This is Yoga Therapy

What if anxiety isn’t an enemy to conquer, but a protective messenger asking for our attention? In a modern landscape where chronic tension, social ambiguity, and constant stimulation have made anxiety feel like society’s default baseline, trying to eliminate anxious sensations is often the wrong therapeutic goal. In this episode of This is Yoga Therapy , host Michele Lawrence sits down with her l...

In this episode, host Michele Lawrence sits down with certified yoga therapist, Inner Peace Yoga Therapy graduate, and founder of Soul Power Sangha, Erin Alexander . Grounded in Erin’s article in the Summer 2026 issue of Yoga Therapy Today — "Thriving Together: Healing Through Posttraumatic Growth and Sangha in Personal Challenge, Postwar Uganda, and a U.S. Women’s Shelter" —this heartfe...

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 intellect...

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...

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...

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 reduct...

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...

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...

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 Lawren...

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 , ho...

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 Syndr...

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, therap...

What does it mean to age well? In 2026, the conversation has officially shifted from lifespan —how many years we live—to healthspan —how well we live those years. In this episode, host Michele Lawrence sits down with pioneering medical doctor and certified yoga therapist Dr. Baxter Bell to discuss the intersection of Western medicine and yoga. Baxter shares his personal evolution from working as a...

What happens when we stop trying to "fix" our bodies and instead learn to negotiate our own terms of healing? In this episode of This is Yoga Therapy , host Michele Lawrence sits down with legendary movement educator, physical therapist, and yoga therapist Sherry Brourman, PT, C-IAYT. With an astonishing 53 years of clinical experience, Sherry shares her profound evolution from the rigid...

What happens when a legacy of "radical rest" meets the modern era of constant noise? In this episode of This is Yoga Therapy , Michele Lawrence sits down with Lizzie Lasater —Restorative Yoga teacher, architect by training, and a vital voice in the evolution of modern yoga. As her mother, yoga pioneer Judith Hanson Lasater , prepares to retire at age 80, Lizzie reflects on the longevity...

Are you a brilliant yoga teacher or therapist who feels paralyzed when it comes to the business side of your practice? You’ve done the trainings, you have the heart, and you’re ready to reduce suffering—but the logistics of running a viable business feel like a separate, cold world. In this episode, Michele sits down with Erin Alexander and Katie Pine , both graduates of Inner Peace Yoga Therapy a...

What happens when deep academic study meets 20 years of dedicated practice? In this episode, Michele sits down with Tova Olsson , a religious studies scholar, author, and PhD candidate at Umeå University. Known for her "user-friendly" approach to yoga and tantra studies, Tova explains how mythology serves as a mirror for our "stuckness," why humor is an essential ingredient for...

This episode is a vital deep dive into a life transition that has been underserved and misunderstood for far too long. Michele sits down with Petra Coveney , the pioneering founder of Menopause Yoga ™ and author of the new book, Menopause Yoga and Wellbeing . Together, they explore why standard yoga often falls short during the menopausal transition and how a specialized, therapeutic approach—root...

This episode is an exploration of what it means to be truly seen. Michele sits down with world-renowned photographer and yoga practitioner Robert Sturman to discuss the intersection of art, trauma, and the human spirit. Robert doesn’t just document yoga; he captures what he calls "figurative poetry." From the halls of maximum-security prisons to the lives of breast cancer survivors and v...

In this episode, I sit down with the legendary Nikki Myers —MBA, Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner, and founder of Y12SR: The Yoga of 12-Step Recovery . Nikki has spent decades at the crossroads of addiction recovery and somatic wisdom, teaching us that while the 12-Step meetings provide the "cognitive map," the yoga mat provides the "somatic laboratory" for true healing. We d...

In this soul-stirring conversation, I am joined by Mark Gardett, PhD , a yoga scholar, teacher, and author of the transformative new book, A Necessary Joy: Yoga and the Quest for Transformation . Mark sits at the powerful intersection of trans identity and ancient yogic philosophy. Together, we explore the idea that "transness" is not just a destination, but a spiritual practice of expan...

What happens when the goal of yoga isn't to "fix" or "cure," but to navigate the complex reality of a chronic condition with grace, humor, and agency? In this episode, we are joined by bestselling author and health journalist Kayla Kurin . Kayla shares her global journey of navigating 50+ countries while managing chronic health issues, offering a refreshing perspective on...

In this  episode, Michele Lawrence sits down with wellness coach, author, and ecotherapy trailblazer Carrie Asby to explore the profound journey of remembering our connection to the wild. In an age dominated by digital noise and perfection burnout, Carrie invites us to move toward the power of presence by making nature a formal partner in our healing work. We dive deep into how Ecotherapy serves a...

In this episode, Michele Lawrence sits down with Radhika Mukhija , founder of Holistic Prana and author of the upcoming book Radiant Rituals (Shambhala/Penguin Random House). Radhika shares her journey from corporate leadership to becoming a leading voice for professional women seeking sustainable well-being. This conversation bridges the gap between ancient Ayurvedic wisdom and modern neuroscienc...

In this episode of This is Yoga Therapy , Michele Lawrence sits down with Susanna Barkataki , C-IAYT—a #1 bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and founder of the Ignite Institute. Together, they explore the intersection of ancient wisdom, social change, and the ethical responsibility of the modern yoga therapist. Susanna shares her profound journey, from being ordained by Thich Nhat Hanh to her curre...