The Autonomic Nervous System and Yoga
About this episode
Amy Wheeler and Joann Lutz discuss the relationship between the autonomic nervous system and yoga therapy, emphasizing the importance of regulation through consistent practice.
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…
People in this episode
Host: Amy Wheeler
Guest: Joann Lutz
Topics covered
- autonomic nervous system
- yoga therapy
- nervous system regulation
- Eight Limbs of Yoga
- somatic practice
- therapeutic application of yoga
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Yoga Therapy Hour
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