The Inner Practice-Stories of Healing from the Yoga mat into Life

In this episode, I read The Gift of the Magi, a story that has stayed with me since the first time I heard it. My husband and I had just gotten married. We were living in our first little house, stretched thin on one income while I was in graduate school, and trying to make Christmas meaningful without much money to spare.

Hearing this story in that season of our lives was like being handed a quiet truth: Christmas was never really about the gifts. It was about the gift of being together. The gift of love. Jim and Della’s selfless devotion reminded me that the most valuable things we offer each other can’t be wrapped, bought, or measured—they’re lived, shared, and felt.

Join me as I revisit this timeless tale and the lesson it continues to whisper all these years later.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

If you enjoyed this show, make sure you like, subscribe, follow and download the episode or simply leave a comment.  I would love to hear from you!  Please feel free to share your thoughts, episode ideas or simply to say "hello"!

This episode is sponsored by Jackie Vandertuin Therapy.  With over 30 years of practice as a Certified Athletic Therapist and professor of Athletic Therapy, coupled with her experience as a yoga therapist, Jackie Vandertuin MSc, CAT(C), will help guide you in the management and treatment of various disorders including:  low back pain, sprains, strains, anxiety and depression.  Reach out www.jackievandertuintherapy.com  for a free discovery call.

If would like to be a guest of this podcast, please reach out to jackie@jackievandertuintherapy with a short bio of your story and how yoga has helped you in your journey of healing.

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode or this podcast, reach out to Jackie Vandertuin at [email protected].

Stay in touch at:

Website:  https://www.jackievandertuintherapy.com

Instagram:  jackie_vandertuin_therapy

Facebook:  Jackie Vandertuin Therapy

To support the show, feel free to buy me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/theinnerpractice

The Gentle Whisper of Women is a heartfelt exploration of grief, love, and the quiet guidance we receive from those who shape us—whether they’re still here or part of the lineage that walked before us.

The episode opens in the stillness of night with a whispered question—“When will this pain end?”—and unfolds through memories of a woman whose presence, kindness, and strength anchored an entire family. Listeners journey through the rawness of early grief and the years of carrying a loss that never fully disappears, only softens.

A pivotal conversation later in life reveals a deeper truth: we are held not only by our memories, but by the wisdom and strength of others—those beside us now and those whose footsteps created the path we walk. Their guidance continues to shape our choices, steady our hearts, and help us navigate life’s hardest moments.

The Gentle Whisper of Women invites listeners to remember, to listen, and to lean into this shared wisdom. It’s a story about loss, yes—but even more, a story about the support that surrounds us, seen and unseen, and the way it carries us forward.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

If you enjoyed this show, make sure you like, subscribe, follow and download the episode or simply leave a comment.  I would love to hear from you!  Please feel free to share your thoughts, episode ideas or simply to say "hello"!

This episode is sponsored by Jackie Vandertuin Therapy.  With over 30 years of practice as a Certified Athletic Therapist and professor of Athletic Therapy, coupled with her experience as a yoga therapist, Jackie Vandertuin MSc, CAT(C), will help guide you in the management and treatment of various disorders including:  low back pain, sprains, strains, anxiety and depression.  Reach out www.jackievandertuintherapy.com  for a free discovery call.

If would like to be a guest of this podcast, please reach out to jackie@jackievandertuintherapy with a short bio of your story and how yoga has helped you in your journey of healing.

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode or this podcast, reach out to Jackie Vandertuin at [email protected].

Stay in touch at:

Website:  https://www.jackievandertuintherapy.com

Instagram:  jackie_vandertuin_therapy

Facebook:  Jackie Vandertuin Therapy

To support the show, feel free to buy me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/theinnerpractice

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Tracy Armstrong, a retired school administrator and yoga teacher from Orangeville, Ontario, who shares a powerful and deeply honest story of anxiety, insomnia, perfectionism, eating disorder recovery, and alcoholism. Tracy opens up about growing up with chronic anxiety and the pressure to appear “perfect,” and how these early experiences gradually manifested into disordered eating and later addiction.

With vulnerability and clarity, Tracy reflects on the moment she realized her drinking was affecting her time with her family—a turning point that led her toward addiction recovery, support, and healing. She discusses the tools that continue to sustain her today, from breathwork and mindfulness to time in nature and intentionally creating space for herself when she feels overwhelmed.

Tracy reminds us that her story is not uncommon. Along her path, she received meaningful support, including care at Homewood Health Centre, which played a significant role in her recovery journey. Her story is a testament to the power of asking for help, listening to your body, and reconnecting with practices that bring grounding, clarity, and compassion.

