Yoga Therapy Hour with Amy Wheeler Podcast Por Amy Wheeler arte de portada

Yoga Therapy Hour with Amy Wheeler

Yoga Therapy Hour with Amy Wheeler

De: Amy Wheeler
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Welcome to "The Yoga Therapy Hour Podcast," a harmonious blend of ancient wisdom and modern science, brought to life by Amy's expertise in psychology and public health. With over 100,000 downloads, this podcast delves deep into the principles of yoga therapy, offering expert interviews, practical solutions, and profound insights into real-life challenges.

From its inception, the first four seasons have been instrumental in elevating the domain of yoga therapy, emphasizing the pivotal role of lifestyle medicine in addressing both our mental and physical well-being. As we transition into Season 5, 6 & 7, Amy broadens the horizon, reaching out to the masses. Here, listeners will unravel how yoga therapy, when intertwined with lifestyle engineering, can serve as a powerful tool for holistic healing, touching the realms of the mind, body, and spirit.

Subscribe now and be part of a transformative journey that bridges the essence of embodied mental health with the spirit's depth. Join Amy in redefining mental and physical wellness. Also, leave us a review if you are enjoying the podcast and consider supporting us at the Optimal State & Yoga Therapy Hour Patreon page -https://www.patreon.com/yogatherapyhour


Go to www.TheOptimalState.com for more details on how to improve your mental and emotional health!

All rights reserved. Actividad Física, Dietas y Nutrición Ciencia Ciencias Biológicas Ciencias Sociales Desarrollo Personal Economía Educación Ejercicio y Actividad Física Enfermedades Físicas Espiritualidad Gestión Gestión y Liderazgo Higiene y Vida Saludable Medicina Alternativa y Complementaria Psicología Psicología y Salud Mental Éxito Personal
Episodios
  • Body Image, Core Values & Self-Sovereignty with Tra Kirkpatrick

    Body Image, Core Values & Self-Sovereignty with Tra Kirkpatrick
    Sep 12 2025
    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
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    1 h y 4 m
  • Leadership, Change, and the Future of Integrative Health with Chris Sax

    Leadership, Change, and the Future of Integrative Health with Chris Sax
    Sep 5 2025

    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 Insights

    Through 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 self

    This 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/

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    42 m
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Amy Wheeler does a wonderful job explaining how Yoga Therapy is different than a yoga class. If you were wondering if you want to become a Yoga Therapist, this is the podcast you should be listening to.

Want to be a yoga therapist?

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I really enjoyed this sincere conversation about change, why we are resistant to it and how we can develop skill and resilience for the inevitable ups and downs of life. I love that @Nina Zolotow's book has practical yoga postures and practices that make this skill set believable and feasible. Thanks to both!

A Thoughtful Conversation About Change

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Listening to Dr. Amy Wheeler discuss and query the many aspects of yoga therapy in these episodes is pure magic. Each guest is expertly interviewed. Dr. Wheeler has a way of allowing her guests to pour the best of themselves into each episode. Excellent information for anyone who has an interest in Life’s magical unfolding.

Every Episode Is Enlightening!

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