Episode summary

After losing her home, savings, and a 34-year marriage, pharmacist and integrative medicine leader Dr. Lisa Nezneski chose a different path: put herself first, grieve fully, and cultivate joy deliberately. In this candid conversation, we trace the arc from rupture to renewal—restorative yoga twice a week, twice-daily meditation, beach “walking meditations,” and the seven mindful questions that helped her rewire patterns. We also talk relationships after loss, somatic signs of awe, and how to make the “next right step” when you don’t know what’s next. This is a clear-eyed look at resilience, seen through yoga’s lens of abhyāsa (steadfast practice) and vairāgya (non-attachment): effort rooted in discernment, without clinging to outcomes.

Dr. Lisa Nezneski — Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher; board-certified pharmacotherapist; Reiki Master; poet and author of Grounded in Chaos: Leaning into Adversity, Learning Joy (2020; updated edition forthcoming). Former clinical pharmacist and hospital administrator; taught at Duquesne University; past Chief Clinical Officer at Schatz Clinical Services; founder of Healthy Mindful Self.

Website: lisanezneski.com

Key takeaways

• Choose self-priority without apology. Midlife caretakers often land last on their own list; reclaiming agency is the hinge of recovery.
• Practice over prediction. Twice-daily meditation + consistent restorative yoga created the conditions for healing—abhyāsa in action.
• Non-attachment reduces reactivity. “This is this day.” Meet what is, breathe three times, then respond—classic vairāgya.
• Somatic joy is real data. Tingling, goosebumps, softening—felt sense can signal alignment more reliably than analysis.
• The “next right step” is enough. Use simple inner tests (Lisa’s “speedometer” method) and adjust course—no catastrophizing.
• Relational healing is possible. Mutuality, gratitude, and playfulness can re-pattern partnership after grief.
• Hands calm the nervous system. Repetitive handcrafts (e.g., finger-crochet) function like mudrā/nyāsa—bottom-up regulation.

Resources

• Dr. Lisa Nezneski — lisanezneski.com
• Book — Grounded in Chaos: Leaning into Adversity, Learning Joy (1st ed., 2020; updated edition forthcoming)

Listener reflection (journal prompts)

• Where in my week do I practice abhyāsa without clinging to a result?
• What does my body feel like when a choice is a genuine “yes”?
• What micro-ritual will I use as my three-breath reset cue?

Call to action

If this episode helped you locate a little joy inside the storm, share it with one person who needs a steady hand. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us the one practice you’re committing to this week.

Plans of Study for NDMU Yoga Therapy

https://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-5596fb4fc161

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

#IntegrativeHealth #HealthcareEducation #InterprofessionalEducation #GraduateSchool #NDMUproud #SOIHproud #SOIHYoga #SOIHAyurveda #NDMUYoga #NDMUAyurveda #SOIHGraduateSchool

Episode summary

At 32, Marcia found a lump she assumed was “nothing.” It wasn’t. In quick succession came diagnosis (May 1998), surgery including mastectomy and reconstruction, and years of hormone therapy. The shock gave way to a long, messy recovery marked by anxiety, tears, and the fierce desire to “be there” for her two young sons. Yoga entered as a lifeline: first disciplined Iyengar classes that rebuilt physical strength and steadiness, then Aṣṭāṅga for rhythm, breath, dṛṣṭi, and mental focus, and eventually yoga therapy informed by the pañcamaya kośa model—meeting herself where she was, day by day.

Part two of Marcia’s story is even more tender: years later, her 15-year-old son, Alex, was diagnosed with high-grade osteosarcoma. Eight months of aggressive chemotherapy, limb-saving surgery, infection, and eventual amputation followed. Through sleepless hospital nights and fragile windows at home, Marcia leaned on simple, steady practices—breath, gentle movement, and the sacred ordinary of hanging laundry in the sun. 

Key themes

• The long arc of recovery: Treatment can be quick; integration takes time. Yoga created structure (set sequences, five-breath holds) that translated into emotional steadiness.
• From outer strength to inner ease: As physical stability returned, so did mental clarity and emotional regulation—sthira-sukham āsanam (PYS 2.46) in action.
• Rituals of the ordinary: In crisis, simple routines (breathing, gentle stretches, even doing the wash) become anchors of meaning and regulation.
• Pañcamaya kośa self-check: How am I—body, breath/energy, mind, personality/values, and meaning? Let practice be responsive, not rigid.
• Caregivers need care: Five minutes of breath can change the nervous system—and the day.
• Post-traumatic growth: Agency (“this diagnosis won’t define our life”) and community support foster resilience.
• Yoga therapy in oncology: Practical tools for survivors and families; thoughtful scope of practice and team-based care.

