Yoga Therapy Hour with Amy Wheeler

Episode Overview: In this powerful and heartfelt conversation, Amy Wheeler welcomes yoga therapists and authors Marilyn Peppers-Citizen and Charlene Muhammad to discuss their groundbreaking new book, Yoga in the Black Community: Healing Through Wholeness, History, and Hope. With humility, courage, and vision, Marilyn and Charlene share the deeply intentional 4-year journey that led to the book’s creation—from its origins in conversations on chronic pain and health disparities to a larger message of universal healing through Yoga.Together, they explore the historical exclusion of Black communities from mainstream yoga spaces, systemic health inequities, and the emotional toll of ongoing racial bias in healthcare and research. Yet this episode is also rooted in hope—emphasizing the healing power of community-based practice, and the recognition that Yoga is not something to be “brought into” the Black community—it’s already there.Listeners will be moved by their reflections on resilience, the limits of resilience, and the need to reimagine yoga therapy education, credentialing, and access through a lens of equity, affordability, and cultural inclusion.Key Topics Covered:How the book organically evolved through monthly conversations, Google Docs, and shared purposeChronic pain, scientific bias, and the history of mistrust in research and healthcareYoga as a path to liberation, community care, and remembrance of inherent wholenessCentering Black lived experience while offering a universal message of healingThe challenges of inclusion in mainstream yoga and the importance of culturally-rooted practiceReimagining Yoga therapy education and credentialing with equity and accessibilityActionable steps for individual and collective healing, starting with self-reflectionA call to yoga professionals to integrate social, historical, and emotional literacy into their workQuotes to Remember:“You don’t need to be in a place to practice Yoga. It’s how you wake up in the morning, how you walk through the day, and how you sleep at night.” – Marilyn Peppers-Citizen“If you want to work with any community, you must know their history.” – Charlene Muhammad“We are not a broken people. We are whole humans with pride, joy, and daily challenges.” – Marilyn Peppers-CitizenResources Mentioned:  Yoga in the Black Community: Healing Through Wholeness, History, and Hope – by Charlene Muhammad & Marilyn Peppers-Citizen  Jana Long’s film: The Uncommon Yogi  Gabor Maté – The Myth of NormalConnect with the Guests:Charlene Muhammad – Yoga therapist, educator, and community healer Marilyn Peppers-Citizen – Yoga therapist and advocate for health equityTakeaway Message: This episode is a call to reflect, remember, and reconnect—with ourselves, our communities, and the deeper truths of yoga. Healing must begin within, and it must include all of us.Listen & Subscribe:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | www.TheOptimalState.comJoin the Conversation:Tag us with your thoughts and reflections using #YogaTherapyHourFollow @OptimalStateYoga on Instagram and FacebookAlso find us on Patreon under The Optimal State and Yoga Therapy HourIf you would like more information about getting a masters degree in Yoga Therapy at MUIH, go to:Master of Science in Yoga Therapy at NDMU https://www.ndm.edu/academics/integrative-health/yoga-therapyPlans of Study for NDMU Yoga Therapyhttps://livendm.sharepoint.com/sites/Academics/SitePages/Yoga-Therapy-Plans-of-Study.aspx?csf=1&web=1&share=EeZhGMscDMFOl1Lk0PD6gOsBTxvKkWvbfjhHLmMMuNpLFw&e=ApOX4h&CID=45c542e6-5528-4c68-a8ac-5596fb4fc161School of Integrative Health at NDMU: https://www.ndm.edu/academics/integrative-health Explore NDMU’s Post-Master’s Certificate in Therapeutic Yoga Practices, designed specifically for licensed healthcare professionals.  https://www.ndm.edu/academics/integrative-health/yoga-therapy/post-masters-certificate-in-therapeutic-yoga-practices Try our Post-Bac Ayurveda Certification Program at NDMU: https://www.ndm.edu/academics/integrative-health/ayurveda/post-baccalaureate-ayurveda-certification

Episode Summary: In this heartfelt and expansive episode, Amy Wheeler sits down with renowned author, educator, and activist Susanna Barkataki to discuss her new book Ignite Your Yoga, and the path of yoga leadership grounded in ethics, lineage, and collective care. Susanna shares personal stories from her life, including her upbringing in a bicultural household, her journey through burnout, and her evolving role as a teacher, student, and community leader. Together, they explore how Yogic leadership is born not from charisma or hierarchy, but from a deep commitment to daily sādhanā, self-awareness, and compassionate action.Susanna reflects on what it means to be a steward of the Yogic tradition rather than a consumer of it, and how Ignite Your Yoga is a call to bring yoga off the mat and into community, workplaces, activism, and healing justice movements. Amy and Susanna also talk about grief, aging, navigating burnout, and how letting go is often the first step toward transformation.This episode is a rare glimpse into the real, vulnerable, and luminous layers of yoga teaching and leadership—and what it means to stay true to the roots of yoga in a rapidly changing world.Topics Explored:Stewardship of yoga and how to honor lineage without replicating oppressionHow Ignite Your Yoga differs from Susanna’s first book, Embrace Yoga’s RootsYoga as collective care and community healingYogic leadership born from daily sādhanā and ethical clarityBurnout, perimenopause, and honoring your prakṛti through life transitionsCross-cultural identity and Susanna’s role as a “bridge” between worldsBuddhism, yoga, and holding space for spiritual multiplicityWhy comparing your path to others leads us away from dharmaHow to trust the unfolding even in the darkness of “not knowing”Favorite Quotes from the Episode:“There are many ways—myriad ways—to serve and make a difference in the world. Don't get tripped up on having your activism look like someone else's path.” – Susanna Barkataki“Yogic leadership isn’t about perfection. It’s about a continual refinement—letting our sādhanā nourish our service, and letting our service nourish our sādhanā.” – Susanna Barkataki“Letting go doesn’t mean giving up—it just means letting go of control over how you think it’s supposed to look.” – Amy WheelerResources Mentioned:Ignite Your Yoga by Susanna BarkatakiEmbrace Yoga’s Roots by Susanna BarkatakiSusanna’s upcoming book tour and workshops (details on her website)Connect with Susanna Barkataki:Website: www.susannabarkataki.comInstagram: @susannabarkatakiBook Tour Info: igniteyouryoga.orgConnect with Amy Wheeler & The Yoga Therapy Hour:Website: www.theoptimalstate.comInstagram: @amylwheelerPodcast Archive: Yoga Therapy Hour on Spotify/AppleMUIH Yoga Therapy and Ayurveda:www.MUIH.edu

