On this episode of Resiliency Within, host Elaine Miller-Karas welcomes Heather Lilly,
co-founder and past Executive Director of Yoga Village in Wilmington, North Carolina,
for a thoughtful conversation about the integration of the Community Resiliency Model
(CRM) with Trauma-Informed Yoga. Together, Elaine and Heather explore how these
complementary, body-based approaches can help individuals and communities
strengthen resilience, regulate the nervous system, and support healing in the face of
stress, adversity, and trauma.
Drawing from years of experience serving diverse populations, Heather shares the vision
behind Yoga Village and its commitment to making trauma-informed practices
accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. Elaine and Heather discuss how CRM
skills naturally align with trauma-informed yoga practices that cultivate mindful
awareness, self-compassion, and a deeper connection to the body.
Their dialogue highlights the growing recognition that healing is not simply a cognitive
process but one that involves the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. Through stories,
insights, and practical wisdom, they explore how integrating CRM and trauma-informed
yoga can help create safer, more compassionate communities where individuals can
rediscover their strengths and capacity for well-being.
Join Elaine and Heather for an inspiring conversation about resilience, healing, and the
transformative power of bringing together evidence-informed practices that help people
reconnect with themselves and with one another.

On this special episode of Resiliency Within, host Elaine Miller-Karas sits down with Michael Sapp, Executive Director of the Trauma Resource Institute, for a heartfelt conversation reflecting on the remarkable global journey of the Trauma Resource Institute. What began as a small idea rooted in compassion and neuroscience has grown into an international movement of healing, hope, and human connection, reaching communities across cultures, languages, and lived experiences worldwide.

They will share reflections on the profound lessons learned from decades of working alongside educators, therapists, healthcare workers, parents, community leaders, and young people who have brought the Community and Trauma Resiliency Models into their daily lives. Together, Elaine and Mike discuss the importance of understanding that reactions to stress and trauma are not signs of weakness, but part of our shared human biology—and how practical wellness skills, compassionate relationships, and community connection can restore dignity, resilience, and hope. This dialogue also explores the realities of building an international nonprofit organization: the vision, perseverance, partnerships, and deep trust required to sustain a mission dedicated to human resilience.

The Community Resiliency Model (CRM)® contains powerful skills for nervous system regulation that can be used anywhere and anytime.

CRM in Schools is a strengths-based, compassionate approach that is helping school staff and students re-connect to their bodies and understand new ways to support their well-being through nervous system regulation.

Since 2019, the Community Resiliency Model has been shared with thousands of educators and students, world-wide. Pro-active and preventative skills like resourcing, grounding, and the Help Now! strategies can be practiced daily as classroom routines, during class meetings and brain breaks, or at crucial moments like before a test or during conflict resolution.

Feedback from educators and students suggests that the CRM skills can improve students body literacy, self-compassion and sense of empathy towards others. Educators report feeling more resourced to manage the physical and emotional demands of their profession.

How can CRM be brought into schools in a way that supports teachers and students, rather than burdening them with "one more thing" to do.

How can CRM be integrated systemically so that the climate of school becomes a place that is welcoming to the educators and students "whole selves"?

Can schools truly become places where trauma-and-resiliency informed practices are understood and applied by everyone from the support staff, to the principal?

This episode with Lindy Settevendemie and Christa Tinari explores the use of CRM in school contexts and their insights about how CRM can support individuals and transform the learning environment.