Yoga Therapy Hour with Amy Wheeler

Episode Summary:In this powerful and heartfelt episode, Amy sits down with yoga therapist, somatic psychotherapist, and author Rachel Krentzman, C-IAYT, to explore her stunning new memoir, As Is.This isn’t just a story about yoga. It’s about survival, identity, family, trauma, and healing—and ultimately, coming home to oneself. From her childhood in a strict Orthodox Jewish community in Montreal, to freedom and expansion in California, and finally to her current life in Israel, Rachel takes us through three distinct lifetimes—each with its own transformation.Rachel speaks candidly about:Writing and publishing As Is after ten years of hesitation, rewrites, and deep soul-searchingFacing generational and personal trauma, and choosing to heal rather than hideHer experiences with yoga, somatic psychology (Hakomi), and how they gave her tools to break cycles of shameHer journey bringing yoga therapy into Israeli hospitals, including working with trauma survivors, war refugees, and healthcare professionalsHow yoga therapy offers active, empowering healing—distinguished from both passive treatments and talk therapyThe courage it takes to tell your story, even when others may not approveAmy and Rachel discuss how yoga therapy is uniquely positioned to help people self-regulate, feel their bodies again, and reclaim their narratives—especially during times of personal or collective crisis.Whether you're a yoga therapist, a healthcare provider, or someone navigating your own healing, Rachel’s story is a call to honesty, agency, and inner transformation.“I hope readers see that they are not their story. They are not their shame. There is always a way out—and that way is inward.” — Rachel KrentzmanHighlights:How generational trauma shaped Rachel’s early lifeThe emotional toll—and liberation—of telling the truth publiclyWhat it’s like raising children in Israel amid war and instabilityWhy yoga therapy is growing rapidly in Israel’s healthcare systemThe nervous system, trauma, and how breathwork offered relief when even pain meds couldn’tA vision for yoga therapy as a vital component of integrative medicineLearn More: Visit Rachel’s website to purchase As Is and learn more about her work: www.rachelkrentzman.com As Is is available worldwide on Kindle, paperback, and major book retailers.About Rachel Krentzman:Rachel is a licensed physical therapist, certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT), and a graduate of the Hakomi Institute’s somatic psychotherapy training. She is a pioneer of yoga therapy in Israel, working to integrate it into hospitals and mental health care systems. Connect with Amy Wheeler: Website: www.TheOptimalState.com  Instagram: OptimalStatewithAmy Wheeler  Podcast: Yoga Therapy HourAmy is the Chair of the Dept. of Yoga Therapy and Ayurveda at Notre Dame of Maryland University, School of Integrative Health (Formerly MUIH). 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 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/