Hope Bound Collective

04/01/2020

Sharing some of my thoughts of what it means to live day by day in the midst of the pandemic.
”What embodiment looks like for me is showing up and acknowledging the oddly and beauty to be in the helping profession at this time. It's the weird parallel of that we all are experiencing the same trauma at the same time, that notion we are all connected. It's a daily reminder to hold ideals and goals loosely but hold gifts jointly, to give what I can, to sit with another's sorrow, to sing with my daughter, and hug my husband.”
From my heart to yours I’m offering space and presence.
Day by day friends. link below.

It can feel paralyzing to be within the confines of your home, watching and waiting to see how COVID-19 will unfold. It's terrifying to be a witness this trauma. To know that those on the front line simply do not have the tools they need to protect themselves and others carrying the virus adequately

03/25/2020

New blog by my friend Jo Lembo: "When God Doesn't Answer".

Her words feel appropriate to the season we all are experiencing, with COVID-19. Many of us are experiencing profound loss, grief and devastation.

"Nothing prepared us to read, “Your employment as associate pastors is terminated as of February 1.” We both went numb. The words blurred together as the conditions of separation were outlined, with dates for the end of our health coverage, a severance of three month’s pay, when we would both officially be unemployed. It was February 4th so both our jobs had ended while we were on vacation."

Nothing prepared us to read, “Your employment as associate pastors is terminated as of February 1.” We both went numb. The words blurred together as the conditions of separation were outlined, with dates for the end of our health coverage, a severance of three month’s pay, when we would both o...

03/23/2020

During this season, I will be offering online sessions for trauma informed yoga and psychotherapy. It's important to me to make mental health care accessible to you during this time of extreme uncertainty. Due to the urgency of our situation I am also making sliding scale available to serve you during this pandemic. These are uncharted waters and I invite you to continue to make space for you mental health and overall wellbeing through the COVID-19 outbreak. Love and Peace to You Friends, Anna

Contact me at: [email protected]

03/12/2020

Deep breathe everyone (myself included) it’s completely normal to feel disrupted with the latest news on the coronavirus. We are seeing and experiencing a new pandemic, and with the level of upheaval our world is encountering, its critical to step in and help when appropriate and step away for self care to strengthen our own container.

This is why I’m glad Jenna (Nourished Warrior) is writing this week. She and I met via Instagram, by share of similar interests, offering yoga as trauma treatment.

I love Jenna’s words as she describes trauma informed yoga, “The yoga practice literally invites us to move and shake off the dead skin that is suffocating us. The simple choice of showing up to the yoga mat is enough to find a moment of peace. If I can find peace on the mat then I can find it off the mat. Inviting peace to show up one movement, one moment, at a time, cleanses the soul.” I hope you enjoy Jenna’s words as much as I do.

Making peace with our stories of loss will ask more of you than you ever wanted to give. Peace doesn’t come cheaply or easily, especially embodied peace.

02/21/2020

Watch the trailer! We hope to see you at this weekend in Fort Collins, CO for a Discussion with Paul Young, Michael Cusick and Robert Lung! Right now we are offering a special discount code freedomforall for 30% off tickets. Get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/32bK57p

S*x trafficking is a worldwide epidemic, a tragedy that affects women, men and children. Men and boys throughout the United States are trapped in modern day slavery…

02/20/2020

Meet the full team at this weekends Discussion with Paul Young, Michael Cusick and Robert Lung! Right now we are offering a special discount code freedomforall for 30% off tickets. Get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/32bK57p

12/17/2019

The work of journeying alongside someone in their story is sacred.

I spent many years in the chair across from a kind and seeing therapist, during those years I also began to take yoga classes.

Through my personal experience and training that I found a mix of talking through the trauma and abuse while moving in a way that cared for my body was helpful.

The combination of yoga and counseling open up pathways of healing cognitively, emotionally and physically.

This avenue of healing allowed me to come back home to my body, integrating body, mind, soul, and spirit.

11/23/2019

At Hope Bound Collective, our theory of yoga and counseling is understood through the lens of trauma theory, attachment, and knowledge of neuroscience.

