In traditional education and clinical settings, anatomy is typically taught from the outside in: Latin terminology, mechanical levers, origins, and insertions. But reciting muscle attachments does not heal a dysregulated nervous system or chronic somatic pain. In this episode, host Michele Lawrence sits down with pioneering yoga therapist and author Leila Stuart to explore the shift from intellectual, structural anatomy to living, experiential inquiry. Leila breaks down how reclaiming a felt ...

What happens to human connection when speech, memory, and cognitive faculties begin to fade? In this episode of This is Yoga Therapy, host Michele Lawrence sits down with colleague Denyse LeFever, MBA, C-IAYT, a certified yoga therapist specializing in healthy aging, cancer support, and cognitive longevity. Denyse recently authored the chapter "Connecting With Those Who Forget" in the newly released The Caregiver’s Advocate (Volume 3). In her writing and in this conversation, Denyse shares a ...

How does yoga therapy interface with modern healthcare systems, and what does it take to establish evidence-informed mind-body practices as standard clinical care? In this episode of This is Yoga Therapy, host Michele Lawrence sits down with visionary educators and researchers Dr. Amy Wheeler, PhD, C-IAYT, and Dr. Marlysa Sullivan, DPT, C-IAYT. Together, they explore the release of their ground-breaking new textbook, Applying Therapeutic Yoga in Integrative Health. Amy and Marlysa unpack the ...

Can vocal chanting and intentional vibration measurably alter our neurobiology? In this episode of This is Yoga Therapy, host Michele Lawrence sits down with scientist, researcher, and educator Dr. Gemma Perry. Dr. Perry shares findings from her doctoral research on the physiological and psychological mechanisms of chanting—from vagal nerve stimulation and heart rate variability to stress reduction and social connection. We discuss: The Neurobiology of Vibration: What happens to the brain and...

Long before yoga therapy was recognized by mainstream healthcare institutions, Michael Lee, MA, Dip.Psych, C-IAYT, was pioneering an internationally acclaimed method that bridged classical yoga, depth psychology, and body-centered awareness. In 1986, he founded Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, establishing a lineage that uses the body as a direct gateway to emotional and mental liberation. In this episode of This is Yoga Therapy, host Michele Lawrence sits down with Michael to reflect on four dec...

When someone has experienced trauma, chronic stress, or progressive illness, their own physical body can start to feel like an unsafe environment. They often report feeling disconnected from or even "betrayed" by their physical shape. How do we help clients shift out of a constant, cellular state of survival and return to a state of safety, trust, and connection? In this episode of This is Yoga Therapy, host Michele Lawrence sits down with Meredith Phipps, C-IAYT, founder of Essentia Yoga The...

After sustaining a severe back injury, yoga therapist Jen Peterson, C-IAYT, found herself completely ostracized by modern, fitness-based studio spaces that prioritized rigid, hyper-flexible physical shapes. That turning point sparked a lifelong vow: to champion the truth that the pose is meant to serve the body—not the other way around. In this episode of This is Yoga Therapy, host Michele Lawrence sits down with Jen Peterson, C-IAYT, an Ayurvedic Health Counselor, Reiki Master, and the found...

What if the secret to your next professional breakthrough isn't doing more—but mastering the art of the somatic off-switch? In a high-intensity culture that treats "the hustle" and sleep deprivation as badges of honor, ambitious women are facing a quiet epidemic of chronic exhaustion, nighttime panic, and the dreaded 3:00 AM wake-up call. In this episode of This is Yoga Therapy, host Michele Lawrence sits down with Monica Le Baron, MBA, C-IAYT, a globally recognized sleep expert, certified yo...

In this episode of This is Yoga Therapy, host Michele Lawrence sits down with Renata Sumar Gaertner, C-IAYT, the director and lead teacher of Yoga for All Abilities, carrying forward her mother’s legendary Sonia Sumar Method. Renata began her yoga journey at just three years old and completed her first Hatha training at twelve. Raised alongside her sister, Roberta, who was born with Down Syndrome, Renata witnessed firsthand the profound developmental power of an individualized practice. Bridg...

What happens when traditional public health science meets ancestral wisdom? In this episode, host Michele Lawrence sits down with Melissa Shah, MPH, C-IAYT, the founder of Find Your Breath, to explore the intersection of modern healthcare, lineage reclamation, and the physiological power of sound. Melissa breaks down the Western misconceptions surrounding mantra, reclaiming it as a potent, therapeutic practice. Whether you are a healthcare provider looking to expand your somatic toolkit...