The Inner Practice-Stories of Healing from the Yoga mat into Life

Jackie Vandertuin
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  • ALTERNATIVE HEALTH

Real people. Real stories. Real healing. The Inner Practice Podcast shares heartfelt journeys from the yoga mat—authentic stories of presence, practice, and personal transformation. Through honest, emotional conversations, host Jackie Vandertuin explores how the healing power of yoga reaches far beyond physical poses, touching everyday life in meaningful and unexpected ways. Each episode dives into real experiences of pain, anxiety, grief, resilience, and growth—revealing how yoga, mindfulness, and breathwork can become tools for grounding, strength, and hope. These are stories of becoming: stories that remind us that healing is possible, transformation is real, and no one walks this journey alone. Join Jackie as she connects with guests who share powerful narratives of struggle turning into insight, suffering turning into strength, and everyday practice turning into deep personal awakening. Discover how lessons learned on the yoga mat translate into life—building resilience, emotional wellbeing, and a path back to the self. May these stories remind you that hope exists. May they help you feel rooted, supported, and empowered to continue your own healing journey. Yoga is more than movement—it’s a way of life that can change you forever. About the Host: Jackie Vandertuin, MSc, CAT(C), is a certified Athletic Therapist, professor, and student yoga therapist. Her personal journey with yoga began as simple exercise but quickly became a lifeline during a period of anxiety and depression. Yoga continues to be her anchor and her healing modality of choice. Learn more at jackievandertuintherapy.com Follow on Instagram: @jackie_vandertuin_therapy

  1. APR 29

    S1 E17 Cancer, Resilience, and Yoga Therapy - Dr. Amy Wheeler on Healing, Nervous System Regulation and Integrative Health

    In this episode of The Inner Practice, host Jackie Vandertuin sits down with Dr. Amy Wheeler—yoga therapist, educator, former varsity athlete, and sports psychologist—to explore what it truly means to live the practices we teach. Amy’s path began in high-performance sport at the University of Northern Iowa, where she developed a deep understanding of discipline, resilience, and the intelligence of the body. Her journey evolved into sports psychology, working with elite athletes, and later into yoga therapy and integrative healthcare education. In 2022, her life shifted profoundly with a diagnosis of cancer of the tongue. What followed was not only a personal healing journey, but a deepening of her work in nervous system regulation, emotional intelligence, and whole-person care. Together, Jackie and Amy explore: The intersection of sport psychology and yoga and integrative medicineWhat it means to regulate the nervous system during illnessHow yoga therapy supports healing in both clinical and personal contextsThe evolving role of integrative health in modern healthcare systemsFinding resilience, meaning, and presence in the face of uncertaintyDr. Wheeler is the Chair of the Department of Yoga Therapy and Ayurveda at Notre Dame of Maryland University, where she trains future practitioners to bring more humanity into healthcare. She is also the CEO of Optimal State of Living and the host of The Yoga Therapy Hour, now in its 10th season. Find Dr. Amy Wheeler at:  Instagram:  OptimalStatewithAmyWheeler Facebook:  Amy Wheeler yoga Learn more about Dr. Wheeler’s work and tools for nervous system regulation:  Optimal State App: https://www.optimalstateapp.com  Listen to Dr. Wheeler's podcast The Yoga Therapy Hour her website at: https://amywheeler.com/podcasts or listen on your favourite podcast apps This conversation is a powerful reminder that healing is not separate from life, it is woven into how we meet each moment, especially the difficult ones. Until next time, take a breath, slow down, and keep returning to your inner practice. Send us Fan Mail Support the show If you enjoyed this show, make sure you like, subscribe, follow and download the episode or simply leave a comment.  I would love to hear from you!  Please feel free to share your thoughts, episode ideas or simply to say "hello"! This episode is sponsored by Jackie Vandertuin Therapy.  With over 30 years of practice as a Certified Athletic Therapist and professor of Athletic Therapy, coupled with her experience as a yoga therapist, Jackie Vandertuin MSc, CAT(C), will help guide you in the management and treatment of various disorders including:  low back pain, sprains, strains, anxiety and depression.  Reach out www.jackievandertuintherapy.com  for a free discovery call. If would like to be a guest of this podcast, please reach out to jackie@jackievandertuintherapy with a short bio of your story and how yoga has helped you in your journey of healing. If you are interested in sponsoring an episode or this podcast, reach out to Jackie Vandertuin at jackie@jackievandertuintherapy.com. Stay in touch at: Website:  https://www.jackievandertuintherapy.com Instagram:  jackie_vandertuin_therapy Facebook:  Jackie Vandertuin Therapy To support the show, feel free to buy me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/theinnerpractice