Memorable moments

• “I was angry at the interruption to my life—I didn’t want cancer to stop me from living my dharma.”
• “The set sequence and five breaths made Aṣṭāṅga meditative; my body knew what came next, and my mind could rest.”
• “Hospital life means not moving, not sleeping, not eating well. At home, a decent meal, a real bed, and a few breaths on the mat felt holy.”
• “Supporting my son after amputation, I realized the PT’s ‘Superman’ was Śalabhāsana—the same human body, different language.”

Practical takeaways (for listeners)

• Structure regulates: A consistent class or home sequence can downshift anxiety; predictability is medicine.
• Five-breath rule: Linger in postures long enough to feel the pose regulate the breath (and vice versa).
• Honor seasons: Your practice can be Iyengar-precise one season, Aṣṭāṅga-rhythmic the next, and kośa-guided thereafter. That’s yoga.
• Caregiver micro-practices work: Three minutes of diaphragmatic breathing between scans or consults matters.

Who this episode supports

• People navigating or recovering from cancer
• Parents and caregivers living in medical systems
• Yoga teachers/therapists seeking oncology-informed, nervous-system-first approaches
• Anyone rebuilding identity and routine after a health crisis

About Marcia Mercier

• Website: www.marcie.yoga.com
• Location: North London (UK)
• Offerings:
• Weekly online Yoga for Breast Cancer (Wednesdays 09:30–10:30 UK)
• 1:1 Yoga Therapy (online & in person)
• Haṭha and Vinyāsa classes (online and local studios)
• Contributor with Get Me Back—a cancer-recovery community offering strength training, yoga, Pilates, and on-demand classes (getmeback.uk)

Resources mentioned

• marcie.yoga — contact and class schedule
• Get Me Back (UK): membership and on-demand support for people post-treatment

Host reflection

Marcia’s story is a fierce testament to the human spirit yoked to practice. In yogic terms, she modeled tapas without self-punishment, svādhyāya without self-absorption, and praṇidhāna without passivity. This is what it looks like when philosophy leaves the page and enters a hospital ward, a nursery, a kitchen, and a yoga mat. Healing is not linear; it is rhythmic—breath by breath, five breaths at a time.

Connect with The Yoga Therapy Hour

• Website: TheOptimalState.com
• Instagram & LinkedIn: Optimal State Yoga Therapy
• Subscribe, rate, and share if this helped you or someone you love.

Content note & disclaimer

This episode includes personal experiences with cancer and hospitalization. Yoga therapy is complementary and not a substitute for medical care. Please consult your healthcare team before beginning or modifying any practice.

Episode summary

Author and teacher Philip Goldberg returns to unpack his new book, Karmic Relief (Monkfish). We cut through pop-karma clichés and ask the hard questions: Why do bad actors prosper? What about innocent suffering? Does “what goes around” really come around—and when? Phil offers a clear, practice-ready model grounded in Yoga and Vedānta: karma as lawful cause-and-effect, refined by intention (saṅkalpa) and awareness (svādhyāya), and lived through skillful action (kriyā/karma-yoga). No sugar-coating—just a compassionate, accountable path forward.

About our guest

Philip Goldberg is the author of the classic American Veda and many other works on India’s wisdom traditions. He writes, teaches, and speaks internationally about the practical application of yoga philosophy in modern life. More at philipgoldberg.com.

What we cover

• Two default frames that fail: cynical materialism (“life’s unfair—deal with it”) and a punitive theism that outsources justice—why yoga offers a third way: karma as a law of nature, not a cosmic scorekeeper.
• Intention matters: why the motivation and quality of mind behind an action shape its consequences—on us and on the field around us.
• It’s not linear: why “instant karma” is the exception; most effects are complex, delayed, and braided with other people’s actions.
• Not just the “bad stuff”: noticing beneficial returns—friendship, support, opportunities—as karma, too.
• Humility as the doorway: we can’t fathom every cause; we can act skillfully anyway.
• Prevention is practice: building a karmic “balance sheet” through ethical living, steady practice, and timely amends reduces the sting when old debts come due.
• Forgiveness begins at home: how self-forgiveness and sincere amends interrupt the “slow acid drip of regret.”
• Prayer, Bhakti & nervous system: prayer as practice for the prayer-giver (bhakti), shifting state and making right action more likely.
• Yama–Niyama as method, not morals: using the first two limbs practically to uproot harmful samskāras rather than memorize rules.
• Boundaries are dharma: over-giving and “doormat karma” as the near-enemy of compassion; why healthy limits are part of right action.