In this bold and honest conversation, Amy welcomes Christine, founder of Integrated Yoga Therapy, for a raw discussion about what it means to stop performing and start living in alignment with truth. Together, they explore the cost of self-abandonment, the exhaustion of wearing a mask, and the journey back to embodied intuition and inner clarity.Christine shares her personal and professional insight into how yoga therapy can become a vehicle for radical self-honesty—where we stop shape-shifting to meet others’ expectations and instead begin to honor what our body, heart, and intuition have been whispering all along.This episode is a call to return to yourself—not the curated version, but the one that has always been there beneath the social conditioning, the masks, and the roles we’ve played. It’s about learning to live unarmored.In This Conversation, We Explore:Why living in secrecy erodes the soulHow to stop being a chameleon and start knowing yourselfListening to the body’s wisdom before logic takes overReclaiming your voice when it’s been buried by shame or performanceHow yoga therapy can support the journey back to inner belongingWhy authenticity is the greatest medicine—and the hardest practiceWho This Is For: Anyone who is tired of performing. Anyone who feels the ache of pretending. Anyone ready to stop betraying themselves for acceptance. If you're seeking a path back to truth and embodiment, this conversation will land deep.Connect with Christine:  www.integratedyogatherapy.comMore From The Yoga Therapy Hour:  Subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast platform  Try the Optimal State Mobile App to track your nervous system, connect to your intuition, and reclaim balance  Learn more and join our mailing list at www.TheOptimalState.comRate & Review: If this episode stirred something in you, please leave a review and share it with a friend. Truth-telling is contagious—and healing.Monday Nights with Amy: www.TheOptimalState.comMobile App: Optimal State AppMaster of Science in Yoga Therapy https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/master-of-science-in-yoga-therapy/ Explore MUIH’s Post-Master’s Certificate in Therapeutic Yoga Practices, designed specifically for licensed healthcare professionals.  https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/post-masters-certificate-in-therapeutic-yoga-practices/ Try our Post-Bac Ayurveda Certification Program at MUIH: https://muih.edu/academics/ayurveda/post-baccalaureate-ayurveda-certification/

Episode OverviewIn this grounded and heartfelt conversation, Amy Wheeler speaks with yoga therapist and licensed mental health professional Julia Romano about her new book, Yoga Therapy for the Whole Mother. While the book addresses the postpartum journey, Amy and Julia reveal that its deeper message is about learning to mother—not just children, but ourselves, one another, and the world.Julia shares how her life on a farm in West Virginia, her personal healing, and her spiritual path have shaped her therapeutic work. She speaks about the power of awareness, the centrality of presence, and the practical and sacred ways that yoga therapy can help people return to their innate wholeness.Topics ExploredThe archetype of the mother as a model for therapeutic presence and attunementThe link between awareness and agency in nervous system regulationYoga therapy as a re-mothering experience for clients with early attachment woundsHealing disordered body awareness through movement and breathRupture and repair in relationships as essential to human growthMeaning and purpose as antidotes to modern fragmentationWhy the teachings of yoga must be embodied, not just understood intellectuallyKey Quotes“Awareness begets choice—and choice is where healing begins.” — Julia Romano“Yoga therapy is not just about asana or breath; it's about creating a sacred space where another human being feels truly seen.” — Amy Wheeler“It’s not about the rupture—it’s about the repair.” — Julia Romano“This book is not just about postpartum healing. It’s a masterclass in how to be a great yoga therapist.” — Amy WheelerAbout the BookYoga Therapy for the Whole Mother is a deeply researched and spiritually grounded guide to the postpartum journey, but its insights go far beyond the early months of motherhood. Drawing from classical yoga, neuroscience, clinical experience, and lived wisdom, Julia offers practical tools and philosophical depth for anyone seeking healing, connection, and purpose.The book covers topics such as disordered body image, stress and fatigue, breath regulation, trauma-informed care, the pañcamaya model, and how the therapeutic relationship itself can be a path to wholeness.All research citations and expanded literature reviews are available on Julia’s website under the resources section.Connect with Julia RomanoWebsite: www.developingawarenesstherapy.comOffers individual yoga therapy sessions (telehealth and in-person)Available for mentoring newer yoga therapistsWrites regularly on two Substack newsletters:The Yoga Therapy LensParenting While Walking a Spiritual PathClosing ReflectionsThis conversation is a reflection on what it means to live the teachings of yoga—whether in clinical sessions, parenting moments, or quiet daily rituals. Julia reminds us that the act of mothering is not confined to gender or stage of life. It is a practice of witnessing, tending, and trusting the healing that comes through relationship.For anyone who works in healing, caregiving, or simply wants to live with more integrity and compassion, this episode offers deep insight and practical inspiration.Please add normal links for Amy and MUIH- thank you!

Episode Overview:In this deeply heartfelt episode, Amy sits down with Tra Kirkpatrick, an experienced yoga therapist and transformational coach, for a courageous and honest exploration of body image, self-worth, and the lifelong process of self-discovery.Tra shares her personal journey—from being placed on a diet at age 9 to discovering yoga in the late 1990s—and how her practice helped her separate external labels from internal truth. This episode is a compassionate guide for anyone who has ever felt disconnected from their body or confused about where to begin healing.This is not a conversation about weight loss. Instead, it is an invitation to redefine the relationship we have with our bodies, to unpack the emotional and cultural baggage we carry, and to use the tools of yoga therapy, coaching, and discernment (viveka) to find greater ease, vitality, and self-acceptance.Topics We Explore:Tra’s early experiences with weight stigma, medicalized body shame, and generational body narrativesHow yoga offered a path from self-rejection to self-awarenessThe evolution from body neutrality to body sovereigntyWhy core values are foundational for meaningful behavior changeHow cultural conditioning, social media, and family systems shape our internalized self-imageThe distinction between external identity and internal compassHow to assess whether your behaviors align with your values using tools like the Wheel of LifeWhy affirmations didn’t work for Tra—and how she found more authentic language to support changeUnderstanding the inner critic through the lens of ahiṃsā (non-harming)The role of discernment in resisting industry-driven narratives about beauty and worthYoga therapy as a modality that respects the unique journey of each clientTra’s Signature Offering:“Waitlist: Let Go and Get Lighter” An 8-week online program that helps participants identify and release the internal and external weight—mental, emotional, physical—that keeps them stuck. The program is not about dieting or physical aesthetics but rather freedom, vitality, and reclaiming your life.  Program launching again later this year. Learn more at trakirkpatrick.com  Favorite Quotes:“It’s not about changing what I see in the mirror. It’s about changing the person who is seeing.” – Tra Kirkpatrick“Our body is not something to fix. It’s something to feel at home in.” – Amy Wheeler“You are the only one writing the story of your life.” – Tra Kirkpatrick“Even if we don’t know the full context, yoga gives us the space to ask: What else could be true?” – Tra KirkpatrickMentioned in This Episode:Yoga therapy tools: ahiṃsā (non-harming), svādhyāya (self-study), viveka (discernment)Wheel of Life assessment for value-based decision makingJennifer Kreatsoulas, author of The Courageous Path to Healing and Body Mindful YogaDiscussion of guṇa imbalance and body image:Vāta: restlessness, insecurity, over-exercisingPitta: perfectionism, body control, critical self-talkKapha: stagnation, shame, hopelessnessTakeaways:Body image is not just physical—it’s emotional, social, and spiritual.You don’t need to love your body to begin healing. Sometimes neutrality or sovereignty is enough.Core values can be your guideposts when the inner critic is loud.Small, consistent steps—not grand transformations—make the biggest difference over time.Yoga therapy allows us to start from exactly where we are, with compassion and curiosity.Stay Connected:Amy Wheeler: www.amywheeler.com | IG: @amywheelerphdTra Kirkpatrick: www.trakirkpatrick.comThe Yoga Therapy Hour Podcast: Subscribe & leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!To join Amy’s mailing list and receive free resources, go to TheOptimalState.com