    1h 4m

  2. SEASON 1, EPISODE 18 TRAILER

    S1 Trailer 18 Facing Cancer Surgery with Calm — Dr. Amy Wheeler on Yoga, Nervous System Regulation, and Finding a Sattvic State

    In this deeply moving trailer of The Inner Practice, Dr. Amy Wheeler shares an intimate reflection on the moments before undergoing surgery for tongue cancer—and how yoga transformed what could have been a state of fear into one of calm, trust, and inner steadiness. Rather than becoming overwhelmed by anxiety, Amy describes how she turned inward, grounding herself in a felt sense of being loved. Drawing on her background in yoga therapy and nervous system regulation, she recognized what happens in the body when we move toward fear and consciously chose a different path. This conversation explores how she accessed a sattvic state, a place of clarity, balance, and well-being, even in the face of uncertainty. It’s a powerful example of what it means to live the practice, not just teach it. Amy’s story is not about bypassing fear, it’s about understanding it, meeting it, and choosing a different internal experience. This episode is for anyone navigating illness, uncertainty, or moments that ask us to go deeper into ourselves. Find Dr. Amy Wheeler at:  Instagram:  OptimalStatewithAmyWheeler Facebook:  Amy Wheeler yoga Learn more about Dr. Wheeler’s work and tools for nervous system regulation:  Optimal State App: https://www.optimalstateapp.com Listen to Dr. Wheeler's podcast The Yoga Therapy Hour her website at: https://amywheeler.com/podcasts or listen on your favourite podcast apps Send us Fan Mail Support the show If you enjoyed this show, make sure you like, subscribe, follow and download the episode or simply leave a comment.  I would love to hear from you!  Please feel free to share your thoughts, episode ideas or simply to say "hello"! This episode is sponsored by Jackie Vandertuin Therapy.  With over 30 years of practice as a Certified Athletic Therapist and professor of Athletic Therapy, coupled with her experience as a yoga therapist, Jackie Vandertuin MSc, CAT(C), will help guide you in the management and treatment of various disorders including:  low back pain, sprains, strains, anxiety and depression.  Reach out www.jackievandertuintherapy.com  for a free discovery call. If would like to be a guest of this podcast, please reach out to jackie@jackievandertuintherapy with a short bio of your story and how yoga has helped you in your journey of healing. If you are interested in sponsoring an episode or this podcast, reach out to Jackie Vandertuin at jackie@jackievandertuintherapy.com. Stay in touch at: Website:  https://www.jackievandertuintherapy.com Instagram:  jackie_vandertuin_therapy Facebook:  Jackie Vandertuin Therapy To support the show, feel free to buy me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/theinnerpractice

    1 min

  3. APR 15

    S1 E16 Questioning Dogma, Choosing Coexistence: A yoga-inspired spiritual journey with Stacie da Ponte

    In this episode of The Inner Practice, host Jackie Vandertuin sits down with Stacie da Ponte for a thoughtful and expansive conversation on spirituality, yoga philosophy, humanism, and the courage to question inherited belief systems. Raised Roman Catholic and surrounded by cultural and religious diversity, Stacie shares a pivotal moment after 9/11 that prompted her to step away from dogma and begin a lifelong journey of inquiry. Through existentialism, philosophy, and consciousness studies, she sought a framework for living that supports coexistence, compassion, and care for both people and the planet. Yoga entered Stacie’s life early—not as fitness, but as meditation, prayer, chanting, and mindful presence. Over time, her practice evolved to include asana, breath, and embodied self-study, revealing the deep connection between the physical body, emotional life, and spiritual growth. She reflects on yoga as a practice—not a religion—that invites curiosity, humility, and lived wisdom rather than blind adherence. This episode explores leaving Plato’s Allegory of a Cave, the value of questioning doctrine, the golden rule of unconditional love, and how yoga offers a slow, honest path toward acceptance, coexistence, and self-understanding. A powerful listen for anyone interested in yoga philosophy, spiritual exploration, humanism, mindfulness, and living with openness in a complex world. Book that Stacie recommends: Rao, A. (2025). Yoga as embodied resistance: A feminist lens on caste, gender, and sacred resilience in yoga history. North Atlantic Books.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show If you enjoyed this show, make sure you like, subscribe, follow and download the episode or simply leave a comment.  I would love to hear from you!  Please feel free to share your thoughts, episode ideas or simply to say "hello"! This episode is sponsored by Jackie Vandertuin Therapy.  With over 30 years of practice as a Certified Athletic Therapist and professor of Athletic Therapy, coupled with her experience as a yoga therapist, Jackie Vandertuin MSc, CAT(C), will help guide you in the management and treatment of various disorders including:  low back pain, sprains, strains, anxiety and depression.  Reach out www.jackievandertuintherapy.com  for a free discovery call. If would like to be a guest of this podcast, please reach out to jackie@jackievandertuintherapy with a short bio of your story and how yoga has helped you in your journey of healing. If you are interested in sponsoring an episode or this podcast, reach out to Jackie Vandertuin at jackie@jackievandertuintherapy.com. Stay in touch at: Website:  https://www.jackievandertuintherapy.com Instagram:  jackie_vandertuin_therapy Facebook:  Jackie Vandertuin Therapy To support the show, feel free to buy me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/theinnerpractice