Practical takeaways 

1. Choose skillful action now. You can’t rewrite yesterday’s causes; you can stack better conditions today.
2. Mind the motive. Before you act, ask: What’s my real intention? Adjust there.
3. Make clean amends. Own your slice only, sincerely, and repair what you can. Then change the behavior.
4. Practice = prevention. Daily āsana–prāṇāyāma–dhyāna clears the field (samskāra hygiene) so wise choices come faster.
5. Measure by learning. Treat consequences as feedback, not verdicts. If the same pattern repeats, a lesson is waiting.

Selected quotes

• “Karma is closer to physics than to theology—causes and conditions, not a personality keeping score.”
• “If you dismiss suffering as ‘their karma,’ that response becomes your karma.”
• “Humility matters: we can’t trace every cause, but we can choose wisely now.”
• “Boundaries are part of compassion—virtue misapplied becomes a near-enemy.”

Resources & links

• Karmic Relief by Philip Goldberg — Monkfish (now available).
• Philip Goldberg’s site: philipgoldberg.com
• Also by Phil: American Veda (context for how Eastern wisdom seeded the West).
• Related Yoga Therapy Hour episode: Our first conversation with Phil on American Veda (link in feed).

Interested in advancing your own studies in Yoga Therapy and Ayurveda?

Explore these graduate and certificate programs at Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH):

• Master of Science in Yoga Therapy
• https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/master-of-science-in-yoga-therapy/
• Post-Master’s Certificate in Therapeutic Yoga Practices (for licensed healthcare professionals)
• https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/post-masters-certificate-in-therapeutic-yoga-practices/
• Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Ayurveda
• https://muih.edu/academics/ayurveda/post-baccalaureate-ayurveda-certification/

Plus, join us on our Optimal State Mobile App for daily check-ins and simple, easy interventions to help you stay in balance.

And explore our Online Community, where you’ll receive weekly classes and gain access to a library of classes you can enjoy anytime. Learn more at www.AmyWheeler.com.

Guest: Danielle De Pillis, MS Neuroscience, C-IAYT (12 Petals Wellness)

Danielle De Pillis joins Amy from South Minneapolis for a clear-eyed conversation about chronic pain, interoception, and why “sending someone to yoga class” is not the same as yoga therapy. Danielle traces her arc from high-pressure ad agency life into a years-long recovery that rewired her relationship with her body—then back into graduate study in neuroscience at King’s College London to understand the brain networks behind what she and her clients were experiencing. This is a grounded dialogue where ancient yoga maps (kośas, guṇas, abhyāsa/vairāgya) meet modern neuroscience and trauma-informed care.

Listen for

• How chronic sciatic pain (without injury) resolved through tiny, breath-led movements and attention training
• Why interoception (insula-based networks) is the missing link across PTSD, anxiety, depression, addiction, and eating disorders
• The limits of protocols: why yoga therapy must meet the person—not the diagnosis
• Practical strategies for “sitting is the new smoking” workplaces
• Using Yoga Nidra and micro-practices to “bring a region back online” and rebuild brain–body connections
• Trauma-informed considerations for healthcare and why telehealth lowers barriers for clients with PTSD

Key ideas & takeaways

• Pain is a messenger, not a verdict. When we treat it like data, we can adapt habit loops (workload, sitting time, emotional patterns like anger), not just tissues.
• Attention before ambition. Danielle’s recovery hinged on “microscopic movements, breath, mudrā, and curiosity”—a living example of abhyāsa (steady practice) and vairāgya (non-grasping).
• Interoception is foundational. Many clients say “I’m fine” until they close their eyes and notice otherwise. Building interoceptive literacy (Yoga Nidra body scan, slow breath, graded exposure to sensation) is therapy.
• No one-size-fits-all. Back pain, for example, can stem from different drivers (biomechanical load, overthinking/rumination, shock/trauma, life stress). Assessment across the pañca-maya kośa clarifies which lever to pull first.
• Healthcare and gym yoga. A doctor’s “try yoga” often misfires; yoga therapy (or therapeutic yoga) individualizes, paces, and is trauma-informed.
• Maintenance is the path. Bodies require lifelong tending. Danielle uses movement “snacks,” nature walks, and between-client resets—little choices that keep systems regulated.

