Category: Publications and Poetry

Thank you to Break the Silence for including the photo and original poem, “Fighter” in the Survivors of Minnesota photojournalism project.

*Trigger Warning*

My name is Julie Grossman, and I am a survivor of assault.

I’ve been a fighter since I was thirteen
Bows to my opponents, always fought clean
But that night
He stole my chance to fight
The alcohol and drug
Pulsed through my blood
The underdog and the heavyweight
Not a chance was stood

So just imagine how I felt
When I found he had stripped
My championship
Belt

I fought to conceal
Scars I thought I earned
I fought not to reveal
Outpourings of tears that, like fire, burned

Then I pulled on my gloves tighter Landed solid punches on the bag
Jab left, hook right
I’m no used, shook up rag
I let out all my fight there in the gym
And for one night, I don’t think of him
I fight for myself,
Made not of glass
I kick the thoughts from my head
Choosing instead
To kick
Ass

I am a fighter
And I’ve always been
I carry on, not carrion
At the hands of some man
The trick is to keep getting up
Until the bell sounds
He may have gotten one
But there’s still nine more rounds.

I am alive
And I thrive
I am a fighter
And I will survive.

Thank you to @fierce_calm for sharing my story! I’m proud and honored to be one of your featured survivors.

*Trigger Warning*

“In times of trauma, like a sexual assault, you don’t think clearly and you don’t file memories correctly all the time. There are things I can’t remember — and things I’ll never forget.”

Meet trauma informed yoga teacher Julie Grossman sharing her #yogasavedmylife story with us. These are her words.

“I remember what I was wearing — a baggy sweatshirt, and jeans. It was a weeknight, and we were going to watch a movie. As I relaxed with my feet up on my friend’s couch, he brought me a tall, fizzy, orange-flavored drink. Then it’s all a blank — until I woke up later on his bed. He was on top of me. I registered what was happening, but paralyzed and terrified, I passed out again.

I drove back to my apartment later, called my parents, and moved home. The police wouldn’t even take my story. I talked to my therapist, and that was helpful, but I still struggled with anxiety attacks and bouts of severe depression. But then I found what would change me forever — yoga.

It started as simple exercises, then become a daily practice of meditation, mindfulness, spirituality, and reconnecting with my body.I hated my body — I wanted to escape it, to hide away and live in my head.

Trauma-sensitive yoga, however, teaches how to be gentle with yourself, to be in the moment, and find that comfort and healing once again. It was absolutely life-changing for me. I even reached a point where I was able to forgive my attacker, inside myself, and stop the cycle of hate. I studied TSY as much as I could, and became a certified teacher. Now I am thrilled to be able to help and guide other women on their own path to healing. I truly feel this is my purpose in life.

It happened to me too, like it happens to too many others. But nobody took anything away from me. I’m still whole and I’m complete. And now, with yoga as a tool and a lifestyle, I’m stronger than ever before. Julie

#FIERCECALM #yoga #survivor #abusesurvivor #traumayoga #traumainformedyoga #traumasensitiveyoga #yogaheals #metoo