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/

Opening Paragraph

In this solo episode, Amy Wheeler invites listeners into a conversation about the intersection of childhood religion and the lifelong path of yoga therapy. What happens when the grace-filled teachings of Lutheran Christianity (insert your belief structure here) meet the depth and systematization of Indian philosophy? Can we honor both? Amy explores her own journey—from growing up in a progressive Christian household to becoming a devoted student and teacher of Yoga—unpacking how these spiritual lineages can coexist with humility, respect, and a shared intention to reduce suffering. This episode encourages us all to ask: Can different belief systems lead us toward the same inner peace? And more importantly, can we stay grounded in ethical yoga practice while honoring both source and seeker?

In This Episode, Amy Discusses:

• Her upbringing as a Lutheran minister’s daughter and how values like grace, compassion, and service shaped her early views on faith and spirituality.
• The transformative moment of discovering Yoga philosophy, particularly the structure and clarity of Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra and the Bhagavad Gītā.
• Navigating cultural appreciation vs. cultural appropriation—especially as a Western Yoga Therapist working with ancient Indian teachings.
• Can someone be a Yoga Therapist and maintain their original religious identity? Amy dives into the conversation about pluralism, integrity, and therapeutic intention.
• Iśvara as a formless universal presence, and whether one’s version of “God,” “Allah,” “Jesus,” or “Buddha” can reflect the same sattvic qualities in a yoga-based healing context.

Amy reminds us that being a yoga therapist is not about spiritual perfection or ideological purity—it’s about long-term dedication to learning, humility, and reducing human suffering. Whether your spiritual background includes religion, atheism, or a mix of philosophies, the invitation is to stay with the practice, keep questioning, and deepen your connection to the wholeness of yoga without abandoning your roots. As she says, “Maybe the real question is whether what you believe is helping you be a better, kinder human being.”

Amy Wheeler's Contact Info:

Website: www.TheOptimalState.com

Email: amy@amywheeler.com

Instagram: @optimalstate

YouTube: Optimal State with Amy Wheeler

LinkedIn: Amy Wheeler PhD

Interested in Studying Yoga Therapy or Ayurveda?

Master of Science in Yoga Therapy at Maryland University of Integrative Health

A rigorous, accredited program rooted in both ancient wisdom and modern integrative health. https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/master-of-science-in-yoga-therapy/

Therapeutic Yoga for Licensed Health Care Providers (LHCPs)

Learn how to ethically and effectively integrate yoga into your existing healthcare profession. https://muih.edu/academics/yoga-therapy/post-masters-certificate-in-therapeutic-yoga-practices/

Integrative Ayurvedic Wellness Program

Study the sister science to yoga through the lens of modern wellness, offering tools for nutrition,