Practical practices mentioned (try these)

• Micro-movement + breath: Choose one joint/region that feels “offline.” Explore 1–2 minutes of tiny ranges with smooth nasal breath and curiosity. Stop well before pain.
• Yoga Nidra, targeted: If you consistently “drop out” during a specific body region, create a 10-minute Nidra just for that side/area to rebuild signal.
• Workday resets: Every 45–60 minutes, stand, walk a block, or do 2–3 shapes while the kettle boils.
• Green-space therapy: Daily time in nature to shift autonomic state toward safety and restoration.

Memorable quotes

• “Attention is where it’s at. People say ‘mindfulness,’ but what changed me was attention—and curiosity.” —Danielle
• “What got disconnected along the way? That’s the puzzle yoga therapy helps clients solve.” —Amy
• “We’re not treating a protocol; we’re meeting a person, this week.” —Danielle

About our guest

Danielle De Pillis is a yoga therapist and neuroscience-informed practitioner based in Minneapolis. She holds a Master’s in Neuroscience from King’s College London and runs a global online private practice focused on trauma, chronic pain, and interoception.

• Website: danielledepillis.com

Interested in advancing your own studies in Yoga Therapy and Ayurveda?

Explore these graduate and certificate programs at Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH):

• Master of Science in Yoga Therapy
• https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/master-of-science-in-yoga-therapy/
• Post-Master’s Certificate in Therapeutic Yoga Practices (for licensed healthcare professionals)
• https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/post-masters-certificate-in-therapeutic-yoga-practices/
• Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Ayurveda
• https://muih.edu/academics/ayurveda/post-baccalaureate-ayurveda-certification/

Plus, join us on our Optimal State Mobile App for daily check-ins and simple, easy interventions to help you stay in balance.

And explore our Online Community, where you’ll receive weekly classes and gain access to a library of classes you can enjoy anytime. Learn more at www.AmyWheeler.com.

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

Stay Connected

• Join our Optimal State Mobile App for daily check-ins and simple interventions
• Explore our Online Community with weekly classes and a growing library at www.AmyWheeler.com
• Follow The Yoga Therapy Hour podcast wherever you listen

In this heartfelt conversation, Amy Wheeler sits down with Shabana Safdari, yoga therapist, teacher, and founder of Yoga with Shabana, based in Bangalore, India. Shabana’s journey into yoga began with a deeply personal health scare when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Faced with anxiety and fear, she turned to yoga—first for her own healing, and eventually as a lifelong path of service.

Shabana shares:

• How a health crisis transformed her relationship with her body and inspired her to take charge of her wellbeing.
• Her experience of nesophobia (fear of illness) and how yoga helped her move from anxiety to resilience.
• The life-changing impact of yoga therapy on her vertigo, and why she committed to making it her profession.
• The importance of intention in yoga practice and teaching, and how acts of kindness are integral to true healing.
• Her philosophy of simple, sattvic living—fresh food, fresh breath, and fresh thoughts—as the foundation of wellness.
• The role of prāṇāyāma as a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern science, and why she believes it is the most powerful tool for transformation.
• How she combines yoga therapy, prāṇāyāma, and sound healing in her signature Rest Reset Method to help clients manage stress, recover from burnout, and rediscover joy.

Throughout the episode, Shabana emphasizes that yoga is not just postures—it is a holistic system of mindset, lifestyle, compassion, and self-regulation. Her clarity, kindness, and lived wisdom shine through, offering listeners a reminder that true yoga begins with simplicity and intention.

Connect with Shabana:

Find her on LinkedIn at Shabana Safdari (search Yoga with Shabana). Her website will be launching soon, featuring her offerings, including one-on-one yoga therapy, corporate wellness programs, and sound healing.

Interested in advancing your own studies in Yoga Therapy and Ayurveda?

