From Pain to Possibility

Today, I'm joined by two inspiring soon-to-be graduates from my IAYT-accredited yoga therapy program: Lynda Spalding and Diane Stanton. Both chose to pursue their certifications later in life and are now successfully connecting with like-minded, similarly aged clients.     Join us for their uplifting stories, as they share the key elements they're currently focused on in their practice—from the vo...

Do you or someone you know struggle with migraines? Have you tried countless remedies, yet still find no lasting relief? Imagine being able to reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines without relying entirely on medication.   In this episode, I'm joined by Maria Hykin, a yoga therapist trainee with firsthand experience in battling migraines. Maria shares her transformative journey, discover...

Today, I'm excited to be joined by Lesley Ann Wernsdorfer, who graduated from my IAYT-accredited yoga therapy program in October 2022. Lesley Ann is sharing her incredible story, including the crossroads she faced during the pandemic and how my teachings resonated with her deeply from the beginning.      Listen in to our conversation as we discuss the distinction between pain management and eradic...

Today is a very special episode as I welcome Laurie-Anne Lemothe back to the podcast. A current trainee and soon-to-be graduate of my yoga therapy accredited by IAYT program, she is here to share her experiences working with neurodivergent clientele.     Listen in to hear Laurie-Anne describe the role of environmental stimuli—including the health professional—when treating a neurodivergent client,...

Continuing my mini-series on reducing and eradicating physical pain, today I'm talking about core stability. It's a topic I've addressed in previous episodes, but I think you'll be surprised to hear how I'm discussing it here.     In this episode, I'm sharing how, whether in your own healing journey or when helping clients, that wired alertness may be impeding rehabilitation. Find out why hypervig...

As I continue my mini-series on reducing and eradicating pain, today I'm exploring how stillness and quiet can be highly effective in our healing journeys. These quiet moments are deliberately restful pauses that we can strategically incorporate into our day or week, allowing us to connect with our bodies.    Tune in as I discuss the many benefits of these still moments, including reduced cortisol...

A key component of Western medicine is standardization, and when trying to standardize the intangible—like a patient's pain—it becomes much harder to navigate. That's why I've developed the gradient scale, which bridges left- and right-brain function with body experience.     Listen in to learn why this tool is so successful at reducing and eradicating pain, as it allows people to make embodied co...

In today's episode, we delve into the art of becoming comfortable with the intangible aspects of pain, which often lacks obvious physical causes. I'll be sharing my proven process for treating clients and guiding them on their journey to pain relief.     Tune in to learn about these four key concepts, including throwing out the traditional pain scale and instead honoring a person's subjective expe...

Continuing my conversations with trainees and graduates from my Therapeutic Yoga Intensive, today I'm speaking with Lisa Workman, a kinesiologist and yoga therapist who, in just one year, has built a thriving business.     Listen in as Lisa discusses in-depth her pursuit of professional autonomy, including what is required to overcome the fear of "jumping ship," how to build self-confidence, as we...

Today, I'm talking about a concept that is key to reducing and eradicating pain. It's so powerful that it's often one of the first ideas I teach health professionals who attend my programs and workshops. However, it truly needs to be experienced to understand how powerful it can be.     Listen in as I explain why this is so integral to the rehabilitation process, including how these movements addr...

Despite feeling productive, you may notice a sense of depletion creeping in. This is the perfect time to come back to your body and relax, which is exactly what this practice will do: bring you back into yourself and help reboot, reconnect, and re-inspire you by settling into a more nourished state.     Take a moment to settle into a safe and comfortable space as I walk you, step by step, through...

It's such a privilege to bring Susan Morrison back to the podcast for another conversation about her experience in the recent Therapeutic Yoga Intensive, specifically how she has applied the concepts learned in that program to her own practice and clientele since graduating.     Listen to hear about concepts such as the healing helix, a client's compelling reason, and meeting patients where they a...