    1h 7m

  4. SEASON 1, EPISODE 17 TRAILER

    S1 Trailer 17 From Cave to Consciousness: Stacie da Ponte on Plato's allegory and awakening

    In this trailer Stacie describes Plato's Parable of the Cave.  Stacie delves into the philosophical thought of truth, and how those with different experiences or backgrounds may perceive it, much like spirituality or religion.  Stacie describes how a yoga practice helps us move from conditioned perception and unconscious patterns helps us move toward awareness, clarity and a deeper truth. Tune into the full episode where Stacie describes growing up as a Roman Catholic and how her journey through faith and life caused her to question and how yoga and her own personal journey continues to facilitate her questions creating some answers! If you enjoy listening to stories from real people who've experienced transformation and growth from the yoga mat into life, please leave a comment.  If you are interested in being a guest on this podcast, send me an email!  I would love to know your story and possible share it with others! Send us Fan Mail Support the show If you enjoyed this show, make sure you like, subscribe, follow and download the episode or simply leave a comment.  I would love to hear from you!  Please feel free to share your thoughts, episode ideas or simply to say "hello"! This episode is sponsored by Jackie Vandertuin Therapy.  With over 30 years of practice as a Certified Athletic Therapist and professor of Athletic Therapy, coupled with her experience as a yoga therapist, Jackie Vandertuin MSc, CAT(C), will help guide you in the management and treatment of various disorders including:  low back pain, sprains, strains, anxiety and depression.  Reach out www.jackievandertuintherapy.com  for a free discovery call. If would like to be a guest of this podcast, please reach out to jackie@jackievandertuintherapy with a short bio of your story and how yoga has helped you in your journey of healing. If you are interested in sponsoring an episode or this podcast, reach out to Jackie Vandertuin at jackie@jackievandertuintherapy.com. Stay in touch at: Website:  https://www.jackievandertuintherapy.com Instagram:  jackie_vandertuin_therapy Facebook:  Jackie Vandertuin Therapy To support the show, feel free to buy me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/theinnerpractice

    1 min

  5. APR 1

    S1 E 15: When Trauma Comes Home: Understanding PTSD, Loss, and How We Care for Those We Love Part 2 Cailea Davis

    In this second conversation with Cailea Davis, The Inner Practice moves deeper into the lived experience of PTSD within a family system. Together, we explore what it means to witness trauma up close, especially through the lens of of someone who lives with a caregiver who is experiencing PTSD.   Building on our previous episode, Cailea reflects on her father’s life as a Chief Paramedic and the subtle, often misunderstood ways PTSD showed up at home. We talk about recognizing trauma without language for it, the impact PTSD has on loved ones, and how understanding reflection on her life allowed her to heal and understand.  Cailea describes her healing journey and through her wisdom and authenticity allows us to understand that healing for loved ones is possible and that loving yourself is key to those struggling to understand. This episode invites listeners to consider how trauma affects entire families, what meaningful support can look like, and why healing happens through connection, patience, and shared humanity. Listener note: This episode includes discussion of PTSD and suicide. Please listen with care and reach out to local supports if needed. Send us Fan Mail Support the show If you enjoyed this show, make sure you like, subscribe, follow and download the episode or simply leave a comment.  I would love to hear from you!  Please feel free to share your thoughts, episode ideas or simply to say "hello"! This episode is sponsored by Jackie Vandertuin Therapy.  With over 30 years of practice as a Certified Athletic Therapist and professor of Athletic Therapy, coupled with her experience as a yoga therapist, Jackie Vandertuin MSc, CAT(C), will help guide you in the management and treatment of various disorders including:  low back pain, sprains, strains, anxiety and depression.  Reach out www.jackievandertuintherapy.com  for a free discovery call. If would like to be a guest of this podcast, please reach out to jackie@jackievandertuintherapy with a short bio of your story and how yoga has helped you in your journey of healing. If you are interested in sponsoring an episode or this podcast, reach out to Jackie Vandertuin at jackie@jackievandertuintherapy.com. Stay in touch at: Website:  https://www.jackievandertuintherapy.com Instagram:  jackie_vandertuin_therapy Facebook:  Jackie Vandertuin Therapy To support the show, feel free to buy me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/theinnerpractice

