Episode Summary:

In this intimate and empowering conversation, Amy Wheeler sits down with yoga therapist, postpartum doula, and mother of two, Alexi Neal, to explore what happens when the yoga practice you’ve loved for decades no longer serves your body in the same way.

Alexi shares her journey from starting yoga at age 12, falling in love with the strength and presence it gave her, to discovering—through chronic pain, pelvic dysfunction, and motherhood—that her hypermobility was both a blessing and a challenge. She opens up about the difficulty of letting go of deep, stretchy poses that felt emotionally nourishing but were damaging her SI joints and pelvic stability.

The conversation dives into:

• How cultural narratives around motherhood and women’s health leave many women without the support they need
• The physical and emotional realities of hypermobility and pelvic floor dysfunction
• Why heavy strength training became a surprising but essential part of Alexi’s healing and empowerment
• How honoring boundaries in movement is an act of self-respect and long-term sustainability
• The “village” mindset and how it applies not only to mothering but to self-care

Alexi’s story is an invitation to listen deeply to your body, to adapt your practice as life changes, and to recognize that true yoga is not performance—it’s about honoring what supports your wholeness today.

Connect with Alexi Neal:

• Website: soulfulsomatics.com (Soulful with two L’s)
• Instagram: @soulfullexi

Plans of Study for NDMU Yoga Therapy

https://livendm.sharepoint.com/sites/Academics/SitePages/Yoga-Therapy-Plans-of-Study.aspx?csf=1&web=1&share=EeZhGMscDMFOl1Lk0PD6gOsBTxvKkWvbfjhHLmMMuNpLFw&e=ApOX4h&CID=45c542e6-5528-4c68-a8ac-5596fb4fc161

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, designed specifically for licensed healthcare professionals. 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

#IntegrativeHealth #HealthcareEducation #InterprofessionalEducation #GraduateSchool #NDMUproud #SOIHproud #SOIHYoga #SOIHAyurveda #NDMUYoga #NDMUAyurveda #SOIHGraduateSchool

Episode Summary

In this powerful and intimate episode, Amy welcomes Christi Sims, a yoga teacher from Texas who shares her personal story of recovery after a devastating diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). At one point unable to walk, talk, or process language, Christi was told by doctors that her condition was irreversible. Through faith, deep surrender, and a daily yoga practice guided by Dr. Nydia Darby, Christi slowly rewired her brain and body from the inside out.

This is the first time Christi has shared her full story publicly, with no website to promote—just a heartfelt desire to help others find hope and healing. Her journey is a testament to what is possible when the soul says, “Take me or heal me,” and both surrender and disciplined daily practice follow.

What You’ll Learn

• What it’s like to be diagnosed with MS and lose basic motor and cognitive function
• How yoga helped Christi rebuild her neural pathways and regain her independence
• The role of prāṇa, breathwork, and the mind-body-spirit connection in neurological healing
• Why surrendering control and taking full responsibility are not opposites, but companions
• The power of simple, consistent daily practice—starting with sitting and breathing

Connect with Christi

If you or someone you love is navigating a neurological condition and would like to connect with Christi, you can reach her directly at: cksims1@yahoo.com

(Shared with permission. Please be respectful.)

Resources & Mentions

Dr. Nydia Darby – Yoga therapist and mentor to Christi

• Laurel Grace Yoga Studio, New Braunfels, TX
• Optimal State – www.theoptimalstate.com
• Download the Optimal State App for daily breath, awareness, and movement practices
• Subscribe to the Podcast and share this episode with someone who needs hope

Thank You, Christi

Your story is a living example of Yoga Sūtra 2.1 in action—discipline, self-study, and surrender. May your journey continue to inspire others to walk toward healing, even when the path is uncertain.

Episode Overview:

In one of the most vulnerable and transformative conversations to date, Amy Wheeler sits down with Naomi Finkelstein, a yoga therapist and founder of The Sanctuary, to explore what it means to reclaim body autonomy, live in alignment with truth, and practice yoga from a foundation of ahiṁsā

—non-harming—toward oneself.

Naomi shares her deeply personal story of being sent to weight-loss camps as a teen, struggling with disordered eating for decades, and ultimately being diagnosed with anorexia at age 40—all while living in a larger body. She speaks honestly about how societal fatphobia masked her illness, and how yoga became both a site of harm and, ultimately, a path to healing.

This conversation redefines what it means to "do yoga." It's not about performance. It's about presence, choice, and radical self-respect.

Amy openly reflects on how this dialogue challenged her own internalized body narratives. This is not just a podcast episode; it’s an invitation into deep nervous system work, self-reflection, and community reimagining.

Topics Covered:

• Naomi’s journey through fatphobia, eating disorder recovery, and reclaiming the word “fat” as a neutral descriptor
• The harm caused by body-normative yoga spaces—and how to create truly inclusive ones
• Trauma-informed yoga through the lens of personal choice and body consent
• How shifting your internal dialogue during practice changes the entire nervous system response
• What it means to build a yoga community rooted in safety, autonomy, and interdependence
• Why health cannot be measured by weight alone—and how to practice viveka (discernment) in medical spaces
• A reframe of tapas and ahiṁsā
• that honors those recovering from disordered eating

Key Quotes:

“I had to relearn what it meant to show up on my mat—from a place of choice, not punishment.”

— Naomi Finkelstein

“The sensation you’re feeling right now? That’s what healing feels like.”

— Naomi Finkelstein

“If yoga isn’t here to bring us home to ourselves, what are we doing?”

— Amy Wheeler

Learn More About Naomi:

Naomi Finkelstein, C-IAYT, is a certified yoga therapist, trauma-informed educator, and founder of The Sanctuary, an inclusive online community supporting people in larger bodies through movement, mindfulness, and nervous system regulation. Her October courses include:

• Befriending the Body – An 8-week gentle yoga journey for those beginning or returning to practice
• Yoga Nidrā for Deep Rest – A 6-week guided series to support nervous system recovery

Learn more at NaomiFinkelstein.com

Listener Note:

This episode may stir deep emotions, especially for those in eating disorder recovery or with long-term body image struggles. We invite you to listen slowly, take breaks, and notice your breath and sensations. Healing is nonlinear. Come back to the episode as needed.