Yoga Therapy Scope of Practice, Trauma Care & the Role of Ethics

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 teaching
• Understanding the ethical boundaries of trauma-informed yoga therapy
• The importance of interdisciplinary referrals to LHCPs (Licensed Healthcare Practitioners)
• How yoga therapists can avoid burnout and emotional overextension
• The difference between pathogenic and salutogenic models of care
• Why 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 practice
• Thoughts on training requirements for both LHCPs entering yoga therapy and yoga therapists working in mental health contexts

Resources Mentioned:

• Amy’s blog: The Yoga Therapy Bridge
• www.amywheeler.com → Blog section
• Yoga Sūtra of Patañjali, Bhagavad Gītā, Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā (as foundational sources)
• Spotify for accessible Upaniṣadic and Yogic philosophy podcasts to share with clients

Takeaways:

• 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.com
• Learn more about her academic work at www.optimalstate.com

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/