In this powerful episode of The Yoga Therapy Hour, Amy Wheeler sits down with Chris Sax, President of Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH), to discuss one of the most significant transformations in the field of integrative health education: the merger of MUIH into Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU). Together, they reflect on the opportunities, challenges, and leadership lessons that come with navigating such a historic transition.Chris shares openly about:· The vision behind the merger and how it positions NDMU as the first comprehensive university in the U.S. with a School of Integrative Health.· The unique opportunities this merger brings for interprofessional collaboration between integrative health programs and conventional disciplines like pharmacy, occupational therapy, nursing, physician assistant studies, and art therapy.· The personal and professional realities of leadership during change—from high-stakes decisions to the very human challenge of guiding teams through uncertainty.· Why cultivating compassionate leadership and emotional steadiness is just as essential as strategy, and how Chris has grown in this area throughout the pandemic and the merger process.· The importance of knowing yourself as a leader—your strengths, your limitations, and the “sweet spot” where passion, skills, and natural wiring intersect.· How to navigate burnout, resilience, and self-regulation while sustaining the long, slow work of higher education leadership.· The future of higher education, why mergers are becoming more common, and how adaptability, possibility-thinking, and resilience will be critical skills for leaders moving forward.Added InsightsThrough stories of self-assessment, professional pivots, and the emotional labor of leadership, Chris offers grounded wisdom about what it takes to lead well in times of uncertainty. She speaks candidly about the loneliness of leadership, the value of knowing your own wiring, and how burnout shows up in subtle ways. Her reflections on ego, failure, and service illuminate a path toward authentic, purpose-driven leadership.Together, Amy and Chris explore: • Why self-awareness is the cornerstone of sustainable leadership • How tools like the FIRO-B helped Chris realize she didn’t need to “be like everyone else” • The internal cues that signal burnout—and how to respond to them • The ego's role in both success and failure • How higher education is shifting—and the mindset shifts required to keep up • What it means to lead from service, not selfThis is a conversation about leadership as a practice of svādhyāya (self-inquiry), vairāgya (non-attachment to outcome), and tapas (disciplined effort)—rooted in humility, honesty, and care.Resources & Links Mentioned:· Master of Science in Yoga Therapy at MUIH/NDMU: Learn more - https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/master-of-science-in-yoga-therapy/· Post-Master’s Certificate in Therapeutic Yoga Practices (for licensed healthcare providers): Learn more -  https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/post-masters-certificate-in-therapeutic-yoga-practices/· Post-Baccalaureate Ayurveda Certification: Learn more - https://muih.edu/academics/ayurveda/post-baccalaureate-ayurveda-certification/· Optimal State Mobile App – for daily check-ins and simple interventions to stay balanced: Visit here - https://optimalstateapp.com/ · Online Community with weekly yoga therapy classes & full class library: Join here - https://theoptimalstate.com/monday-yoga-therapy-clinic/  

Episode Overview:In this rich and inspiring episode, Dr. Amy Wheeler sits down with Sarajean Rudman, a multi-disciplinary healer and professor at Maryland University of Integrative Health, to explore what it truly means to live Ayurveda in today’s world.Sarajean shares how her journey into Ayurveda began at Kripalu and evolved through a deep immersion in yoga, fitness, health coaching, clinical nutrition, and integrative medicine. Her ability to translate ancient wisdom into practical daily action is exactly what modern healthcare — and families — need now.Together, Amy and Sarajean explore:What integrative Ayurveda means in the context of modern healthcareHow licensed healthcare professionals (LHPs) can incorporate Ayurvedic routines and language into their practiceWhy Ayurveda is not just for wellness seekers, but also for educators, parents, and burned-out professionalsHow simple acts — like warm water in the morning, walking after lunch, or creating a soothing workspace — can transform your nervous system and your lifeThe surprising role of color therapy, aromatherapy, and Dinacharya (daily routine) in regulating mind and moodHow children and teachers alike can benefit from Ayurvedic principles in classroom settingsThe cultural gap in understanding Ayurveda — and how to make it accessible, non-dogmatic, and evidence-informedSarajean also introduces her upcoming project, The Replacement Project, which aims to reduce harm and promote healthier daily rituals — especially for women who find themselves caught in the “coffee-to-cocktail” cycle of modern motherhood and overwork.Featured Topics:Lifestyle medicine through the Ayurvedic lensCircadian rhythms and hormonal regulationAyurvedic applications in mental health, sleep, and digestionBridging Eastern traditions with evidence-based Western modelsAyurveda for educators, children, and busy familiesEmpowering clients to reclaim sovereignty over their healthTips for overcoming the cultural discomfort of slowing down and tuning inAbout Sarajean Rudman:Sarajean Rudman is a professor of Ayurveda, clinical nutritionist, yoga educator, and health coach. She has earned multiple graduate degrees in integrative health and brings a grounded, science-informed perspective to ancient Ayurvedic wisdom. Sarajean teaches at both Maryland University of Integrative Health and Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. She also runs a private integrative practice offering telehealth consultations that combine lab analysis, tongue and pulse diagnosis, and individualized lifestyle planning.Website: www.sarajeanrudman.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarajeanrudmanLearn with Sarajean at MUIHSarajean teaches in the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Ayurveda program at MUIH, which includes four foundational courses:Foundations of AyurvedaAyurvedic NutritionAyurveda for Mental HealthAdvanced Ayurvedic Lifestyle SkillsPerfect for yoga professionals, educators, and LHPs looking to deepen their self-care and bring Ayurveda into their client care and classroom environments.Learn more: muih.eduSubscribe & ShareIf this episode sparked ideas, validation, or a deep breath of inspiration, we’d love to hear from you! Please leave a review, share with a friend, or tag us on social media.Learn more about Amy’s programs: www.TheOptimalState.comMaster of Science in Yoga Therapy https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/master-of-science-in-yoga-therapy/ Explore MUIH’s Post-Master’s Certificate in Therapeutic Yoga Practices, designed specifically for licensed healthcare professionals.  https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/post-masters-certificate-in-therapeutic-yoga-practices/ Try our Post-Bac Ayurveda Certification Program at MUIH: https://muih.edu/academics/ayurveda/post-baccalaureate-ayurveda-certification/

