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 systemic shifts occurring across medicine, how to clearly communicate the clinical scope of yoga therapy to conventional providers, and practical strategies for building collaborative, equal partnerships across multidisciplinary teams. They also discuss the future of the care economy, highlighting how universities, healthcare systems, and private practitioners can create viable, sustainable career ecosystems without losing touch with the classical roots of yoga.
Key Topics Covered:
Filling the Clinical Literature Gap: The origins of Applying Therapeutic Yoga in Integrative Health and why this textbook marks a crucial step in the academic formalization of yoga therapy.
The Current Healthcare Climate: Why modern healthcare’s shift toward whole-person and lifestyle medicine makes this the pivotal moment for therapeutic yoga integration.
Defining Scope & Clarifying Misconceptions: Moving past vague definitions of "wellness" to articulate the specific clinical and multidimensional scope of yoga therapy to medical providers.
The Imperative of Practical Application: Why focusing on real-world clinical implementation is essential for moving from theoretical models to measurable patient outcomes.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Action: How yoga therapists can effectively interface with physicians, physical therapists, and mental health providers to become trusted members of healthcare teams.
Building a Sustainable Care Ecosystem: Practical pathways for emerging and experienced yoga therapists to build sustainable, impactful careers through partnerships with academic institutions, hospital systems, and private enterprises.
Featured Guests:
Dr. Amy Wheeler, PhD, C-IAYT Department Chair and Professor of Yoga Therapy and Ayurveda at the School of Integrative Health at Notre Dame of Maryland University. Amy leads advanced graduate programs, including the Master of Science in Yoga Therapy, and is a researcher, educator, and former President of the Board of Directors for the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT).
Dr. Marlysa Sullivan, DPT, C-IAYT Physical therapist, yoga therapist, author, and researcher. Marlysa serves as the Physical Therapy Coordinator of the Empowered Veterans Program at the Atlanta VA Healthcare System and holds an adjunct faculty position at Emory University, where she teaches the clinical integration of yoga and mindfulness into physical therapy.
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