A gentle note before listening:
 This podcast occasionally explores sensitive topics such as mental health, trauma, addiction, and eating disorders. Please listen in a way that feels safe and supportive for you. If anything begins to feel heavy, it’s completely okay to pause, take space, or reach out for additional support. This podcast shares personal stories and healing practices, but it is not a substitute for professional mental health care.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use or mental health challenges, you are not alone. Below are resources in Canada that can help:

Support Resources

Alcohol & Substance Use Support

• Canadian Centre for Addictions: https://canadiancentreforaddictions.org/contact-us/
  
   Call 1-877-533-1817

Treatment & Recovery

• Homewood Health Centre (mental health, trauma, addiction, and co-occurring conditions):
   Call 1-866-725-1450 or visit homewoodhealthcentre.com

Emergency & Crisis Support (Canada and USA)

• If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or needs urgent medical help, call 9-1-1.
• If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8. Support is available 24/7.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

If you enjoyed this show, make sure you like, subscribe, follow and download the episode or simply leave a comment.  I would love to hear from you!  Please feel free to share your thoughts, episode ideas or simply to say "hello"!

This episode is sponsored by Jackie Vandertuin Therapy.  With over 30 years of practice as a Certified Athletic Therapist and professor of Athletic Therapy, coupled with her experience as a yoga therapist, Jackie Vandertuin MSc, CAT(C), will help guide you in the management and treatment of various disorders including:  low back pain, sprains, strains, anxiety and depression.  Reach out www.jackievandertuintherapy.com  for a free discovery call.

If would like to be a guest of this podcast, please reach out to jackie@jackievandertuintherapy with a short bio of your story and how yoga has helped you in your journey of healing.

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode or this podcast, reach out to Jackie Vandertuin at [email protected].

Stay in touch at:

Website:  https://www.jackievandertuintherapy.com

Instagram:  jackie_vandertuin_therapy

Facebook:  Jackie Vandertuin Therapy

To support the show, feel free to buy me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/theinnerpractice

Welcome to the Inner Practice.  In this trailer, Tracy talks about how she was "required" to try yoga from her treatment facility, Homewood.  This initial struggle led to something beautiful and lifesaving, giving her the tools to help manage her anxiety and other struggles.  

Stay tuned for the full episode which drops Dec 10, 2025

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

If you enjoyed this show, make sure you like, subscribe, follow and download the episode or simply leave a comment.  I would love to hear from you!  Please feel free to share your thoughts, episode ideas or simply to say "hello"!

This episode is sponsored by Jackie Vandertuin Therapy.  With over 30 years of practice as a Certified Athletic Therapist and professor of Athletic Therapy, coupled with her experience as a yoga therapist, Jackie Vandertuin MSc, CAT(C), will help guide you in the management and treatment of various disorders including:  low back pain, sprains, strains, anxiety and depression.  Reach out www.jackievandertuintherapy.com  for a free discovery call.

If would like to be a guest of this podcast, please reach out to jackie@jackievandertuintherapy with a short bio of your story and how yoga has helped you in your journey of healing.

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode or this podcast, reach out to Jackie Vandertuin at [email protected].

Stay in touch at:

Website:  https://www.jackievandertuintherapy.com

Instagram:  jackie_vandertuin_therapy

Facebook:  Jackie Vandertuin Therapy

To support the show, feel free to buy me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/theinnerpractice

The Path Lined with Mustard Seeds | The Inner Practice Podcast**

In this episode of The Inner Practice Podcast, host Jackie Vandertuin shares her original short story, The Path Lined with Mustard Seeds — a reflective, soul-stirring narrative about uncertainty, choice, and the quiet wisdom that can emerge from unexpected places.

The story follows a woman standing at a symbolic fork in the road, wrestling with fear, overthinking, and the belief that there must always be a single “right” path. Her perspective shifts after an encounter at the Mustard Seed shelter, where she meets a man who expresses his past and present through vivid sketches — drawings of family, career, addiction, loss, and ultimately the mustard seed of faith that helped him rebuild his life with stillness and presence.

Through his gentle honesty and grounded observations, the narrator discovers a universal truth: even the tiniest mustard seed of faith or awareness can transform the way we move through our lives.