In this solo episode, a passionate Amy Wheeler shares candid reflections on the current state and future direction of the yoga therapy profession, with a specific focus on scope of practice, ethics, trauma care, and interdisciplinary collaboration.Now serving as the Chair of the Department of Yoga Therapy and Ayurveda at Maryland University of Integrative Health, Amy is teaching a course on ethics, code of conduct, and scope of practice for yoga therapists. This class has reignited critical questions about the growing responsibilities—and limitations—of yoga therapists as the field matures into a recognized profession.Amy explores the nuanced distinction between yoga teaching and yoga therapy, why a tighter scope of practice means doing less (not more), and how trauma-informed care requires collaborative oversight with licensed healthcare practitioners. She also addresses ethical dilemmas in integrating somatics, psychotherapy, and nervous system regulation into yoga therapy sessions—and the risks of unintentionally appropriating Indian philosophical roots by stripping out the foundational teachings of Yoga.With humility and experience, Amy examines the difference between salutogenic models (focused on wellness and whole-person care) and pathogenic models (focused on illness and symptoms), and encourages yoga therapists to find clarity in their role within an integrated care system.Key Topics:Why the scope of yoga therapy is narrower than yoga teachingUnderstanding the ethical boundaries of trauma-informed yoga therapyThe importance of interdisciplinary referrals to LHCPs (Licensed Healthcare Practitioners)How yoga therapists can avoid burnout and emotional overextensionThe difference between pathogenic and salutogenic models of careWhy Indian philosophy must remain central to yoga therapy (and not be replaced by neuroscience alone)The relevance of Yoga Sūtra teachings such as svādhyāya, viveka-khyāti, and īśvara-praṇidhāna in trauma-sensitive practiceThoughts on training requirements for both LHCPs entering yoga therapy and yoga therapists working in mental health contextsResources Mentioned:Amy’s blog: The Yoga Therapy Bridge www.amywheeler.com → Blog sectionYoga Sūtra of Patañjali, Bhagavad Gītā, Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā (as foundational sources)Spotify for accessible Upaniṣadic and Yogic philosophy podcasts to share with clientsTakeaways:Yoga therapy is becoming a true profession, and with that comes greater responsibility, structure, and accountability.Trauma-informed work requires caution, training, and often, referral partnerships—it cannot be done in isolation.It’s time for the yoga therapy field to develop clear referral guidelines, codify trauma care policies, and ensure practitioners are supported in their own healing journeys.Connect with Amy Wheeler:Website: www.amywheeler.comLearn more about her academic work at www.optimalstate.comMaster of Science in Yoga Therapy https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/master-of-science-in-yoga-therapy/ Explore MUIH’s Post-Master’s Certificate in Therapeutic Yoga Practices, designed specifically for licensed healthcare professionals.  https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/post-masters-certificate-in-therapeutic-yoga-practices/ Try our Post-Bac Ayurveda Certification Program at MUIH: https://muih.edu/academics/ayurveda/post-baccalaureate-ayurveda-certification/

In this powerful and deeply moving episode of The Yoga Therapy Hour, Amy Wheeler sits down with yoga therapist, educator, and caregiver Lisa Madden. Together, they explore the intersection of yoga philosophy and real-life caregiving through the lens of Lisa’s journey—supporting both of her aging parents through dementia, cancer, and mental health crises, while navigating her own transformation as a daughter, teacher, and practitioner.Lisa shares her personal story of discovering yoga in her mid-thirties—via a Shiva Rea CD in her living room—and how her practice has grown from physical movement into a profound spiritual foundation that helps her meet grief, exhaustion, and purpose with grace. She opens up about her mother’s struggle with bipolar disorder and her eventual passing, her father’s ongoing experience with dementia, and how yoga philosophy, especially ahiṃsā, satya, and self-regulation, has become her compass in this season of life.Whether you are a caregiver yourself, supporting someone through chronic illness, or facing the complexities of intergenerational trauma and aging, Lisa’s honesty, vulnerability, and resilience offer comfort and practical insight. She reminds us that yoga is not just something we do on the mat—it is a way we show up for life, even when life is messy and painful.Topics Covered:Lisa’s first experience with yoga and her journey into teaching and yoga therapyFounding Into Yoga in Lapeer, Michigan, and transitioning ownership during a caregiving crisisHow COVID-19 impacted her studio and led to innovative online solutions for older adult communitiesSupporting a parent with bipolar disorder and navigating the grief of suicideThe long-term demands and spiritual depth of being a dementia caregiverUsing yoga philosophy—ahiṃsā, satya, saṃtoṣa, and co-regulation—as a framework for compassionate caregivingShifting from the role of daughter to contemplative caregiverPracticing yoga off the mat through biking, journaling, gratitude, and breathThe power of rewriting family narratives through the lens of forgiveness and loveReflections on grief, resilience, and the subtle body memory of loveContent Warning:This episode includes sensitive discussions around suicide, mental health, and the loss of a parent. Please listen with care. A brief content warning is provided in the episode prior to these discussions.Connect with Lisa Madden:Facebook: SattvaYTInstagram: @sattva_yoga_therapyYoga Studio: Soul Nectar Yoga – Lapeer, MIPrivate Sessions: Lisa offers private yoga therapy via Zoom. Contact her through the studio website or her social media for more information.Upcoming Event:Lisa is on faculty at the International Institute of Yoga Therapy and is helping coordinate the second Symposium on Clinical Advancements in Yoga Therapy, scheduled for January 16–18, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. CEUs for Yoga Alliance, IAYT, nurses, social workers, and physicians will be available.Show host Amy Wheeler, Ph.D. is the Chair of the Department of Yoga Therapy and Ayurveda at Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH) and a leader in the fields of yoga therapy and Ayurveda. She played a key role in helping to set standards for Ayurvedic Yoga Therapists at the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA) and served as President of the Board of Directors for the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) from 2018 to 2020.Master of Science in Yoga Therapy https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/master-of-science-in-yoga-therapy/ Explore MUIH’s Post-Master’s Certificate in Therapeutic Yoga Practices, designed specifically for licensed healthcare professionals.  https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/post-masters-certificate-in-therapeutic-yoga-practices/ Try our Post-Bac Ayurveda Certification Program at MUIH: https://muih.edu/academics/ayurveda/post-baccalaureate-ayurveda-certification/

