Posted on August 24, 2025

In the rhythm of eight wheels against smooth surfaces, many find more than recreation—they find release. At F.L.Y. Skates Foundation, we witness this transformation daily: the shift from tension to flow, from disconnection to presence, from isolation to community. Roller skating offers a unique pathway to healing that goes beyond traditional approaches, especially for those carrying the weight of trauma. This practice, deeply rooted in Black cultural traditions and now recognized by mental health professionals, creates spaces where healing happens through motion rather than just words. When the body moves, something profound opens up—a conversation between past and present that can gently transform how we carry our stories.

The Body Keeps Score: Trauma's Physical Imprint

Trauma doesn't just live in our memories—it resides in our bodies. Research consistently shows that traumatic experiences become stored physically, creating patterns of tension, disconnection, and hypervigilance that words alone often cannot reach. This physical dimension of trauma explains why traditional "talk therapy" sometimes hits walls; we cannot simply think our way out of conditions that live in our muscles, nervous system, and physical responses.

Roller skating offers a powerful counter to this physical holding pattern. The rhythmic, bilateral movement activates multiple brain regions simultaneously, helping to process experiences that remain "stuck" in non-verbal parts of the brain. The combination of balance, coordination, and rhythmic motion creates what therapists call "dual awareness"—the ability to remain present while engaging with difficult sensations or memories. For many trauma survivors, particularly those from communities where traditional therapy faces cultural barriers or stigma, skating provides an accessible entry point to healing.

"What makes roller skating especially powerful is how it combines physical movement with social connection and cultural affirmation," notes Dr. Laurant "Drelġé" Jolly, founder of F.L.Y. Skates Foundation. "Many of our participants, especially BIPOC youth and veterans, find they can express and process emotions on skates that they struggled to name in other settings."

The foundation's Wellness on Wheels™ program builds on this understanding, creating structured opportunities for participants to use skating as a tool for emotional regulation, stress reduction, and trauma processing. These sessions incorporate breathing techniques, mindful movement practices, and community support—all through the joy-centered activity of skating.

Finding Rhythm: How Skating Creates Healing Spaces

The unique qualities of roller skating make it particularly suited for trauma healing. Unlike some physical activities that emphasize competition or performance, skating centers rhythm, flow, and personal expression. These elements create what psychologists call a "flow state"—a condition of deep engagement that quiets the hyperactive stress response often seen in trauma survivors.

Skating's rhythmic nature helps regulate the nervous system, creating a physical counterbalance to the dysregulation that trauma often causes. As wheels glide across surfaces, the repetitive, predictable motion sends signals of safety to a system accustomed to high alert. Many participants report that skating helps them "come back to their bodies" after years of disconnection—a crucial step in trauma recovery.

The social dimension adds another layer of healing potential. Trauma often destroys connection, leaving survivors feeling isolated or unsafe in groups. Skating culture, particularly in BIPOC communities, offers a model of community support that honors individual expression while providing collective holding. In F.L.Y. Skates programs, this takes the form of intergenerational skating circles where elders and youth share space, creating what trauma specialists call "earned secure attachment"—the rebuilding of trust through consistent, supportive relationships.

"We see participants who enter our programs with physical signs of trauma—hunched shoulders, limited eye contact, restricted breathing—transform over weeks of skating practice," shares one Master Mentor of Movement (MMOM). "Their posture changes, their breathing deepens, they begin to take up space and express themselves through movement. This physical transformation reflects deeper healing taking place."

Cultural Foundations: Skating as Resistance and Restoration

For many BIPOC communities, roller skating has historically served as both cultural expression and resistance to oppression. This historical context adds significant power to skating as a healing modality, particularly for addressing racial trauma and its intergenerational impacts.

During segregation, Black skaters created their own spaces and styles when excluded from white rinks. This act of community creation in the face of structural racism built resilience that continues to inform skating culture today. The distinctive styles, music, and community practices developed during this period now serve as cultural resources for healing and connection.

F.L.Y. Skates Foundation centers this cultural history in its approach to trauma healing. "When we honor the elders who created these traditions through our MMOM recognition, we're not just celebrating individuals—we're acknowledging the collective wisdom and resilience of communities that found joy and connection despite systemic trauma," explains Dr. Jolly.

This cultural grounding creates what researchers call "post-traumatic growth"—the ability to find meaning, purpose, and even strength through the process of healing from trauma. For many participants, particularly BIPOC youth, connecting to these cultural traditions provides a counter-narrative to stories of victimhood or deficiency, replacing them with legacies of creativity, resistance, and joy.

The foundation's trauma-informed approach acknowledges both historical and personal trauma without reducing individuals to their wounding. Instead, skating programs focus on building capacity, agency, and connection—creating conditions where healing can unfold naturally through movement and community.

Beyond Individual Healing: Community Transformation

While personal healing remains central to F.L.Y. Skates Foundation's work, the vision extends to community transformation. The ripple effects of individual healing through skating create possibilities for collective restoration that address trauma at systemic levels. This approach aligns with current understanding of community trauma and healing. Research shows that traumatized communities often lose the physical and social infrastructure needed for collective wellbeing. By creating accessible skating programs in schools, churches, parks, and community centers, F.L.Y. Skates rebuilds these infrastructure elements while honoring existing community strengths.

The intergenerational component proves particularly powerful here. Youth and seniors skating together creates community cohesion across age groups, allowing wisdom to flow in multiple directions. Seniors find purpose and connection by sharing skating traditions, while youth gain mentors and cultural knowledge. This exchange builds community resilience against future trauma while addressing isolation—a major risk factor for trauma-related conditions.

Veterans play a unique role in this community healing approach. Their leadership in mentorship programs creates structured, safe environments for youth development while providing purpose and continued service for the veterans themselves. This mutual healing model recognizes that those who have navigated their own trauma journeys often become powerful guides for others. The foundation measures success not just through individual outcomes but through strengthened community bonds, cultural preservation, and the creation of safe, affirming spaces in neighborhoods that have often experienced disinvestment and collective trauma.

If you or your organization wishes to bring these healing practices to your community, we welcome your connection. F.L.Y. Skates Foundation offers workshops, training, and community events tailored to your specific context and needs. Movement-based healing belongs to everyone, and we're committed to making these practices accessible across communities. Reach out to us at [email protected] or call (240) 206 -1007 to discuss how skating can become a healing pathway for your school, neighborhood, or organization.