This short story explores:

• How fear shapes the choices we avoid
• Releasing assumptions and labels
• The symbolism of the mustard seed as faith, resilience, and inner growth
• The power of presence over perfection
• How each path in life offers beauty, hardship, and meaning
• What it means to step forward with awareness rather than certainty

Perfect for listeners drawn to mindfulness, yoga philosophy, inner healing, and storytelling that inspires introspection, this episode invites you to pause, breathe, and consider the mustard seeds appearing along your own path.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

If you enjoyed this show, make sure you like, subscribe, follow and download the episode or simply leave a comment.  I would love to hear from you!  Please feel free to share your thoughts, episode ideas or simply to say "hello"!

This episode is sponsored by Jackie Vandertuin Therapy.  With over 30 years of practice as a Certified Athletic Therapist and professor of Athletic Therapy, coupled with her experience as a yoga therapist, Jackie Vandertuin MSc, CAT(C), will help guide you in the management and treatment of various disorders including:  low back pain, sprains, strains, anxiety and depression.  Reach out www.jackievandertuintherapy.com  for a free discovery call.

If would like to be a guest of this podcast, please reach out to jackie@jackievandertuintherapy with a short bio of your story and how yoga has helped you in your journey of healing.

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode or this podcast, reach out to Jackie Vandertuin at [email protected].

Stay in touch at:

Website:  https://www.jackievandertuintherapy.com

Instagram:  jackie_vandertuin_therapy

Facebook:  Jackie Vandertuin Therapy

To support the show, feel free to buy me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/theinnerpractice

In this episode of The Inner Practice, Brian Hames shares his journey from childhood labels to healing through yoga and nature. He opens up about resilience, living with anxiety, and the gifts that help him see the world differently.  Brian discusses tools that he uses to help him wash away parts of the day to allow him to enter spaces being fully present.  

Brian discusses philosophical components of life that make him who he is today; "a weirdo", a person who doesn't conform to the norms of society, a person who unmasks in everyday life, and a truly authentic human being.  Tune in for this story of courage, authenticity, and finding strength in unexpected places. 

Please note, this episode contains words that may be triggering to some.  Please listen with care.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

If you enjoyed this show, make sure you like, subscribe, follow and download the episode or simply leave a comment.  I would love to hear from you!  Please feel free to share your thoughts, episode ideas or simply to say "hello"!

This episode is sponsored by Jackie Vandertuin Therapy.  With over 30 years of practice as a Certified Athletic Therapist and professor of Athletic Therapy, coupled with her experience as a yoga therapist, Jackie Vandertuin MSc, CAT(C), will help guide you in the management and treatment of various disorders including:  low back pain, sprains, strains, anxiety and depression.  Reach out www.jackievandertuintherapy.com  for a free discovery call.

If would like to be a guest of this podcast, please reach out to jackie@jackievandertuintherapy with a short bio of your story and how yoga has helped you in your journey of healing.

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode or this podcast, reach out to Jackie Vandertuin at [email protected].

Stay in touch at:

Website:  https://www.jackievandertuintherapy.com

Instagram:  jackie_vandertuin_therapy

Facebook:  Jackie Vandertuin Therapy

To support the show, feel free to buy me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/theinnerpractice

In this trailer, you'll hear how breathwork and poses were a lifeline for Brian after the pandemic and how he still uses them to help him during difficult times.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

If you enjoyed this show, make sure you like, subscribe, follow and download the episode or simply leave a comment.  I would love to hear from you!  Please feel free to share your thoughts, episode ideas or simply to say "hello"!

This episode is sponsored by Jackie Vandertuin Therapy.  With over 30 years of practice as a Certified Athletic Therapist and professor of Athletic Therapy, coupled with her experience as a yoga therapist, Jackie Vandertuin MSc, CAT(C), will help guide you in the management and treatment of various disorders including:  low back pain, sprains, strains, anxiety and depression.  Reach out www.jackievandertuintherapy.com  for a free discovery call.

If would like to be a guest of this podcast, please reach out to jackie@jackievandertuintherapy with a short bio of your story and how yoga has helped you in your journey of healing.

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode or this podcast, reach out to Jackie Vandertuin at [email protected].

Stay in touch at:

Website:  https://www.jackievandertuintherapy.com

Instagram:  jackie_vandertuin_therapy

Facebook:  Jackie Vandertuin Therapy

To support the show, feel free to buy me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/theinnerpractice

In this episode, I’m joined by Mikaela Jimenez—a fourth-year nursing student, activist, and new yoga practitioner who roots both her work and her practice in decolonization and collective care.

Mikaela shares how yoga entered her life during a time of deep burnout and grief, becoming a space of reconnection — to herself, to community, and to a vision of collective liberation.

