Donna is the Founder and Director of How We Heal CIC, a not-for-profit community organisation specialising in body-led trauma recovery for women. The CIC provides funded, trauma-informed programmes that combine therapeutic yoga, somatic practices and nervous system-informed approaches to make specialist support accessible to women who may otherwise be unable to access private services, including survivors of domestic abuse and complex trauma. Alongside her role within the CIC, Donna continues to offer independent therapeutic yoga, yoga therapy, somatic coaching and trauma-informed consultancy through her private practice.​

​​

Donna's story:

​

I have been teaching yoga full-time since 2017 and have dedicated my career to exploring the therapeutic application of yoga for trauma recovery and nervous system health. I am a Senior Yoga Teacher (Yoga Alliance) with over 1,000 hours of professional training, a Yoga Therapist specialising in PTSD, Complex PTSD and anxiety (The Minded Institute, London), a Yoga Alliance certified Trauma Resilience and Embodied Yoga teacher, and a Somatic Coach for women. 

​

My work has been dedicated to trauma-informed yoga and body-led trauma recovery since 2020, although the foundations were laid much earlier. Before specialising in this work, my professional background was in law, probation and social justice, working alongside people navigating trauma, abuse and adversity. These experiences continue to shape my approach today, combining evidence-informed practice with deep compassion and a belief that healing is possible when people are offered safety, choice and connection.

​

Today, my work brings together therapeutic yoga, yoga therapy, somatic coaching, restorative yoga, Yoga Nidra and nervous system-informed practices. Every offering is grounded in trauma-informed principles, creating spaces where women can move at their own pace, reconnect with their bodies and begin to cultivate greater safety, resilience and self-trust. Rather than focusing on achieving the perfect posture, my approach invites curiosity, choice and compassion, recognising that healing begins by listening to the wisdom of the body.

​

Yoga first became part of my own journey after experiencing significant spinal problems from the age of fifteen, resulting in several spinal surgeries. Following years of living with chronic pain, I was guided to yoga by the NHS in my mid-thirties. I experienced an immediate sense of freedom and ease within my body, and through a regular and consistent practice I have transformed not only my relationship with pain, but my overall quality of life.

​

Alongside these physical changes came something even more profound. Yoga introduced me to self-compassion, resilience and a gentler relationship with myself. As my understanding deepened, I discovered the powerful role that embodied practice could play in supporting nervous system regulation and healing from childhood trauma, grief and anxiety. These experiences continue to inform both my personal practice and the way I support others today.

I remain a lifelong student of yoga, continually deepening my understanding through ongoing study, supervision and practice. While yoga is rooted in thousands of years of wisdom, I am equally passionate about its growing evidence base within neuroscience, trauma recovery and health. It is this meeting of ancient wisdom and modern science that continues to inspire my work and shapes everything I offer, whether supporting individuals, facilitating groups, training professionals or developing trauma-informed programmes through How We Heal CIC.