In this deeply reflective episode, Amy Wheeler welcomes meditation teacher and yogic scholar Earle Birney to share his personal journey through yoga, meditation, and values-based living. From an unexpected start with Light on Yoga in a New Zealand prison to co-founding a remote retreat center in the Arizona desert, Earle’s story is a testament to transformation, dedication, and spiritual growth.Earle shares how his early Ashtanga Yoga discipline evolved into a more integrated approach rooted in daily life—not confined to the mat, but extending into every interaction and breath. The conversation touches on Kriyā Yoga, Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra, core values, and how meditation serves as the anchor to cultivate integrity, presence, and love.Key Topics Covered:Earle’s first yoga experience and how it catalyzed his spiritual pathThe difference between physical yoga and yoga as a way of lifeThe relevance of Chapter 2 of the Yoga Sūtra for modern practitionersUnderstanding Kriyā Yoga and Aṣṭāṅga Yoga as practical, embodied frameworksThe concept of cognitive dissonance in ethics and how to track your personal integrityCreating non-negotiable time for meditation and reflectionThe practice of “Harvesting Joy” and retraining the mind for positivityA profound insight from a 3-year silent retreat: love as a non-object-dependent inner stateUsing core values as a moment-to-moment compass for yogic livingHow modern life erodes attention, and what we can do about itQuotable Highlights:“My yoga is not about a pose—it’s about how I walk through the room with elegance and grace.” – Earle Birney“Now. Yoga begins now. There’s always an opportunity to step into it.” – Earle Birney“Your spiritual practice shouldn't fit into your life. Your life should fit around your spiritual practice.” – Earle Birney“Love is not dependent on anything. It’s a state that arises when the mind is quiet.” – Earle BirneyAbout the Guest:Earle Birney is a meditation and philosophy teacher affiliated with Yoga Studies Institute and Three Jewels NYC. He co-founded Diamond Mountain Retreat Center, a remote off-grid refuge in the Arizona desert dedicated to deep retreat and advanced study. Earle specializes in Buddhist and yogic philosophy, one-pointed meditation, and guiding others to live from their deepest values. He is especially interested in helping modern practitioners reconnect with purpose and inner stillness.Learn More & Connect:Diamond Mountain Retreat Center: diamondmountain.orgYoga Studies Institute: yogastudiesinstitute.orgThree Jewels NYC: thethreejewels.orgConnect with Amy Wheeler: www.amywheeler.com- Yoga Therapy Bridge Blogwww.TheOptimalState.com- Classes with AmyOptimal State Mobile App- iPhone App StoreAmy Wheeler, Ph.D. is the Chair of the Department of Yoga Therapy and Ayurveda at Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH) and a leader in the fields of yoga therapy and Ayurveda. She played a key role in helping to set standards for Ayurvedic Yoga Therapists at the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA) and served as President of the Board of Directors for the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) from 2018 to 2020.Master of Science in Yoga Therapy https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/master-of-science-in-yoga-therapy/ Explore MUIH’s Post-Master’s Certificate in Therapeutic Yoga Practices, designed specifically for licensed healthcare professionals.  https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/post-masters-certificate-in-therapeutic-yoga-practices/ Try our Post-Bac Ayurveda Certification Program at MUIH: https://muih.edu/academics/ayurveda/post-baccalaureate-ayurveda-certification/

Episode Summary: In this powerful episode of The Yoga Therapy Hour, host Amy Wheeler welcomes psychotherapist and yoga therapist Michelle Fury for an in-depth discussion on complex trauma, emotional healing, and the role of yoga therapy in mental health. Michelle shares her deeply personal journey, how yoga helped her navigate complex trauma, and how she now integrates yoga therapy into her work with children, adolescents, and families.Michelle was a pioneer in the field, practicing yoga therapy before it was even a recognized profession. She discusses her time at Colorado Children's Hospital, where she worked alongside art and music therapists, supporting young individuals dealing with self-harm, eating disorders, and trauma. Michelle recounts how her journey led her to develop therapeutic tools, including the use of Optimal State emotional regulation charts, to help children and families reconnect with their emotions and sensations.We explore topics such as:How trauma disconnects individuals from their bodies and emotionsThe impact of yoga therapy on young people in psychiatric careDifferentiating between dissociation and embodied awarenessHow yoga therapy bridges the gap between mental health and somatic healingThe process of guiding clients through self-awareness and emotional literacyThe power of pranayama and mantra in deepening healing practicesMichelle also discusses her upcoming book Yoga Therapy for Complex Trauma, set for release in August, which offers an integrative approach to healing through yoga. She emphasizes the importance of teaching both yoga professionals and mental health practitioners how to incorporate yoga safely and effectively within their scope of practice.If you're a yoga therapist, psychotherapist, or someone interested in using yoga as a tool for healing, this episode is packed with insights that will deepen your understanding of the mind-body connection.Resources Mentioned:Michelle’s first book: Using Yoga Therapy to Promote Mental Health in Children and AdolescentsUpcoming book: Yoga Therapy for Complex Trauma (August release)Optimal State mobile app for self-regulation and emotional trackingThe Minded Institute’s Yoga Therapy for Child and Adolescent Mental Health TrainingLearn More:Michelle Fury’s website (Launching February): www.rhythmyogatherapy.comThe Minded Institute Training: www.themindedinstitute.comOptimal State Mobile App (iOS & Android)Connect with Amy Wheeler: www.theoptimalstate.comListen & Subscribe: Find The Yoga Therapy Hour on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.Follow Us on Social Media:Instagram: @optimalstateLinkedIn: Amy Wheeler Yoga TherapyYouTube: The Yoga Therapy Hour PodcastSupport the Podcast: If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your support helps bring these important conversations to a broader audience! Connect + Take Action:Want to be a guest on Season 10? Email Amy with your desired topic from the 8 Limbs series!Explore Amy’s offerings at TheOptimalState.comSubscribe and leave a review if this episode touched you.Support the show by sharing this episode with a friend or colleague in the healing arts.

Episode Summary:In this deeply personal and reflective solo episode, Amy Wheeler closes out Season 8 of The Yoga Therapy Hour and sets the tone for a rich, story-filled Season 9.Amy shares how the theme of “being human” emerged as the guiding force of Season 8, inspired by the courageous individuals who came forward to tell their stories—many for the first time. These stories weren't just interviews. They were powerful acts of vulnerability, resilience, and truth-telling, offering a mirror into the ways Yoga, Yoga Therapy, and Āyurveda can help us feel more, suffer less, and reconnect with ourselves and others.From feeding the birds on a crisp Minnesota morning to attending the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday celebration with the Tibetan American community, Amy reflects on the importance of embodiment, interconnection, and what it means to belong—to ourselves, to each other, and to something greater.She also speaks frankly about the state of the yoga therapy profession—naming the challenges in funding, insurance, job growth, and institutional integration—and invites listeners to return to the heart of the practice. Yoga was never meant to be a job market. It was—and still is—a sacred path for healing, presence, and service.What’s Ahead in Season 9:Season 9 will continue the storytelling format, focusing on real humans navigating real suffering and how they found relief and resilience through Yoga and Āyurveda.The season is already fully booked through December 2025, with Amy often recording two stories per week to keep up with the demand.The core question guiding the season: What does it mean to be human in an age of AI, disconnection, and overwhelm?Special Announcement: Season 10 PreviewAmy shares a glimpse of what’s coming in 2026:A 15-month podcast series dedicated to the 8 Limbs of Yoga, integrating ancient wisdom with modern neuroscience and lived experience. Topics include:January: Citta-vṛtti-nirodha & the Autonomic Nervous SystemFebruary: Abhyāsa & VairāgyamMarch: The Kleśas & SufferingApril–December: The Eight Limbs (Yamas through Samādhi)Interested in being a guest for one of these episodes? Amy invites you to email her to claim a topic!Key Quotes:“Maybe Yoga can’t be your sole source of income right now. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be your sacred path.”— Amy Wheeler“When we let go of trying to fit Yoga Therapy into a broken system, we begin to remember the soul of this work.”— Amy Wheeler“Humanity is not something we need to digitize—it’s something we need to feel again.”— Amy WheelerConnect + Take Action:Want to be a guest on Season 10? Email Amy with your desired topic from the 8 Limbs series!Explore Amy’s offerings at TheOptimalState.comSubscribe and leave a review if this episode touched you.Support the show by sharing this episode with a friend or colleague in the healing arts.

