Yoga Therapy Hour with Amy Wheeler From Trauma to “Safety in the Body”: Yoga Therapy, Joy, and Scope — with Erin Byron
Episode Summary:
Amy sits down with therapist–author Erin Byron for a candid conversation that moves from Erin’s lived experience of trauma to the practical tools that help people feel safe in their bodies again. They explore how yoga therapy complements mental health care, why personalization matters, and how joy, play, and creativity support nervous system recovery. Midway, they wade into today’s hot topic: scope of practice and the identity of “yoga therapist.” Erin offers a clear, compassionate take on keeping sessions yoga-centered while collaborating across disciplines. They close with concrete, do-today practices and a peek at Erin’s free community gatherings and the Women’s Writers Collective in Yoga Therapy.
Guest:
Erin Byron, MA — psychotherapist, certified yoga therapist, author of Safety in the Body: Foundations in Mental Health Recovery through Yoga Therapy, Expressive Arts, and Neurophysiology; co-author of Yoga Therapy for Arthritis.
Key Topics & Takeaways:
- Coming home to self: How classical yoga practices (breath, relaxation, attention training) quickly shifted Erin’s stress and sleep in early practice.
- Neurophysiology 101: Why connection, co-regulation, and prefrontal cortex “thickening” matter for trauma recovery.
- Judith Herman’s 3-stage model: Safety & trust → reconnection with joy/identity → integration and contribution.
- Joy is not a bypass: Adding play, beauty, and expressive arts prevents rehearsing trauma and accelerates healing.
- Personalized yoga works fast: Tailoring asana, breath, mantra, and visualization to the individual often yields quick, embodied results.
- Scope & language: Keeping sessions yoga-centered (practice-forward) while naming scope clearly; how to redirect talk into practice without overstepping.
- The profession today: Why holding firm to “yoga therapy” as a distinct, skillful discipline matters—and how collaboration (not dilution) serves clients.
- Practical nugget: Small “yoga snacks” (e.g., a fear-soothing mantra + mudra) can shift state in minutes when practiced consistently.
Memorable Quotes:
- “Yoga didn’t change who I am; it taught me who I’ve always been.” — Erin
- “Do the hard work in the presence of joy—otherwise we just rehearse trauma.” — Erin
- “Bring the yoga only you can bring. No other field has these tools in this context.” — Amy
Resources Mentioned:
- Safety in the Body by Erin Byron (info and community updates via her newsletter/IG)
- Yoga Therapy for Arthritis (co-author Erin Byron)
- IG: @erinbyron.ma
- Newsletter & free twice-monthly community hour: sign up via her website (link in show notes)
Call to Action:
- Share this episode with a colleague who supports trauma recovery.
- Join the Women’s Writers Collective author spotlight
- Leave a rating/review if this conversation helped you—your support grows the reach of yoga therapy.
Women’s Writers Collective in Yoga Therapy: monthly author spotlights & free book-club style events:
· https://happy-back-yoga.teachable.com/p/the-yoga-therapy-book-club
Plans of Study for NDMU Yoga Therapy
School of Integrative Health at NDMU: https://www.ndm.edu/academics/integrative-health
Master of Science in Yoga Therapy at NDMU: https://www.ndm.edu/academics/integrative-health/yoga-therapy
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
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