    50 min

  6. SEASON 1, EPISODE 16 TRAILER

    S1 Trailer 16 When PTSD Goes Unseen — A Daughter’s Story of Love, Distance, and Understanding with Cailea Davis

    In this deeply moving episode, Cailea Davis shares a powerful and intimate perspective on PTSD, one that is often overlooked: the experience of a child trying to make sense of a parent’s invisible struggle. Through her story, Cailea reflects on growing up not understanding why her father, a first responder, seemed distant, irritable, and unavailable. As a child, she internalized those moments—wondering if she had done something wrong, asking why he didn’t want to spend time with her, and quietly wishing he could simply be more present. What she didn’t yet have the language for was trauma. This conversation gently reveals how PTSD can go undetected, especially within families. It’s not always loud or obvious. Sometimes it shows up in silence, in withdrawal, in short tempers, or in emotional absence. And for children, those gaps are often filled with self-blame.  PTSD can manifest many ways in first responders, including: Hypervigilance and being constantly “on edge”Irritability or sudden angerEmotional numbness or disconnectionAvoidance of family, conversations, or activities once enjoyedSleep disturbances and chronic fatigueDifficulty transitioning from work to home lifeCailea’s story is one of heartbreak, but also of understanding, compassion, and healing. It offers an important reminder: when trauma goes unnamed, it doesn’t disappear, it simply changes shape, often impacting the people closest to us. This episode invites listeners to look beyond behavior and into the deeper layers of human experience, especially within those who serve on the front lines. It is a conversation about seeing, about softening, and about learning to hold both pain and love at the same time. Please take care while listening, as this episode touches on trauma and its impacts on families. If you are someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please reach out to supports in your area.  In Canada or the US, call or text 988 to speak to trained counsellors; you are not alone. Send us Fan Mail Support the show If you enjoyed this show, make sure you like, subscribe, follow and download the episode or simply leave a comment.  I would love to hear from you!  Please feel free to share your thoughts, episode ideas or simply to say "hello"! This episode is sponsored by Jackie Vandertuin Therapy.  With over 30 years of practice as a Certified Athletic Therapist and professor of Athletic Therapy, coupled with her experience as a yoga therapist, Jackie Vandertuin MSc, CAT(C), will help guide you in the management and treatment of various disorders including:  low back pain, sprains, strains, anxiety and depression.  Reach out www.jackievandertuintherapy.com  for a free discovery call. If would like to be a guest of this podcast, please reach out to jackie@jackievandertuintherapy with a short bio of your story and how yoga has helped you in your journey of healing. If you are interested in sponsoring an episode or this podcast, reach out to Jackie Vandertuin at jackie@jackievandertuintherapy.com. Stay in touch at: Website:  https://www.jackievandertuintherapy.com Instagram:  jackie_vandertuin_therapy Facebook:  Jackie Vandertuin Therapy To support the show, feel free to buy me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/theinnerpractice

    1 min

  7. MAR 18

    S1 E14 From Grief to Grounded: The Healing Journey of Cailea Davis- A Story of Grief, Intuition, and the Transformative Power of Yoga

