Experiential Anatomy, Interoception, and the Golden Thread of Healing with Leila Stuart

In this rich and heartfelt conversation, Amy Wheeler sits down with Canadian yoga therapist and author Leila Stuart to explore her life’s journey through yoga, Ayurveda, chronic illness, and the groundbreaking field of experiential anatomy.

Leila shares how yoga first saved her as a 19-year-old in debilitating back pain, again when chronic fatigue and inflammatory arthritis nearly ended her career, and finally when Ayurveda and Panchakarma restored her vitality. Through these challenges, she developed a unique approach to anatomy—one that goes beyond memorization to help people truly feel their bodies from the inside out.

Together, Amy and Leila unpack the profound role of interoception (the ability to sense internal states), the therapeutic power of somatics, and the importance of teaching anatomy as a lived experience. They also discuss the “golden thread” that guides each of us toward our dharma—even in times of suffering.

This episode is both a personal healing story and a teaching in embodied practice, offering hope, inspiration, and practical insights for yoga therapists, teachers, and anyone seeking wholeness.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• The difference between therapeutic yoga and yoga therapy
• How yoga and Ayurveda supported Leila through back pain, chronic fatigue, and arthritis
• The concept of experiential anatomy and why it’s transformational for students and practitioners
• How interoception and somatic awareness rewire the brain-body connection
• Gentle ways to support people who feel “numb” or disconnected from their body
• Why beauty, simplicity, and embodiment matter in both healing and teaching
• The importance of finding your dharma—and how it can become a pathway to healing

About Leila Stuart

Leila Stuart is a yoga therapist, somatic movement educator, and author dedicated to bringing experiential anatomy to the forefront of yoga therapy education. She is the co-author of Pathways to a Centered Body (with Donna Farhi) and author of The Anatomy of Yoga Therapy. Her work blends deep anatomical knowledge with embodied practices that reconnect people with their inner wisdom. Learn more at leilastuart.com.

Resources Mentioned

• Pathways to a Centered Body by Donna Farhi & Leila Stuart
• The Anatomy of Yoga Therapy by Leila Stuart
• Leila’s website for workshops, resources, and writings www.leilastuart.com

Learn with Amy Wheeler

• Master of Science in Yoga Therapy – MUIH
• Post-Master’s Certificate in Therapeutic Yoga Practices
• Post-Baccalaureate Ayurveda Certification

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