This practice will have you connecting to your breathing and to your sankalpa, or intention, which manifests as a single-sentence affirmation. In addition to bringing awareness to your body and its sensations, we will also be exploring emotional opposites.   So find a safe space to listen as I walk you through, step-by-step, the instructions of this 20-minute R&R Sleep Meditation. And stay tuned f...

Today's episode is the next in our mini-series on bone health and osteoporosis, and it's a special one because returning to the podcast is our good friend Ruth Ann Penny, the veteran educator and teacher of therapeutic and functional yoga for older adults.     Listen in as we discuss the health professional-client relationship, how that relationship impacts the healing process, and ways in which p...

This is a short yoga nidra practice designed to fit into those times when you really want to focus on your listening, feeling, or sense of self. It's also perfect for settling your nervous system, quieting your brain, and becoming more alert—all when you don't have a lot of time.   So, get yourself into a comfortable position, in a safe place, and listen in as I walk you through this short 10-minu...

Welcome to the next episode in the mini-series on bone health and osteoporosis. Today I'm very excited for the return of Mona Warner, Ayurvedic practitioner, Ayurvedic yoga therapist, and yoga teacher trainer, who joins me to offer her perspective on osteoporosis. Tune in as Mona shares why the digestive system is so essential in Ayurveda, how patients can support their digestion to promote tissue...

As we continue our mini-series on bone health, and especially on osteoporosis, I'm speaking with a very special guest today: Melanie Metrow, a physical therapist and trainee in my IAYT program.   In this conversation we're talking about the role fear can play when trying to live with osteoporosis and how that fear impacts our autonomic nervous system (ANS). Listen in as we discuss, in detail, how...

As a special treat, today I'm sharing an extended body scan practice designed to help you settle into your body and create an embodied space with intentional breathing. It is just the trick for getting over a little post-trip jet lag, for times when you're feeling like you're not quite in your body, or if you're feeling a little fried or wired. In those cases, a practice like this can really help...

Welcome to an all-new mini-series about bone health. In this episode, I will be introducing this topic with a very special guest, Laurie-Anne Lamothe, a yoga teacher and soon-to-be graduate of my yoga therapy accredited IAYT program. Listen in as Laurie-Anne discusses why there's so much fear present around osteoporosis and the current care gap that exists between treatment and information provide...

Welcome back to another episode of the podcast in which I'm sharing a breath and body scan—a technique inside of yoga nidra where we can really tune in and heighten the perception of our body while also enabling a level of relaxation. Find a safe and comfortable place to sit or lay down and tune in as I walk you through, step-by-step, this 20-minute body scan and be sure to keep an eye out for mor...

Today's episode of the podcast is special because it was recorded out of some real-life inspiration. It involves me exploring the magic of the healing process and how to achieve that with your clients on a consistent basis. Listen in as I explain why, if we want to make a difference in healing, we need to move from technique and in the direction of transformation. Because there are no binary answe...

It's that time again—time to achieve rest, recuperation, and better breathing with another body scan practice. Only this exercise is meant to be performed while in a side bend as it can be a lovely place to settle through the body. All you need to do is grab a yoga mat, a couple pillows, or even a blanket, and I'll walk you through, step-by-step, the instructions of this side bend body scan. And,...

In the next part of my "Exploring Your Feet" mini-series, I'm talking with two trainees of my recent Yoga Intensive, Lisa Neukomm and Angelique Canonico. Both are here sharing their stories about feet-related issues and how they've benefited from my course to begin healing. Listen in to our conversations as we open your eyes, your heart, and your mind to the healing possibilities in your own feet...

When experiencing pain or discomfort, it's easy to fixate on finding out the next exercise you need to do for your rehabilitation process. That logical processing is necessary but in order to support a transformative healing process, we must also use a different part of our brain.   This practice will allow you to enjoy the benefits of the relaxation response, which slows down brain wave frequency...

In part three of my mini-series, Exploring Your Feet, we're taking a holistic view of healing the feet—a perspective that incorporates both the body and mind. To do so, we'll be looking at our feet as our body's foundation but also as a link in a connected chain. So tune in as I explore kinetic changes and several exercises that can be used to support your clients as they improve the function of t...