Guests: Kenya DeJarnette, Yoga Therapist and Cancer Survivor Tina Paul, Yoga Therapist and Instructor at Memorial Sloan Kettering and MUIHIn this powerful episode, host Dr. Amy Wheeler sits down with yoga therapist Kenya DeJarnette and her former professor Tina Paul for a deeply moving conversation on healing, resilience, and finding one’s path through cancer and beyond. Kenya shares her transformational journey from a breast cancer diagnosis to discovering yoga therapy as a lifeline—a practice that reconnected her to her body, her faith, and her purpose.Through heartfelt storytelling, Kenya reflects on how yoga helped her navigate infertility, grief, trauma, and the physical toll of cancer treatment. With grace and courage, she opens up about how being part of a supportive yoga and cancer care community reawakened her fighting spirit and taught her to embrace life with newfound openness.Tina Paul offers a behind-the-scenes look at the integrative yoga therapy work being done at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, describing the role of therapeutic presence, breath, movement, and research in supporting those undergoing cancer treatment.Together, the three explore themes of:Nervous system dysregulation and the role of breath and yoga in recoveryFaith, spirituality, and openness to healing across different modalitiesYoga Nidra as a gateway to deeper rest and reconnectionCommunity as medicine for trauma and illnessThe importance of clinical training in yoga therapyHow yoga can bring people back to their true selfKey Quotes:🌀 "I always say yoga helped me come back to myself." — Kenya DeJarnette 🌀 "You grow through what you go through." — Kenya DeJarnette 🌀 "The healing mechanism isn’t just one thing—it’s the integrated power of presence, breath, movement, and relationship." — Tina Paul 🌀 "There is a blueprint for healing, and yoga offers us the map." — Amy WheelerTopics Covered:Kenya’s diagnosis and the physical and emotional challenges she facedOpening to yoga as a spiritual and healing practiceOvercoming cultural and religious barriers to holistic careThe role of social connection and community in healingTina’s work in integrative medicine and current research on yoga for neuropathyYoga therapy education and the journey from student to teacherResources & Mentions:Memorial Sloan Kettering Integrative Medicine DepartmentMaryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH)Yoga Nidra & Amrit Yoga InstituteBook: Year of Yes by Shonda RhimesResearch on yoga for neuropathy supported by NIHLoyola Marymount University’s Yoga Studies ProgramConnect with Our Guests:Kenya DeJarnette: www.ariseyogatherapy.com Tina Paul: www.yogawithtina.com Subscribe & Share: If you were touched by Kenya’s story or inspired by the power of yoga therapy, please share this episode with someone who needs hope and healing. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.If you are interested in our programs at Maryland University of Integrative Health, find more information here. We are merging with Notre Dame of Maryland University very soon. If you are seeing this after summer of 2025, just google NDMU Yoga Therapy and Ayurveda to find details.Master of Science in Yoga Therapy https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/master-of-science-in-yoga-therapy/  Explore MUIH’s Post-Master’s Certificate in Therapeutic Yoga Practices, designed specifically for licensed healthcare professionals. https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/post-masters-certificate-in-therapeutic-yoga-practices/ Try our Post-Bac Ayurveda Certification Program at MUIH: https://muih.edu/academics/ayurveda/post-baccalaureate-ayurveda-certification/

Episode Summary: In this deeply moving and honest episode, Amy Wheeler welcomes Lisa Becks—a yoga teacher, clinical social worker, and long-time practitioner—who shares her lifelong journey with yoga as a steady companion through grief, motherhood, cancer, and healing. Lisa recounts how she first encountered yoga in her early twenties while grieving the sudden loss of her mother, and how that one class at a Zen Buddhist center in Michigan led to decades of inner transformation.From the profound influence of her first teacher Barbara Linderman (a direct student of Śrī T. Krishnamacharya) to her healing experience with Kate Holcombe after a breast cancer diagnosis, Lisa's story reminds us that yoga isn't about performance or ambition—it's about returning to ourselves, again and again. Throughout this conversation, Amy and Lisa reflect on parenting without a mother, the reverberations of our actions and emotions, and how the most healing practices are often the simplest and most sincere.Listeners will be inspired by Lisa’s vulnerability, her gentle wisdom, and the way she lives the teachings she practices. Whether you're new to yoga or have been on the path for years, this episode is a tender reminder that yoga, when approached with sincerity and self-awareness, meets us exactly where we are. Key Topics Covered:Grieving the loss of a parent and finding yoga as a healing anchorThe sacred presence of humble teachers and quiet transmissionEvolution of practice across life stages: young adulthood, motherhood, illnessSelf-awareness, self-regulation, and the nervous systemUsing observation instead of judgment to shift behaviorTeaching yoga as a form of service and continued self-discoveryCancer recovery, the role of gentle discipline, and meeting yourself with graceYoga as a way to parent consciously without inherited patternsComing home to the self—again and again Mentioned in This Episode:Barbara Linderman (student of Śrī T. Krishnamacharya)Kate Holcombe (teacher in the tradition of TKV Desikachar)Inward Bound Yoga Collective, Ann Arbor, MIOptimal State Yoga Therapy Training About Lisa Becks: Lisa is a yoga teacher, clinical social worker, and mother of two. She offers private yoga therapy sessions by request and believes in the quiet, transformative power of personalized practice. Lisa does not actively market her services, but those who find her often discover a steady, compassionate guide.Amy Wheeler, Ph.D. is the Chair of the Department of Yoga Therapy and Ayurveda at Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH) and a leader in the fields of yoga therapy and Ayurveda. She played a key role in helping to set standards for Ayurvedic Yoga Therapists at the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA) and served as President of the Board of Directors for the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) from 2018 to 2020. www.TheOptimalState.comMaster of Science in Yoga Therapy https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/master-of-science-in-yoga-therapy/ Explore MUIH’s Post-Master’s Certificate in Therapeutic Yoga Practices, designed specifically for licensed healthcare professionals.  https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/post-masters-certificate-in-therapeutic-yoga-practices/ Try our Post-Bac Ayurveda Certification Program at MUIH: https://muih.edu/academics/ayurveda/post-baccalaureate-ayurveda-certification/

