Ahimsa in Action: What Aging Teaches Us About Kindness and Strength
About this episode
The episode explores the concept of ahimsa in the context of aging and yoga therapy through a conversation between Amy Wheeler and Ashley McKeachie.
Episode Overview In this conversation, Amy Wheeler sits down with yoga therapist and educator Ashley McKeachie to explore the lived experience of ahimsa —non-harming—as it unfolds in real time with aging bodies and evolving nervous systems. Ashley shares how her work with older adults (ages 55–95+) has reshaped her understanding of yoga therapy, shifting from performance and outcomes toward presence, pacing, and relational care. What emerges is a grounded and practical view of yoga as a system that supports resilience, dignity, and connection across the lifespan. This episode offers a clear lens into how yoga philosophy becomes actionable—not as theory, but as daily practice. About Ashley McKeachie Ashley McKeachie is a yoga therapist, educator, and department chair at Saddleback College’s Emeritus Institute in Southern California. She teaches large-scale classes in yoga, balance, mobility, and wellness for older adults, integrating yoga therapy, breathwork, and philosophy into accessible, community-based education. Her work centers on helping individuals build confidence, regulate their nervous systems, and maintain independence through thoughtful, adaptable practices. Key…
More episodes of Yoga Therapy Hour with Amy Wheeler
- Santoṣa: Meeting Life Without Resistance
- Daily Practice, Inner Guidance, and the Living Experience of Sādhana with Lee Mejewski
- The Yamas and the Neuroscience of Trust: From Survival to Steady Ground
- Regulating the Inner Landscape: Mala Cunningham on Anxiety, Awareness, and the Nervous System
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Yoga Therapy Hour with Amy Wheeler podcast page.