Studies suggest that trauma-informed yoga combined with psychotherapy can improve a person’s reorientation to their bodies, which can aid in trauma survivors healing and empowerment.

https://www.hopeboundcollective.com/our-theory

11/22/2019

Many survivors of trauma and abuse struggle with their relationship to their bodies through symptoms such as, but not limited to, self-harm, eating disorders, dissociation, self-hatred, bodily disturbances, flashbacks, chronic pain, estrangement from self and others.

These symptoms are often byproducts of the harm done to us through trauma and abuse. These significant disturbances, cause dysregulation in a person’s cadence and rhythm of being.

Safe and healthy re-connection to our bodies can provide an avenue for regaining self-embodiment, regulation, autonomy, reduction of flashbacks and genuine kindness towards whole-self.

11/20/2019

At Hope Bound Collective, our approach to counseling is that we are our one mind, body, soul, and spirit - all within us is connected - we are one. Becoming reconnected is the process of returning to your whole self, back home to who we are designed to be. Although we cannot erase the harm done to us, we can reclaim and reconnect back to our original sense of self. Counseling is a process of coming back home to you.

11/19/2019

Hey everyone Anna here! One of my favorite reads. David Emerson hits home with his innovative conversation surrounding trauma care.
We cannot overlook the body, it is the pivotal point of treatment for complex trauma.

Here is one of my favorite quotes, “Trauma survivors need to find ways to be in their body and a gentle, nurturing way. What trauma sensitive yoga offers that is distinct from many other physical practices is a structured, supportive, and self paced medium for survivors to make choices in regulation to their bodies and their experience that are kind gentle and caring all of the things that were missed during the trauma.”

10/30/2019

Have you heard about the healing power of interoception?

It’s a powerful tool that we can use to reconnect back to our felt sense of the body, following a trauma. It's beautiful how trauma-informed yoga can be a method of reclaiming the body!

You can start healing today, dear friends. You are worth it!

10/11/2019

A Friday poem for a busy helping professional...

it's okay to rest
to say no
to sit down and do nothing
to read a silly book
to close your eyes
to have nothing to do on the calendar
to be still
to simply be
to enjoy the silence
to sit in the sunshine

it's good to put down the work
to rest
to be still
to not be the work
to be you

10/03/2019

Hey Everyone, Anna here!
I've been a little quiet about my new space for Hope Bound Collective
As you may know I just recently moved to Boulder!
So I am happy to announce I've found a home to offer trauma informed yoga and psychotherapy at Boulder Healing Hub, LLC- it's a fun group of healers who practice from different angles.
So grateful to be there!
It's the little things that make a difference.
Day by day friends!

09/26/2019

I believe we can cultivate our own inner sanctuary to heal from burnout, and compassion fatigue.

But how do we do that?

My story may be similar to yours, I started out young passionate, with big dreams and little insight of how to actually survive the work with my sanity in-tact.

Although I deeply cared about the people I worked with and overall cause, that did not sustain me for the long hours, little pay and crushing weight of responsibility I felt.
Burn out and compassion fatigue came in and carried with it a life-sucking power, that took me years to recover my sense of identity, personal contributions to the work, and acknowledgment of who I am apart from my social work DNA.

I'm sharing this because I believe this doesn’t have to be you.

I believe burnout and compassion fatigue is almost unavoidable in trauma care, however, if we learn how to identify the signs and take care of ourselves, we can change the game.

Let’s enter the work differently. Friends, we are the work but the work is not us. 🌈🌈🌈

09/25/2019

Hey! Anna Here!

I've got a new blog up today. The title will get you by surprise... Meditative Toddler Tantrums.

This week I am taking a simple occurrence of a toddler tantrum and turning it into a lesson about mindfulness and genuine connection with the body.

Here is one of my favorite quotes:

"It’s a misconception that trauma-informed yoga is a series of steps or a list of practices. I run away from using breath and body forms as a prescription. Instead, I utilize the power of interoception and shared an authentic experience. The critical part of trauma-informed yoga is for one to begin to explore and learn their body, free from restriction or inhibition. Self-regulation is often acquired from practicing yoga, but is not a goal and never should be. Instead, a primary component, is being in a space where someone is authentically holding space for your well being. Remember bigger, kinder, stronger, and wiser – this is who you want to practice yoga with."

If you believe this information is for you, check it out!

Lots of love, Anna

09/24/2019

Hi!! Anna here!
Wanna jump on for a brief moment and talk about compassion fatigue and burnout.

