10/08/2026
Great new offering from Leigh Marsden Holistic Health for the general public to benefit from.
Highly recommend ๐ โค๏ธ
TRAUMA-INFORMED COURSES
PUBLIC INTAKE NOW OPEN
For the first and only time this year, Iโm opening two of my specialist trauma-informed programmes to members of the general public (usually only available to ACC sensitive claims clients).
These are 8-week programmes for people who want to better understand, and begin changing, the ways stress, trauma and nervous-system patterns can affect the body, voice, confidence and ability to communicate.
TRAUMA-INFORMED YOGA
Saturdays, 3pm | 45 minutes
Mixed group, men & women
Across eight weeks, we use gentle movement, breathing, grounding and body awareness to develop greater connection with the body and practical skills for nervous-system regulation. This is not a conventional yoga class, but a very particular, progressive skills development programme.
It may be particularly beneficial for people experiencing:
โข anxiety, chronic stress or overwhelm
โข PTSD or the ongoing effects of trauma
โข feeling constantly on edge or unable to switch off
โข freeze, shutdown or disconnection from the body
โข difficulty recognising or trusting body signals
โข persistent physical tension or bracing
โข difficulty feeling comfortable in conventional exercise or yoga environments
No previous yoga experience or particular level of fitness or flexibility is required.
VOICE, BOUNDARIES & SAFE EXPRESSION
Saturdays, 1.30pm | 45 minutes
Mixed group, men & women
A highly specialised, experiential course exploring the relationship between the nervous system, voice, communication and boundaries.
It may be particularly beneficial if you:
โข struggle to say no or set boundaries
โข people-please or automatically agree
โข freeze, go blank or lose your words under pressure
โข find conflict or assertive communication difficult
โข notice your voice becomes quiet, tight or restricted when anxious
โข struggle to express your needs, opinions or emotions
โข experience social anxiety or low communication confidence
โข feel that past experiences have affected your ability to speak up or feel heard
We begin with breathing, nervous-system regulation and finding the voice, then progressively build towards stronger vocal expression, communication and boundary-setting.
You don't need to begin feeling confident using your voice to start this course, but you do need to be willing to participate. Everyone starts from a different place. You will work at a level that is manageable for you while being encouraged to practise, experiment and gradually challenge yourself as the course progresses.
THESE ARE PROGRESSIVE COURSES
Both programmes have been deliberately designed as an 8-week progression. Each week builds upon the work that came before it. For that reason, these are not drop-in classes.
When you enrol, you are making a commitment to the full course, including short home practices between sessions. The home practice is an important part of consolidating what we explore together and allowing skills and confidence to develop over time. The aim isn't simply to attend eight sessions. It's to practise something repeatedly enough that change can begin to occur.
COURSE INFO:
8 Saturdays:
19 & 26 September
3, 10 & 24 October
7, 21 & 28 November
45 minutes per session + home practice
$180 per course, payable in advance
Venue: Leigh Marsden Holistic Health, Timaru
SPECIALIST FACILITATION
I hold a Master of Speech & Language Therapy (First Class Honours) alongside extensive training and experience in yoga, breathwork, nervous-system regulation and trauma-informed practice.
My work brings these areas together, understanding both the physical mechanisms of breathing, movement and voice, and the ways our nervous system can influence how we move, speak, respond and connect with others.
These are specialist, structured programmes rather than general yoga or wellbeing classes. This is the only public intake I will be offering this year.
If one of these programmes sounds like it could be right for you, please message me for further information or to secure a place.
Namaste,
Leigh