In this thought-provoking solo episode of The Yoga Therapy Hour, Amy Wheeler explores the profound topic of safety in human relationships, drawing from recent co-creative discussions with seasoned therapists and yoga practitioners, as well as insights from Polyvagal Theory.Episode Highlights:The Foundation of Healing: Amy emphasizes that safety—both internal and external—is the essential foundation for healing, transformation, and authentic human connection.The Role of Nonjudgment: A central theme of this episode is how nonjudgmental presence, both in therapy and daily life, fosters safety and allows people to open up and be themselves.Artificial Intelligence & Safety: Amy reflects on the surprising role AI therapy bots play in creating a nonjudgmental space, and what this teaches us about human interaction.Key Qualities that Foster Safety:Comfort with silence and emotional presence.Ability to repair ruptures in relationships, not just avoid them.Unconditional positive regard without creating stories about others.Transparency balanced with cultural sensitivity.Openness to new experiences and flexibility in thinking.Clear and honest communication that eliminates guesswork.Self-awareness and the ability to reflect and take responsibility.Consistency, calm regulation, and respect for time and commitments.Attunement to the emotional state of others, with empathetic mirroring.A melodic, regulated voice that supports co-regulation.Genuine listening that seeks to understand, not just respond.Familiar rituals and environments that offer predictable support.Respect for diverse perspectives and willingness to stand up for justice.Key Takeaways:Safety isn't just about avoiding harm; it's about creating conditions where authenticity, trust, and transformation can thrive.Even positive judgments can feel like evaluations, reducing the sense of safety in a relationship.Sacredness in connection—showing up mentally, emotionally, and spiritually prepared—amplifies the healing potential of every interaction.Resources Mentioned:Polyvagal Theory – A framework for understanding how safety and social engagement are wired into our nervous system.Book Recommendation: Necessary Endings by Dr. Henry Cloud – Understanding when and how to bring closure to relationships in a healthy way.Connect with Amy Wheeler: For more episodes, resources, and information about Yoga Therapy, visit TheOptimalState.comSupport the Show: If you found value in this episode, please rate, review, and share it with others who may benefit from these insights into creating safer, more authentic relationships.Master of Science in Yoga Therapy https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/master-of-science-in-yoga-therapy/ Explore MUIH’s Post-Master’s Certificate in Therapeutic Yoga Practices, designed specifically for licensed healthcare professionals.  https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/post-masters-certificate-in-therapeutic-yoga-practices/ Try our Post-Bac Ayurveda Certification Program at MUIH: https://muih.edu/academics/ayurveda/post-baccalaureate-ayurveda-certification/

Episode Summary: In this deeply moving and powerful episode, Amy Wheeler sits down with Dr. Steffany Moonaz—yoga researcher, author, educator, and founder of Yoga for Arthritis—to discuss her professional contributions to the field of yoga therapy, and the personal story that nearly shattered everything she knew about herself.What begins as a conversation about the CLARIFY Guidelines and the evolution of yoga research quickly transitions into a vulnerable and heartfelt dialogue about grief, identity, traumatic brain injury (TBI), caregiving, and the long, often invisible road to healing.Dr. Moonaz shares the inspiration behind her memoir Driving Home: Cancer, Concussion, Mom and Me, and invites us into the emotional terrain of a year marked by tragedy, disorientation, and ultimately, profound transformation. Through the lens of yoga, neuroscience, and lived experience, she offers wisdom on surviving loss—not just the loss of loved ones, but the loss of self as we once knew it.If you've ever questioned how the tools of yoga serve us not just in theory, but in the darkest moments of real life, this conversation is for you.Topics We Explore:The origin and impact of the CLARIFY Guidelines for yoga researchWhat makes yoga research replicable, credible, and useful for cliniciansDr. Moonaz’s academic leadership in yoga therapy at MUIH and SCUHSThe backstory of Yoga for Arthritis and its public health missionLiving through a year of compounded loss: traumatic brain injury, caregiving, and griefNavigating healthcare systems and trauma while healingWriting a memoir as a healing process and reflective practiceThe psychological and somatic experience of losing identity through injuryYoga therapy for grief, loss, and identity reconstructionSteffany's personal tapas (discipline) and her decision to keep showing upReclaiming wholeness post-trauma: a new “A-prime” version of selfFeatured Book:Driving Home: Cancer, Concussion, Mom and Me Now available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats.  Audiobook coming soon—narrated by Dr. Steffany Moonaz herselfConnect with Steffany Moonaz:Website: https://arthritis.yoga Explore professional trainings in Yoga for Arthritis, mentoring opportunities, research publications, and continuing education courses. Upcoming offerings include:Online cohort: Yoga for Arthritis Level 1 Training (starting July 15, 2025)Self-paced options in yoga, Ayurveda, and pain scienceIn-person retreat at Yogaville, Summer 2026Quote from the Episode:“I had to grieve the things about me that I had lost, at the same time as grieving the loss of my mother... But I also believe that I have made up for the loss of function with who I have grown into as a human.” — Dr. Steffany Moonaz Special Thanks:To Dr. Moonaz for her honesty, strength, and generosity. And to our listeners—may this story remind you of your own resilience, your own wisdom, and the power of bearing witness to the full spectrum of the human experience.Information on Amy:www.amywheeler.comwww.TheOptimalState.com

In this episode of The Yoga Therapy Hour, Amy Wheeler is joined by Tamala Floyd, LCSW, to explore the powerful integration of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy and ancestral healing. Tamala, author of Listening When Parts Speak, discusses how generational trauma can be healed through connecting with our ancestors and unburdening our exiled parts. She shares her journey into the world of IFS, the importance of working with both personal and ancestral wounds and how healing these parts can reveal hidden gifts within us. Key Takeaways:Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy: IFS teaches that we are made up of different parts or subpersonalities, each with its own roles and functions. Protectors guard vulnerable parts, which are often exiled due to past trauma. Healing occurs when these protectors are unburdened, allowing the exile to heal and the person to reclaim their wholeness.Ancestral Healing: Tamala introduces the concept of healing ancestral trauma by connecting with well-healed ancestors who are willing to release burdens passed down through generations. This process also allows individuals to access the gifts and heirlooms from their family line.The Role of Protectors: Protectors (e.g., people-pleasing, anger) arise as a response to exiled parts. These protective roles often result in behavior that feels out of control or unbalanced but are essential in safeguarding the individual from deeper wounds.Connecting with Gifts: Healing the generational wounds allows individuals to access the gifts of their ancestors, such as creativity, intuition, and emotional depth, that were previously blocked by trauma.Practical Tips for Exploring IFS: Tamala provides insights on how to begin the journey of identifying and interacting with your parts, including the use of externalizing exercises where others embody these parts to create a tangible, experiential understanding. Tamala Floyd’s Upcoming Events:Retreats & Workshops: Tamala leads transformative retreats and workshops around the world. She shares information about her upcoming retreat in Costa Rica for women healing generational trauma and her upcoming retreats in Morocco and California.Book & Audiobook: Listening When Parts Speak is available in both written and audiobook formats. Tamala is also releasing Healing the Wounded Mother, an audiobook focused on healing the mother’s wounds to create healthier relationships with children and others. Learn More & Connect:Website: Tamala FloydSocial Media: Follow Tamala for more insights on healing and personal growth. Related Resources:Listening When Parts SpeakHealing the Wounded Mother (available May 6, 2025) Join Us: If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with friends who might benefit from this healing work. Contact Us:For more information, questions, or comments, please visit www.theoptimalstate.com or email amy@theoptimalstate.com.Tune in next time for more on yoga therapy, emotional intelligence, and holistic healing!Would you like to receive your Masters Degree in Yoga Therapy?Master of Science in Yoga Therapy https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/master-of-science-in-yoga-therapy/ Explore MUIH’s Post-Master’s Certificate in Therapeutic Yoga Practices, designed specifically for licensed healthcare professionals.  https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/post-masters-certificate-in-therapeutic-yoga-practices/ Try our Post-Bac Ayurveda Certification Program at MUIH: https://muih.edu/academics/ayurveda/post-baccalaureate-ayurveda-certification/

