Intergenerational trauma is worsening among South Asians. Here’s how to heal from the past you inherited

Saeed sees yoga as an indigenous healing method rooted in the South Asian heritage. “These are our ancestors who have developed these body-based practices and practices are also in our DNA,” she explains, urging us to reconnect with these traditions transmitted by generations. In a world dictated by the West which rejects the impact of these healing methods, the recovery of yoga – and other cultural practices such as Ayurveda – can be a powerful form of resistance and recovery.

When to opt for therapy as a solution

If someone has never been attentive to their body, Saeed could start with cognitive behavioral therapy to help them name their feelings and understand their emotional models. “But ultimately, we head to work based on the body: somatic work, parts of parts or desensitization of eye movements and retirements (EMDR),” she explains. These methods help individuals reconnect with their bodies, release repressed emotions and find a feeling of safety in their own skin.

Somatic work focuses on helping individuals more aware of physical sensations in their bodies and the connection of these sensations to emotional states. “This helps us to follow the feelings in the body and to understand what they are trying to tell us,” says Saeed, noting that trauma survivors often disconnect from their body.

The parts work, in turn, are inspired by internal therapy of family systems (IFS) and involves identifying different aspects of oneself, such as injured or protective parts, which can be healed or keep trauma. “This helps to guide the customer to connect with their” self “, the calm, wise and confident part of itself, rather than leaving its parts focused on the trauma take care,” explains the social worker.

Finally, the EMDR helps individuals to treat trauma using rapid eye movements (or by typing) to reconnect fragmented memories and reshape negative beliefs. “It goes into our physiological systems and retreating memory models,” she said, adding that this method integrates both the mind and the body, which leads to a more lasting change.

But it is not just formal therapy. SAEED recommends simple and accessible practices for all those who seek to heal. “Start with a joyful movement,” she suggests. Whether it is dancing, yoga or a walk in nature, engaging in physical activities that bring joy can be incredibly anchored and restorative. “Do not make movements you don’t like,” she advises. “If running is not your thing, don’t force yourself to run. Do what feels good.”