    In this episode of The Inner Practice, we speak with Cailea Davis, a yoga teacher, multidimensional healer whose journey through grief reshaped her life, her work, and her understanding of healing. Raised in a family devoted to caring for others, Cailea felt called to support people from a young age. But everything changed in 2017 when she lost her father to suicide. That loss sent her on a deeply personal journey inward—one that challenged her identity, her capacity to give, and her relationship to stillness. Stepping back from her career, Cailea began exploring new ways of reconnecting with herself. Through yoga, bodywork, and the quiet moments she had long avoided, she discovered that healing doesn’t come from doing more—it comes from learning how to pause, listen, and meet yourself honestly. Today, through her practice Grounded Wellness, Cailea blends athletic therapy, massage, and yoga with an approach centred on presence. Her work is rooted in listening deeply—not just to a client’s words, but to their breath, their body, and the stories held beneath the surface. In this episode, we explore: How grief transformed Cailea’s sense of purposeThe healing power of stillness and self-awarenessWhy listening is the foundation of truly supporting another personHow yoga and bodywork helped her rebuild from the inside outWhat it means to hold space with integrity, care, and compassionThis is a conversation about resilience, reconnection, and the gentle truths that surface when we finally become quiet enough to hear them. If you would like to reach out to Cailea, please follow her at IG @groundedwellnessbc Facebook:  Cailea  A Davis Listener Care Note: This episode includes a discussion of suicide. Please take care when listening and honour your needs.  If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please reach out for support.  In Canada and the US, please call 988 to speak to a trained counsellor.  Don't navigate this journey alone, there are people who want to help you. Send us Fan Mail Support the show If you enjoyed this show, make sure you like, subscribe, follow and download the episode or simply leave a comment.  I would love to hear from you!  Please feel free to share your thoughts, episode ideas or simply to say "hello"! This episode is sponsored by Jackie Vandertuin Therapy.  With over 30 years of practice as a Certified Athletic Therapist and professor of Athletic Therapy, coupled with her experience as a yoga therapist, Jackie Vandertuin MSc, CAT(C), will help guide you in the management and treatment of various disorders including:  low back pain, sprains, strains, anxiety and depression.  Reach out www.jackievandertuintherapy.com  for a free discovery call. If would like to be a guest of this podcast, please reach out to jackie@jackievandertuintherapy with a short bio of your story and how yoga has helped you in your journey of healing. If you are interested in sponsoring an episode or this podcast, reach out to Jackie Vandertuin at jackie@jackievandertuintherapy.com. Stay in touch at: Website:  https://www.jackievandertuintherapy.com Instagram:  jackie_vandertuin_therapy Facebook:  Jackie Vandertuin Therapy To support the show, feel free to buy me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/theinnerpractice

    1h 10m

  8. SEASON 1, EPISODE 15 TRAILER

    S1 Trailer 15: When grief speaks: Cailea Davis

    In this trailer, Cailea speaks of the heartache and pain of the loss of her father to suicide.   Cailea describes her journey through a path that she felt was carved in stone until her father's death sent her on a path of discovery. This heartwarming episode that is filled with wisdom and questioning will let you know that you are not alone in your journey filled with grief.  As Cailea describes in this episode, "The deepest roots grow where the strongest winds blow". This trailer discusses suicide.  Please take care when listening.  If you or someone you know is at risk for suicide, please call 988 in both Canada and the US.  Help is available. Send us Fan Mail Support the show If you enjoyed this show, make sure you like, subscribe, follow and download the episode or simply leave a comment.  I would love to hear from you!  Please feel free to share your thoughts, episode ideas or simply to say "hello"! This episode is sponsored by Jackie Vandertuin Therapy.  With over 30 years of practice as a Certified Athletic Therapist and professor of Athletic Therapy, coupled with her experience as a yoga therapist, Jackie Vandertuin MSc, CAT(C), will help guide you in the management and treatment of various disorders including:  low back pain, sprains, strains, anxiety and depression.  Reach out www.jackievandertuintherapy.com  for a free discovery call. If would like to be a guest of this podcast, please reach out to jackie@jackievandertuintherapy with a short bio of your story and how yoga has helped you in your journey of healing. If you are interested in sponsoring an episode or this podcast, reach out to Jackie Vandertuin at jackie@jackievandertuintherapy.com. Stay in touch at: Website:  https://www.jackievandertuintherapy.com Instagram:  jackie_vandertuin_therapy Facebook:  Jackie Vandertuin Therapy To support the show, feel free to buy me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/theinnerpractice

    1 min
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Real people. Real stories. Real healing. The Inner Practice Podcast shares heartfelt journeys from the yoga mat—authentic stories of presence, practice, and personal transformation. Through honest, emotional conversations, host Jackie Vandertuin explores how the healing power of yoga reaches far beyond physical poses, touching everyday life in meaningful and unexpected ways. Each episode dives into real experiences of pain, anxiety, grief, resilience, and growth—revealing how yoga, mindfulness, and breathwork can become tools for grounding, strength, and hope. These are stories of becoming: stories that remind us that healing is possible, transformation is real, and no one walks this journey alone. Join Jackie as she connects with guests who share powerful narratives of struggle turning into insight, suffering turning into strength, and everyday practice turning into deep personal awakening. Discover how lessons learned on the yoga mat translate into life—building resilience, emotional wellbeing, and a path back to the self. May these stories remind you that hope exists. May they help you feel rooted, supported, and empowered to continue your own healing journey. Yoga is more than movement—it’s a way of life that can change you forever. About the Host: Jackie Vandertuin, MSc, CAT(C), is a certified Athletic Therapist, professor, and student yoga therapist. Her personal journey with yoga began as simple exercise but quickly became a lifeline during a period of anxiety and depression. Yoga continues to be her anchor and her healing modality of choice. Learn more at jackievandertuintherapy.com Follow on Instagram: @jackie_vandertuin_therapy

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