In this heart-opening and deeply insightful episode, Amy Wheeler welcomes Jeffrey Shoaf—yoga therapist, Kripalu-trained teacher, bodyworker, and retreat leader—to explore the profound personal and professional transformation yoga brought into his life beginning at age 48. Jeffrey shares how yoga reawakened his childhood love of movement, helped him reconnect with his body after decades as a general contractor, and opened a gateway to breathwork, meditation, and spiritual integration. His story is one of rekindling wonder, embracing vulnerability, and learning to feel fully.

Together, Amy and Jeffrey dive into:

• How Jeffrey found yoga at age 48 and became instantly hooked
• Why the mind-body connection through āsana was life-changing for him
• The role of breathwork in emotional regulation, anxiety, and physical recovery
• Why “less is more” when it comes to prāṇāyāma and nervous system regulation
• The power of meditation in everyday life—without needing to sit cross-legged
• The emotional intelligence of yoga: learning to respond rather than react
• Why “anger is present” is more skillful than “I am angry”
• His inspiring work with men’s groups and mentoring at-risk youth through the Joshua Project
• His upcoming Wander to Wonder yoga and reflective writing retreat in Portugal (September 2025)
• How nature, presence, and embodied practice continue to be his spiritual path

Jeffrey reminds us that healing happens when we give ourselves permission to feel, breathe, and move authentically—whether on the mat, at the kitchen sink, or walking in the woods.

Connect with Jeffrey Shoaf

Website: www.jeffreyshoaf.com

Join The Breathing Club: Thursdays at 7:00am ET

Explore Portugal Retreat: Wander to Wonder – September 2025

Instagram: @jeffreyshoaf

If this episode touched your heart, please share it with a friend and leave us a review.

Stay connected with Amy at www.TheOptimalState.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/

In this episode, Amy Wheeler welcomes back Kimberly Searl, a faculty member at Maryland University of Integrative Health’s M.S. in Yoga Therapy program. Kimberly brings decades of experience in teaching anatomy, kinesiology, and physical assessment through the lens of yoga therapy. Together, Amy and Kimberly explore what it truly means to assess the physical body in a therapeutic context, challenging old paradigms and illuminating a more holistic, compassionate approach rooted in curiosity, embodiment, and lived experience.

They dive into the concept of an “anatomy story”—how each of us comes to understand and inhabit our bodies through both joy and injury, and how this narrative becomes essential for therapeutic healing. Kimberly shares her journey from a farm girl fascinated by animal movement to a yoga therapist who now mentors students and clients in discovering safety, strength, and integration within their own bodies.

This episode is packed with powerful questions and insights:

• What does a yoga therapist actually need to know about anatomy and kinesiology?
• How can we responsibly assess the physical body without overstepping into diagnostic territory?
• Why does “interoception” matter, and how does it affect mental health and healing?
• How do we hold space for a client’s goals, instead of imposing our own agenda?
• What role do breath, motor planning, and functional movement play in therapeutic sequencing?

Amy and Kimberly also discuss the changing needs of the aging body, the myth of alignment as perfection, and how being "medically adjacent" is a unique strength of yoga therapy—not a limitation.

This episode is for:

• Yoga therapy students and educators
• Clinicians seeking to understand yoga therapy’s scope
• Clients on their healing journey looking to feel more at home in their body
• Anyone ready to trade rigidity for resilience

Listen in to hear:

The difference between fixing and guiding

What a co-assessment really looks like

How slowing down transforms the healing process

The role of yoga therapy in addressing the whole person—body, breath, and mind

Why resilience might be the new word for “safe, strong, and integrated”

Guest Bio:

Kimberly Searl, M.S., C-IAYT, is a certified yoga therapist and educator who teaches anatomy, kinesiology, and physical assessment in the M.S. Yoga Therapy program at MUIH. With more than 33,000 hours of experience in teaching movement and body awareness, Kimberly is passionate about helping others rediscover safety and empowerment in their bodies. She is also the founder of Integrative Sustainable Movement, a healing center rooted in the values of lifelong, accessible, and mindful movement. Website: https://ism.health/

Yoga is not an exercise program—it is a healing philosophy.

Join Kimberly and Amy as they redefine what physical assessment can look like when guided by the principles of yoga therapy and the lived reality of the human experience.

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/

In this deeply moving and enlightening episode of The Yoga Therapy Hour, host Amy Wheeler welcomes Bobbi Lalach, a kinesiologist and yoga therapist from Cranbrook, British Columbia. Bobbi shares her powerful story of recovery after a traumatic car accident left her with a concussion—and a life turned upside down.

At first, Bobbi didn’t realize she was injured. As a mother of five and a healthcare provider, she brushed off her persistent headache and fatigue as stress or a sinus infection. It wasn’t until she couldn’t comprehend a simple work email six weeks later that she realized something was seriously wrong. Her journey through denial, misdiagnosis, and eventually, healing offers insight into how we often ignore our own suffering—especially when we're used to caring for others.

Topics Discussed:

• Signs of concussion you may miss
• Why healthcare providers often ignore their own symptoms
• Co-regulation and healing within the family system
• The role of empathy, self-awareness, and grief in recovery
• Yoga therapy’s unique value in cases that fall through the cracks
• The power of simplicity: legs up the wall, breath, and presence

Bobbi and Amy dive into a conversation around the power of rest, nervous system regulation, and why slowing down is often the most advanced form of care. Bobbi’s honest reflections on grief, acceptance, and growth—alongside her scientific background—make this a must-listen for anyone navigating recovery, caregiving, or the complex intersection of mind and body.

Bobbi’s Words of Wisdom:

"You might miss the signs. You might even need the 2x4 moment to make you stop. But don’t give up. There is a way to heal—even if it’s not the way you imagined."

Whether you’re a caregiver, clinician, or someone in recovery yourself, this episode will leave you feeling seen, inspired, and more in touch with the quiet, powerful wisdom of your own body.

Connect with Bobbi Lalach

Website: https://www.kinnectionyogatherapy.com/

Instagram: @kinnectionyogatherapy & @highland_dancers_edge

Facebook - Kinnection Yoga Therapy

Follow Amy Wheeler

Website: www.TheOptimalState.com

Instagram: @amywheelerpodcast

Podcast IG: @theyogatherapyhour

Amy Wheeler has recently become the Chair of the Dept. at Maryland University of Integrative Health. See the training programs below.

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/