Explore these graduate and certificate programs at Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH):

• Master of Science in Yoga Therapy
• https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/master-of-science-in-yoga-therapy/
• Post-Master’s Certificate in Therapeutic Yoga Practices (for licensed healthcare professionals)
• https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/post-masters-certificate-in-therapeutic-yoga-practices/
• Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Ayurveda
• https://muih.edu/academics/ayurveda/post-baccalaureate-ayurveda-certification/

Plus, join us on our Optimal State Mobile App for daily check-ins and simple, easy interventions to help you stay in balance.

And explore our Online Community, where you’ll receive weekly classes and gain access to a library of classes you can enjoy anytime. Learn more at www.AmyWheeler.com.

Episode Summary:

What does it mean to live in alignment with your soul’s purpose—especially when the world feels upside down? In this powerful and inspiring conversation, Amy sits down with astrologer, intuitive guide, and author Madi Murphy to explore how to harness life’s cosmic curveballs, leave the comfort zone, and step into your fullest, most authentic self.

Madi shares how astrology can act as a “GPS for the soul,” guiding us through both personal transformation and collective upheaval. Together, Amy and Madi dive into the themes of Sacred Rage as a catalyst for change, the necessity of setting clear boundaries, and why “quiet revolutions” are already taking root across the globe.

You’ll hear about:

·        How Pluto in Aquarius marks a 20-year cycle of transformation, innovation, and power to the people.

·        Why sacred rage—channeled wisely—can be a force for justice, creativity, and healing.

·        The art of saying “no” without over-explaining, and the empowerment that comes from it.

·        Why grassroots movements and personal authenticity will shape the next chapter of our collective story.

·        Practical ways to plant seeds for the future, even if you’re not the loudest voice in the room.

This episode is both an invitation and a call to action: to fortify your values, live authentically, and play your part in shaping a more empathetic and connected future. Whether you’re navigating a personal rebirth or tuning into the shifting tides of our world, this conversation will leave you inspired, grounded, and ready to claim your cosmic zone.

About Madi Murphy:

Madi Murphy is an astrologer, intuitive, shamanic practitioner, and author of In the Cosmic Zone. With a gift for blending the mystical with the practical, Madi helps clients align with their “divine assignment” through astrology, intuitive insight, and grounded, actionable tools.

Resources & Links:

·        Connect with Madi Murphy: https://www.instagram.com/thecosmicrx/?hl=en

·        In the Cosmic Zone – https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/782212/in-the-cosmic-zone-by-madi-murphy/  

·        Follow Amy Wheeler and The Yoga Therapy Hour: www.TheOptimalState.com

Plans of Study for NDMU Yoga Therapy

https://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-5596fb4fc161

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

#IntegrativeHealth #HealthcareEducation #InterprofessionalEducation #GraduateSchool #NDMUproud #SOIHproud #SOIHYoga #SOIHAyurveda #NDMUYoga #NDMUAyurveda #SOIHGraduateSchool

Episode Summary:

In this intimate and empowering conversation, Amy Wheeler sits down with yoga therapist, postpartum doula, and mother of two, Alexi Neal, to explore what happens when the yoga practice you’ve loved for decades no longer serves your body in the same way.

Alexi shares her journey from starting yoga at age 12, falling in love with the strength and presence it gave her, to discovering—through chronic pain, pelvic dysfunction, and motherhood—that her hypermobility was both a blessing and a challenge. She opens up about the difficulty of letting go of deep, stretchy poses that felt emotionally nourishing but were damaging her SI joints and pelvic stability.

The conversation dives into:

• How cultural narratives around motherhood and women’s health leave many women without the support they need
• The physical and emotional realities of hypermobility and pelvic floor dysfunction
• Why heavy strength training became a surprising but essential part of Alexi’s healing and empowerment
• How honoring boundaries in movement is an act of self-respect and long-term sustainability
• The “village” mindset and how it applies not only to mothering but to self-care

Alexi’s story is an invitation to listen deeply to your body, to adapt your practice as life changes, and to recognize that true yoga is not performance—it’s about honoring what supports your wholeness today.

