The Trauma Reflex – When Life Pulls Us Off Center
Always Leaning, Always Bracing
If the Red Light Reflex curls us inward and the Green Light Reflex pulls us into “go mode,” the Trauma Reflex is the pattern that pulls us sideways.
It’s the subtle (or not-so-subtle) tilt that happens when one side of the body braces more than the other—often in response to injury, surgery, or emotional trauma.
The Trauma Reflex shows up as:
One hip higher than the other
Uneven shoulders
A “C-curve” or scoliosis-like posture
A limp or uneven gait
Persistent pain on just one side of the body
Thomas Hanna described it as the body’s way of cringing away from danger. Over time, it becomes habitual, creating imbalance in the spine, pelvis, and even the jaw. Left unchecked, it can also contribute to digestive disturbances, jaw clenching, headaches, or even changes in breathing mechanics as the ribcage is pulled unevenly.
Fascial & Neurological Layers
In Anatomy Trains language, this reflex affects the spiral lines and the deep front line, creating rotational tension patterns. The fascial system doesn’t just transmit force—it holds memory. That means these diagonal bracing strategies are literally written into the fabric of your body.
The brain, meanwhile, encodes this as “normal,” leading to Sensory Motor Amnesia (SMA) on one side of the body. You may not even notice you’re leaning, limping, or twisting until pain or fatigue sets in. This is why somatic awareness is such a powerful tool—it helps us rewrite the script where the brain and fascia have been looping the same old story.
My Journey with Side Dominance
I saw this in my own practice—years of tension pulling my pelvis slightly to one side. It wasn’t obvious at first, but the imbalance caused pain up through my low back and down through my hip. The hardest part? Realizing I was unconsciously protecting myself long after the injury had healed.
The more I slowed down, the more I realized how many blind spots I had. For years I thought my discomfort was “normal.” Only through consistent practice did I discover that my body was holding patterns from old experiences that my conscious mind had forgotten. That was humbling—and freeing.
Practices That Help
Side Curl (Somatic Exercise): Reconnects lateral flexion and evens out side dominance. The movement is simple, but the key is awareness—sensing each rib and hip as you move.
Washcloth Twist: Engages spiral lines to restore balance in rotation. This helps not just with mobility but also with breathing into the ribs.
Diagonal Arch & Curl: Builds coordination between opposite shoulder and hip, retraining cross-body connections essential for walking.
Breath & Awareness Practices: Especially helpful for noticing how one side expands less than the other. Simply lying down with a hand on each side of your ribs can reveal a lot.
These are not quick fixes. They are practices to be repeated, explored, and integrated into daily life. Over time, they don’t just reduce pain—they restore trust between your body and your nervous system.
A Yogic Perspective
Yoga reminds us of the principle of sama—balance and equality. When one side of the body pulls us off center, it also pulls at the mind and emotions. In yogic science, imbalance in the body reflects imbalance in the mind, breath, emotions and vice versa.
By working with awareness, we are not just correcting posture—we are restoring inner balance. When the body regains symmetry, the mind feels steadier, the breath deepens, and meditation becomes more accessible. This is yoga at its root: the union of body, mind, and breath.
Explore More
Try the Side Curl Snack or Diagonal Arch & Curl on YouTube.
Explore the Pneuma Yoga Method online library for guided classes that target the reflexes.
Pair the movement with meditation—try the “I Am Not This Body” audio to feel the whole self beyond physical imbalance.
The Trauma Reflex doesn’t have to define your movement. With awareness, practice, and breath, balance is possible again. In fact, the more you practice, the more you realize that balance isn’t just about posture—it’s about how you move through life.