If you’ve been in the helping profession for a little over 5 years you’ve likely experienced it or heard of someone fall victim to this grim fate.

I’ve hit burnout more than once and I must say it really sucks.
Yet I want you know you are not alone and your experience is totally common.

Good news is you can heal, grow and create a better life for yourself. 💯💯💯

I’ve learned recovering from anything is not an easy road, but a rich and glorious one. ✔️✔️✔️

And for the record... If I’d not had a wrecking within my own trauma recovery by seeking out alternatives to healing like yoga, I would have not opened the doors to Hope Bound Collective in 2019.
Friends!
Living a life asking the bigger questions of who am I in the midst of this grand picture is choosing to be propelled by passion.
And choosing to take care of your selves in the process. 💜

Good news is you can have both, you can have the lifestyle and the carrier you desire. 🌟🌟🌟

09/21/2019

Happy Saturday everyone!
I want to share some words from David Emerson one of my favorite teachers.

“Complex trauma is a phenomenon of having one’s experience held hostage to the whims of an external force, namely, another person. Power is largely externalized in the form of that other person. Healing trauma involves reclaiming the locus of control and, therefore, the validity of one’s own felt experience.” -David Emerson, Author of Trauma-Sensitive Yoga in Therapy

How does this quote resonate with you? It strikes me to the core, and it’s the very essence of why I started Hope Bound Collective ✨✨✨
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I believe that the body is the main avenue of transformation.
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One of my absolute most favorite things to offer is simple body based interventions that help people reconnect with their body.
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Here is one ☝🏽 that you can practice right now.
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Take a moment, find a quiet space a piece of paper and pen and right down how you are feeling in this moment.
Take 1 or 2 minutes to do so.
Pause and read what you wrote out loud. If it feels true to you, read it back to yourself and after every sentence say “I hear you, I see you” What a beautiful process of affirmation!
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Let me know how it lands with your heart today. Lots of love, Anna
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Picture credit Travis Bartlett

09/17/2019

Hey Anna here, let’s jump into some real talk.... ✨✨✨✨

I started Hope Bound Collective because I realized that trauma recovery does not exist in a vacuum, our bodies hold stories and we need a safe space to listen to what our they are saying.

Who else tracks with me on this??? 👏🏽

09/16/2019

Have you read Anna's interview with the Voyage Denver Magazine?

"In 2012, my life drastically changed when I started regular therapy to deal with the aftermath of a traumatic childhood and a history of sexual exploitation. There in the midst of deep heartache, I met myself in a new way and found that healing is possible through a healthy connection with self and others. I’ve learned, it’s not an easy road, but a rich and glorious one. If I’d not had a wrecking within my own trauma recovery by seeking out alternatives to healing like yoga, I would have not opened the doors to Hope Bound Collective in 2019. Living a life asking the bigger questions of who am I in the midst of this grand picture is choosing to be propelled by passion. Following passion has brought me into the seasons of grief and moments of joy. Yet I find myself continuing to choose the path that offers risk, delight, and beauty. We cannot know the depths of success without befriending challenge. Obstacles pin us to look at who we really are and name what truly matters.

I started Hope Bound Collective because I realized that trauma recovery does not exist in a vacuum, our bodies hold stories and we need a safe space to listen to what our they are saying. "

Follow the Link to read more!

09/16/2019

03/26/2019

Studio founder Anna Smith had the wonderful opportunity to be on the "Fierce & Lovely Podcast" by Beth Bruno.

Listen to the beginning of the podcast to learn more about Hope Bound Collective.

Listen at this link: https://bit.ly/2JGaEfi

03/06/2019

Trauma Informed Yoga strives to improve the quality of life for persons who’ve experienced trauma through offering a compassionate and mindful yoga practice.

To learn more visit www.hopeboundcollective.com

03/01/2019

All things awesome arriving for the studio.
- Yoga mats
- Bolsters
- Yoga blocks
- Blankets

We can’t wait to open and have you join us for a class.

02/21/2019

A trauma informed yoga studio coming to Fort Collins, CO in March of 2019.

Located at: Oak Street Mall in Old Town Fort Collins.
140 W Oak st
Suite 210
Fort Collins, CO 80521

02/20/2019