Yoga Therapy Hour with Amy Wheeler The Autonomic Nervous System and Yoga
In this episode of The Yoga Therapy Hour, Amy Wheeler is joined by Joann Lutz, psychotherapist and yoga therapist and educator whose work focuses on nervous system regulation, resilience, and the therapeutic application of yoga across a wide range of life contexts.
Their conversation explores a central theme of this season: that nervous system regulation is not achieved through force, positivity, or performance, but through consistent, attuned yoga/ somatic practice over time. Together, Amy and Joann reflect on the Eight Limbs of Yoga as a coherent and practical framework for supporting autonomic nervous system stability—particularly within a culture that often prioritizes speed, productivity, and intensity over steadiness, reflection, and discernment.
Joann shares how yogic tools support regulation not by suppressing or overriding stress responses, but by creating the internal and relational conditions in which the nervous system can reorganize itself. The discussion emphasizes the importance of pacing, repetition, and relationship—both within one’s personal practice and within therapeutic, educational, and clinical settings. Rather than framing dysregulation as something to eliminate, this episode invites a more nuanced understanding: regulation as a dynamic capacity that is gradually strengthened through appropriate effort, self-study, and compassionate awareness.
Amy and Joann also explore how yoga therapy serves as a bridge between ancient yogic frameworks and modern understandings of the nervous system. They reflect on why practices such as ethical inquiry, self-reflection, breath awareness, and embodied presence remain foundational—not as abstract philosophical concepts, but as practical supports for safety, clarity, adaptability, and sustainable change in daily life.
This episode will resonate with yoga therapists, clinicians, educators, and practitioners who are interested in how nervous system regulation develops over time through intentional practice, relational support, and an integrated view of the human experience.
In This Episode, We Explore
- Why safety, relationship, and pacing are essential for sustainable regulation
- The role of discernment in selecting and applying yogic tools skillfully
- How yoga therapy supports resilience without pushing, bypassing, or overriding lived experience
About the Guest
Joann Lutz is a yoga therapist and educator specializing in nervous system regulation and therapeutic yoga. Her work emphasizes clarity, relational presence, and the thoughtful integration of yogic principles into both personal practice and professional application. She is known for a grounded, compassionate approach that supports individuals and communities in cultivating steadiness amid stress, change, and complexity.
Her website:
Her primary website is https://joannlutz.com/
Linkedin:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joann-lutz-licsw-e-ryt-c-iayt-ba85739/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/lutz124/?hl=en
Book she wrote:
She is the author of Trauma Healing in the Yoga Zone
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If this season supports your personal practice or your professional path, consider subscribing, sharing an episode with a colleague, and following along as the series unfolds across 2026.
School of Integrative Health at NDMU: https://www.ndm.edu/academics/integrative-health
Master of Science in Yoga Therapy at NDMU https://www.ndm.edu/academics/integrative-health/yoga-therapy
Explore NDMU’s Post-Master’s Certificate in Therapeutic Yoga Practices https://www.ndm.edu/academics/integrative-health/yoga-therapy/post-masters-certificate-in-therapeutic-yoga-practices
Try our Post-Bac Ayurveda Certification Program at NDMU: https://www.ndm.edu/academics/integrative-health/ayurveda/post-baccalaureate-ayurveda-certification
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Yoga Therapy Hour Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/yoga-therapy-hour-with-amy-wheeler/id1564687158
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