Merrick Pope believes in the benefits of yoga for self harm. She’s seen it with her own eyes.
Merrick is a Clinical Nurse Specialist who runs the Self Harm Service at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, the aim of which is to improve the care, treatment and experience of people who can present with complex, often misunderstood needs. She sees people for 1:1 work whilst they are inpatients and offers a range of groups they might then link in to, such as creative writing peer support or yoga, depending on the individual. Merrick is also involved in educating and supporting colleagues in their understanding and experiences of those who self harm.
So what exactly is self harm?
Self harm is defined as “self-poisoning or self-injury, irrespective of the apparent purpose of the act” (http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2011/03/17153551/1) This can take the form of a multitude of methods, such as cutting or burning, but also those which are more socially accepted like alcohol or risk taking. It is a way of coping with or changing emotions or thoughts, and although can work in the moment may then leave an aftermath physically and psychologically. Merrick Pope
Through the Yoga for Self Harm sessions that take place at the Hive , an activity centre and coffee bar situated in the grounds of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Merrick has observed firsthand the transformative power of yoga in the lives of the individuals she works with.
People who have experienced trauma can be disconnected in mind and body, living in a form of disassociation. Yoga can be a way of reconnecting the self, or staying present when symptoms begin. Likewise, people may experience high levels of anxiety, hypervigilance and hypersensitivity of the five senses – yoga seems to help create moments of peace when these symptoms lessen. It can be difficult to be in an environment such as a gym when you have scarring – being able to offer a safer space where all are equal can be a gateway to giving more attention to physical health. This acceptance and social contact can also be a indirect benefit of coming along to the group.
Merrick attends these Yoga for Self Harm sessions at the Hive to support those who come along. She’s also rediscovered the benefits of yoga in her own life.
When and where were you first introduced to yoga?
Merrick: I remember a friend of my mum’s introducing it to me when I was a young child, and giving me a book from which I would attempt some move. However, I only really became involved once introduced through a mutual acquaintance to Lorraine Close from Edinburgh Community Yoga Outreach just over a year ago.
What benefits have you experienced personally from practising yoga?
Merrick: I am able to regulate my breathing more effectively and am much more supple-I attempted and achieved the “Crow” for the first time this week, not bad for a wee middle-aged wifey!
How does your yoga practice affect the rest of your life, including your work?
Merrick: I have begun to incorporate aspects of yoga into my life both in and out of work-I use breathing techniques to reduce the sense of pressure working in my field can sometimes induce, and am more aware of how I carry myself. I have been practising some of the moves at home, along with my children, who love this special time together. Making time for myself can feel like an indulgence, however yoga time is more of a necessity.
Lorraine Close is well-qualified to lead these sessions. You have to be to work in this kind of setting. She’s a qualified yoga teacher with additional training with the Minded Institute in Yoga and Mindfulness for Addictions and a 40 hour CPD workshop on Trauma Informed Yoga practices with David Emerson from the Boston Trauma Centre. Merrick believes that having the right teacher is key to creating a safe space to practise yoga.
Lorraine’s yoga sessions are fun, challenging, and moving. Lorraine is always clear it is our yoga, however she inspires us to try hard and believe in ourselves to do things none of us expected to be able to do. Generally, there is laughter, however when a group member is not in a good place, the others are supportive and respectful. Knowing some of the back stories of the women involved, I know how much courage it took for them to walk through the door on the first day – and then come back. Merrick Pope
So how helpful is yoga for self harm? The best people to tell us about that are the individuals who find that courage to keep coming back again and again to the yoga sessions at the Hive.
It’s a place I feel safe, comfortable, not judged. I’ve been able to show scars without feeling I need to be covered up or worrying the whole time that someone is staring at me. I don’t even bother trying to disguise my scars with make-up in the class and can wear shorter sleeves. Voice#1
It’s great having an instructor who is able to include everyone in her class – pitching stretches/poses at different levels for those who want an easier or more challenging option, explaining what the chants are for, gently talking us through the class to put everyone at their ease. She’s not fazed by people’s anxieties (sitting on chairs, not being at front, not wanting to do various poses, not feeling comfortable on orange or red mats). Voice#2
Physically accepting the body and its failings means being able to touch the body without feeling repulsed. Voice#3
Being more connected or in tune with your body leads to not treating it as separate entity or a punchbag when anxious or stressed. Learning how the mind can control the body and the body can control the mind – feeling ‘whole’ and centred. Voice#4
Yoga has been fantastic, learning yoga has been great-it has helped me chill out, my body is less tense and more relaxed. I can use what I’ve learnt at home to cope with my daily life. It’s helped that Merrick is there to help me feel safe, and if there is a problem in the class, we can approach her. Voice#5
I’m finally feeling more self aware outside of class – of tension and breathing patterns during stress and anxiety and having some basic postural tools to deal with this. Voice#6
These moving comments reveal just how beneficial yoga has been for each of these individuals who’ve struggled with the reality of self harm in their lives. Lorraine Close and Merrick Pope are doing a fantastic work here.
So what does the future hold for this project? It all comes down to funding.
Going forward, Lorraine and I plan to try and quantify and evidence some of these changes across the next 6 months, having been successful in applying for an Edinburgh and Lothian Health Foundation grant. Merrick Pope
If you would like to find out more about how you can support this work or would like to talk further with someone about yoga for self harm, then contact Lorraine Close at lorraine@edinburghcommunityyoga.co.uk.
Edinburgh Community Yoga Outreach is one of the projects supported by the Yogamatters’ High Five Initiative. You can read more about the fantastic outreach work of ECYO in the following blogs –