Connect with Alexi Neal:

• Website: soulfulsomatics.com (Soulful with two L’s)
• Instagram: @soulfullexi

Plans of Study for NDMU Yoga Therapy

https://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-5596fb4fc161

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

#IntegrativeHealth #HealthcareEducation #InterprofessionalEducation #GraduateSchool #NDMUproud #SOIHproud #SOIHYoga #SOIHAyurveda #NDMUYoga #NDMUAyurveda #SOIHGraduateSchool

Episode Summary

In this powerful and intimate episode, Amy welcomes Christi Sims, a yoga teacher from Texas who shares her personal story of recovery after a devastating diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). At one point unable to walk, talk, or process language, Christi was told by doctors that her condition was irreversible. Through faith, deep surrender, and a daily yoga practice guided by Dr. Nydia Darby, Christi slowly rewired her brain and body from the inside out.

This is the first time Christi has shared her full story publicly, with no website to promote—just a heartfelt desire to help others find hope and healing. Her journey is a testament to what is possible when the soul says, “Take me or heal me,” and both surrender and disciplined daily practice follow.

What You’ll Learn

• What it’s like to be diagnosed with MS and lose basic motor and cognitive function
• How yoga helped Christi rebuild her neural pathways and regain her independence
• The role of prāṇa, breathwork, and the mind-body-spirit connection in neurological healing
• Why surrendering control and taking full responsibility are not opposites, but companions
• The power of simple, consistent daily practice—starting with sitting and breathing

Connect with Christi

If you or someone you love is navigating a neurological condition and would like to connect with Christi, you can reach her directly at: [email protected]

(Shared with permission. Please be respectful.)

Resources & Mentions

Dr. Nydia Darby – Yoga therapist and mentor to Christi

• Laurel Grace Yoga Studio, New Braunfels, TX
• Optimal State – www.theoptimalstate.com
• Download the Optimal State App for daily breath, awareness, and movement practices
• Subscribe to the Podcast and share this episode with someone who needs hope

Thank You, Christi

Your story is a living example of Yoga Sūtra 2.1 in action—discipline, self-study, and surrender. May your journey continue to inspire others to walk toward healing, even when the path is uncertain.

Episode Overview:

In one of the most vulnerable and transformative conversations to date, Amy Wheeler sits down with Naomi Finkelstein, a yoga therapist and founder of The Sanctuary, to explore what it means to reclaim body autonomy, live in alignment with truth, and practice yoga from a foundation of ahiṁsā

—non-harming—toward oneself.

Naomi shares her deeply personal story of being sent to weight-loss camps as a teen, struggling with disordered eating for decades, and ultimately being diagnosed with anorexia at age 40—all while living in a larger body. She speaks honestly about how societal fatphobia masked her illness, and how yoga became both a site of harm and, ultimately, a path to healing.

This conversation redefines what it means to "do yoga." It's not about performance. It's about presence, choice, and radical self-respect.

Amy openly reflects on how this dialogue challenged her own internalized body narratives. This is not just a podcast episode; it’s an invitation into deep nervous system work, self-reflection, and community reimagining.

 Topics Covered:

• Naomi’s journey through fatphobia, eating disorder recovery, and reclaiming the word “fat” as a neutral descriptor
• The harm caused by body-normative yoga spaces—and how to create truly inclusive ones
• Trauma-informed yoga through the lens of personal choice and body consent
• How shifting your internal dialogue during practice changes the entire nervous system response
• What it means to build a yoga community rooted in safety, autonomy, and interdependence
• Why health cannot be measured by weight alone—and how to practice viveka (discernment) in medical spaces
• A reframe of tapas and ahiṁsā
•  that honors those recovering from disordered eating

Key Quotes:

“I had to relearn what it meant to show up on my mat—from a place of choice, not punishment.”

— Naomi Finkelstein

“The sensation you’re feeling right now? That’s what healing feels like.”

— Naomi Finkelstein

“If yoga isn’t here to bring us home to ourselves, what are we doing?”

— Amy Wheeler

Learn More About Naomi:

Naomi Finkelstein, C-IAYT, is a certified yoga therapist, trauma-informed educator, and founder of The Sanctuary, an inclusive online community supporting people in larger bodies through movement, mindfulness, and nervous system regulation. Her October courses include:

• Befriending the Body – An 8-week gentle yoga journey for those beginning or returning to practice
• Yoga Nidrā for Deep Rest – A 6-week guided series to support nervous system recovery

 Learn more at NaomiFinkelstein.com

 Listener Note:

This episode may stir deep emotions, especially for those in eating disorder recovery or with long-term body image struggles. We invite you to listen slowly, take breaks, and notice your breath and sensations. Healing is nonlinear. Come back to the episode as needed.