In this deeply moving and powerful episode, Amy sits down with Nicole Fitch, a yoga therapist-in-training and future occupational therapist from Brisbane, Australia. Nicole shares her inspiring story of transformation—from losing her father in a tragic accident at age 15, through years of shutdown, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, to a life of purpose, connection, and embodied healing.Nicole’s story is not just one of overcoming trauma—it’s a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the healing power of integrative practices. We explore how her early experiences shaped her nervous system, her years of navigating mental health systems, and how yoga became her refuge, offering her hope, empowerment, and the tools to reclaim joy.From teaching yoga in community centers and mental health hospitals to stepping away from teaching to focus on self-care and finishing her degree in occupational therapy, Nicole's journey is a rich example of conscious healing, radical self-compassion, and the winding, non-linear path to wholeness. Topics Covered:The moment that changed her life: a tragic loss at age 15Trauma, nervous system dysregulation, and dorsal vagal shutdownThe dark period of numbing, partying, and intrusive thoughtsOCD diagnosis and navigating the biomedical mental health systemThe turning point: a dream, a move to Queensland, and discovering yogaThe power of japa, prāṇāyāma, and meditation in finding peaceYoga as a tool and a potential bypass—why integration mattersTeaching yoga in non-traditional spaces and building communityBalancing being a mother and maintaining a personal identityWhy she’s taking a pause—and how she’s preparing for what’s nextThe connection between OT and Yoga Therapy in mental health care Key Takeaway Quote from Nicole:"You can't rush your healing. Even if you are in complete darkness, there's always that glimmer of light through the clouds." Connect with Nicole: Nicole's offerings are currently on pause while she finishes her Occupational Therapy degree, but you can follow her journey and future updates via  Embodied Wisdom Therapies-https://www.embodiedwisdomtherapies.com.au/

In this heart-opening and deeply insightful episode, Amy Wheeler welcomes Jeffrey Shoaf—yoga therapist, Kripalu-trained teacher, bodyworker, and retreat leader—to explore the profound personal and professional transformation yoga brought into his life beginning at age 48. Jeffrey shares how yoga reawakened his childhood love of movement, helped him reconnect with his body after decades as a general contractor, and opened a gateway to breathwork, meditation, and spiritual integration. His story is one of rekindling wonder, embracing vulnerability, and learning to feel fully.Together, Amy and Jeffrey dive into:How Jeffrey found yoga at age 48 and became instantly hookedWhy the mind-body connection through āsana was life-changing for himThe role of breathwork in emotional regulation, anxiety, and physical recoveryWhy “less is more” when it comes to prāṇāyāma and nervous system regulationThe power of meditation in everyday life—without needing to sit cross-leggedThe emotional intelligence of yoga: learning to respond rather than reactWhy “anger is present” is more skillful than “I am angry”His inspiring work with men’s groups and mentoring at-risk youth through the Joshua ProjectHis upcoming Wander to Wonder yoga and reflective writing retreat in Portugal (September 2025)How nature, presence, and embodied practice continue to be his spiritual pathJeffrey reminds us that healing happens when we give ourselves permission to feel, breathe, and move authentically—whether on the mat, at the kitchen sink, or walking in the woods.Connect with Jeffrey Shoaf Website: www.jeffreyshoaf.com Join The Breathing Club: Thursdays at 7:00am ET Explore Portugal Retreat: Wander to Wonder – September 2025 Instagram: @jeffreyshoaf If this episode touched your heart, please share it with a friend and leave us a review. Stay connected with Amy at www.TheOptimalState.comMaster of Science in Yoga Therapy https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/master-of-science-in-yoga-therapy/ Explore MUIH’s Post-Master’s Certificate in Therapeutic Yoga Practices, designed specifically for licensed healthcare professionals.  https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/post-masters-certificate-in-therapeutic-yoga-practices/ Try our Post-Bac Ayurveda Certification Program at MUIH: https://muih.edu/academics/ayurveda/post-baccalaureate-ayurveda-certification/

In this episode, Amy Wheeler welcomes back Kimberly Searl, a faculty member at Maryland University of Integrative Health’s M.S. in Yoga Therapy program. Kimberly brings decades of experience in teaching anatomy, kinesiology, and physical assessment through the lens of yoga therapy. Together, Amy and Kimberly explore what it truly means to assess the physical body in a therapeutic context, challenging old paradigms and illuminating a more holistic, compassionate approach rooted in curiosity, embodiment, and lived experience.They dive into the concept of an “anatomy story”—how each of us comes to understand and inhabit our bodies through both joy and injury, and how this narrative becomes essential for therapeutic healing. Kimberly shares her journey from a farm girl fascinated by animal movement to a yoga therapist who now mentors students and clients in discovering safety, strength, and integration within their own bodies.This episode is packed with powerful questions and insights:What does a yoga therapist actually need to know about anatomy and kinesiology?How can we responsibly assess the physical body without overstepping into diagnostic territory?Why does “interoception” matter, and how does it affect mental health and healing?How do we hold space for a client’s goals, instead of imposing our own agenda?What role do breath, motor planning, and functional movement play in therapeutic sequencing?Amy and Kimberly also discuss the changing needs of the aging body, the myth of alignment as perfection, and how being "medically adjacent" is a unique strength of yoga therapy—not a limitation.This episode is for:Yoga therapy students and educatorsClinicians seeking to understand yoga therapy’s scopeClients on their healing journey looking to feel more at home in their bodyAnyone ready to trade rigidity for resilienceListen in to hear: The difference between fixing and guiding What a co-assessment really looks like How slowing down transforms the healing process The role of yoga therapy in addressing the whole person—body, breath, and mind Why resilience might be the new word for “safe, strong, and integrated”Guest Bio: Kimberly Searl, M.S., C-IAYT, is a certified yoga therapist and educator who teaches anatomy, kinesiology, and physical assessment in the M.S. Yoga Therapy program at MUIH. With more than 33,000 hours of experience in teaching movement and body awareness, Kimberly is passionate about helping others rediscover safety and empowerment in their bodies. She is also the founder of Integrative Sustainable Movement, a healing center rooted in the values of lifelong, accessible, and mindful movement. Website: https://ism.health/ Yoga is not an exercise program—it is a healing philosophy. Join Kimberly and Amy as they redefine what physical assessment can look like when guided by the principles of yoga therapy and the lived reality of the human experience.Master of Science in Yoga Therapy https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/master-of-science-in-yoga-therapy/ Explore MUIH’s Post-Master’s Certificate in Therapeutic Yoga Practices, designed specifically for licensed healthcare professionals.  https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/post-masters-certificate-in-therapeutic-yoga-practices/ Try our Post-Bac Ayurveda Certification Program at MUIH: https://muih.edu/academics/ayurveda/post-baccalaureate-ayurveda-certification/