Her story is a reminder that yoga isn’t only about movement; it’s about rest as resistance, boundaries as care, and healing as something we do together.

If you want to speak to Mika, feel free to send me a message and I will pass it along to her.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

If you enjoyed this show, make sure you like, subscribe, follow and download the episode or simply leave a comment.  I would love to hear from you!  Please feel free to share your thoughts, episode ideas or simply to say "hello"!

This episode is sponsored by Jackie Vandertuin Therapy.  With over 30 years of practice as a Certified Athletic Therapist and professor of Athletic Therapy, coupled with her experience as a yoga therapist, Jackie Vandertuin MSc, CAT(C), will help guide you in the management and treatment of various disorders including:  low back pain, sprains, strains, anxiety and depression.  Reach out www.jackievandertuintherapy.com  for a free discovery call.

If would like to be a guest of this podcast, please reach out to jackie@jackievandertuintherapy with a short bio of your story and how yoga has helped you in your journey of healing.

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode or this podcast, reach out to Jackie Vandertuin at [email protected].

Stay in touch at:

Website:  https://www.jackievandertuintherapy.com

Instagram:  jackie_vandertuin_therapy

Facebook:  Jackie Vandertuin Therapy

To support the show, feel free to buy me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/theinnerpractice

Listen as Mikaela talks about wearing the weight of the world and how supported fish pose gave peace to this social activist.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

If you enjoyed this show, make sure you like, subscribe, follow and download the episode or simply leave a comment.  I would love to hear from you!  Please feel free to share your thoughts, episode ideas or simply to say "hello"!

This episode is sponsored by Jackie Vandertuin Therapy.  With over 30 years of practice as a Certified Athletic Therapist and professor of Athletic Therapy, coupled with her experience as a yoga therapist, Jackie Vandertuin MSc, CAT(C), will help guide you in the management and treatment of various disorders including:  low back pain, sprains, strains, anxiety and depression.  Reach out www.jackievandertuintherapy.com  for a free discovery call.

If would like to be a guest of this podcast, please reach out to jackie@jackievandertuintherapy with a short bio of your story and how yoga has helped you in your journey of healing.

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode or this podcast, reach out to Jackie Vandertuin at [email protected].

Stay in touch at:

Website:  https://www.jackievandertuintherapy.com

Instagram:  jackie_vandertuin_therapy

Facebook:  Jackie Vandertuin Therapy

To support the show, feel free to buy me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/theinnerpractice

In this episode of The Inner Practice, Brittney shares her heartfelt journey of growth and healing. With an elite athletic background, Brittney found herself moving from the demanding aspects of elite soccer to being drawn to yoga and later to fascial stretch therapy—discovering how these practices not only supported her own well-being but also opened the door to helping others heal.

We talk about the challenges that shaped her, the wisdom she’s gained along the way, and how movement can become medicine when it’s rooted in presence and compassion.

If you’ve ever wondered how the body can guide us toward recovery, resilience, and deeper connection, Brittney’s story will inspire you.

If this episode speaks to you, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or connect with Brittney through the show notes. And don’t forget to follow The Inner Practice on your favorite podcast app so you never miss a story of healing, awakening, and becoming.

You can find Brittney at GoYoga or reach out to via the following:

Instagram:  gostretchtherapy

Book Fascial Stretch Therapy:  https://www.goyogaorangeville.com/general-1-1

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

If you enjoyed this show, make sure you like, subscribe, follow and download the episode or simply leave a comment.  I would love to hear from you!  Please feel free to share your thoughts, episode ideas or simply to say "hello"!

This episode is sponsored by Jackie Vandertuin Therapy.  With over 30 years of practice as a Certified Athletic Therapist and professor of Athletic Therapy, coupled with her experience as a yoga therapist, Jackie Vandertuin MSc, CAT(C), will help guide you in the management and treatment of various disorders including:  low back pain, sprains, strains, anxiety and depression.  Reach out www.jackievandertuintherapy.com  for a free discovery call.

If would like to be a guest of this podcast, please reach out to jackie@jackievandertuintherapy with a short bio of your story and how yoga has helped you in your journey of healing.

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode or this podcast, reach out to Jackie Vandertuin at [email protected].

Stay in touch at:

Website:  https://www.jackievandertuintherapy.com

Instagram:  jackie_vandertuin_therapy

Facebook:  Jackie Vandertuin Therapy

To support the show, feel free to buy me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/theinnerpractice