating a supportive, nurturing environment where individuals can explore movement and body awareness at their own pace.
Choice as Empowerment
Recognizing the importance of agency, Somatic Yoga allows individuals to make choices that resonate with their unique needs and comfort levels. Participants are given the choice to participate in certain poses or activities, and they are encouraged to honor their own boundaries and limitations. This can be especially important for survivors of trauma, who may have had their autonomy taken away from them. The power of choice becomes a catalyst for empowerment, fostering a sense of control and autonomy throughout the healing process.
Embodiment and the Mind-Body Connection
Embodiment is key in trauma recovery, and Somatic Yoga facilitates a mindful connection between the body and mind. By encouraging individuals to be present in their bodies, the practice can support greater awareness of physical sensations, emotional responses, and the connection between body and mind.
Mindful Movement and Nervous System Regulation
Incorporating gentle, intentional movement and breathwork, Somatic Yoga offers a way to explore body awareness while supporting nervous system regulation. For people experiencing anxiety, chronic stress, or trauma-related concerns, these practices can complement other forms of support by encouraging greater awareness of physical sensations and responses.
Somatic Yoga may also complement body-based therapeutic approaches such as Somatic Experiencing when appropriate for an individual’s needs.
Expert Guidance and Compassionate Support
Our experienced instructors, trained in somatic yoga, provide expert guidance and compassionate support throughout the yoga sessions. Together, you and your instructor create a collaborative space for healing, fostering a sense of trust and security.
At Mind Body Healing Collective, Somatic Yoga is approached as a body-based wellness practice that emphasizes safety, choice, nervous system awareness, and connection between mind and body.
Meet Your Somatic Yoga Facilitator
Regan Mays, MSc provides experiential art therapy for neurodiverse teens and integrates Reiki, yoga, and sound therapies into her trauma-informed work. She also offers equine-assisted therapies for individuals of all ages and abilities, with a specialization in therapeutic horseback riding and equine comparative psychology.
Regan recently co-facilitated the Healing Ground Equine-Assisted Somatic Workshop alongside Dr. Amy Bjorkman and holds a Master of Science in Psychology from Arizona State University. She is currently preparing applications for PhD programs in Behavioral Neuroscience and Comparative Psychology.
Her approach to somatic yoga is grounded in nervous-system awareness, embodied choice, and compassionate presence — supporting clients in reconnecting with their bodies safely and at their own pace.
Looking for an Upcoming Somatic Yoga Workshop?
Somatic Yoga is regularly offered as part of Mind Body Healing Collective’s wellness workshops in Scottsdale. View our upcoming Wellness Workshops to see current Somatic Yoga dates and other body-based wellness offerings.
Helpful FAQs
Somatic yoga focuses on slow, mindful movement and body awareness to calm the nervous system—rather than performance or flexibility.
Yes. Gentle breath and movement can reduce hyperarousal, ease muscle guarding, and support a sense of safety in your body.
No. Sessions are accessible, adaptive, and paced to your comfort—no prior yoga required.
Yes. We offer sessions in Scottsdale and via secure telehealth so you can practice where you feel most at ease. Watch for upcoming workshops!
Yes. In fact, trauma-sensitive somatic yoga is often most effective when it complements ongoing therapy. Because the practice focuses on nervous system regulation, body awareness, and gentle movement, it can reinforce the work happening in individual therapy, EMDR, Somatic Therapy, or other trauma-informed approaches.
Many clients find that combining talk therapy with body-based practices helps them integrate what they are learning, build resilience, and develop a greater sense of safety both during sessions and in everyday life.
Trauma-sensitive somatic yoga may be helpful for adults who are experiencing the effects of trauma, chronic stress, anxiety, emotional overwhelm, or a persistent sense of disconnection from their bodies. Unlike traditional yoga classes, the focus is not on flexibility or performance. Instead, the practice emphasizes choice, nervous system regulation, and moving at a pace that feels safe and supportive.
No prior yoga experience is necessary. Sessions are designed to meet you where you are and can be adapted to your comfort level, abilities, and individual healing goals.
Trauma-sensitive Somatic Yoga may also complement trauma therapy in Scottsdale by supporting body awareness, choice, and nervous system regulation outside of therapy sessions.