Scope of Practice and the Safe Container: Clarity, Trust, and Nervous System Safety in Yoga
About this episode
Amy Wheeler and Dr. Lauren Tober discuss the importance of scope of practice and creating a safe container in yoga teaching and therapy.
In this thoughtful and grounded conversation, Amy Wheeler is joined by Dr. Lauren Tober to explore two foundational pillars of ethical and effective yoga teaching and yoga therapy: scope of practice and the creation of a safe container . The episode begins with a clear and nuanced discussion of scope of practice—what it truly means, why it cannot be standardized across all practitioners, and how clarity protects both students and teachers. Dr. Tober emphasizes that scope of practice is shaped not only by formal training, but also by lived experience, competence, and confidence. Amy reflects on how her background in educational psychology and kinesiology informs her own scope, particularly in the areas of mental health and nervous system regulation. From there, the conversation moves into one of the most practical and quietly powerful parts of Dr. Tober’s work: teaching yoga teachers how to create a safe container . Together, they explore why safety is not just about what is taught, but how space is held—relationally, predictably, and with nervous system awareness. Dr. Tober names an important reality: no space can ever be 100% safe for every person, given the diversity of lived…
People in this episode
Host: Amy Wheeler
Guest: Dr. Lauren Tober
Topics covered
- yoga therapy
- scope of practice
- safe container
- nervous system safety
- ethical teaching
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