The Yoga Rheum

Ep 33: Dr. Rachel Zoffness: The Science of Pain

Dr. Rachel Zoffness is a pain scientist and thought-leader revolutionizing the way we understand and treat pain. She's an assistant clinical professor at UCSF, lectures at Stanford, and consults on the development of pain management programs around the world. Dr. Zoffness’s new book, Tell Me Where It Hurts, drops March 2026 and will be translated into more than 20 languages. Show Notes: * Dr. Rachel Zoffness Website: https://www.zoffness.com/ [https://www.zoffness.com/] * Dr. Zoffness's Books: * Tell Me Where It Hurts, The New Science of Pain and How to Heal: ⁠https://us.amazon.com/Tell-Me-Where-Hurts-Science/dp/1538758148/⁠ [https://us.amazon.com/Tell-Me-Where-Hurts-Science/dp/1538758148/] * Pain Management Workbook: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Pain-Management-Workbook-Powerful-Mindfulness/dp/1684036445⁠ [https://www.amazon.com/Pain-Management-Workbook-Powerful-Mindfulness/dp/1684036445] * The Chronic Pain and Illness Workbook for Teens: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Chronic-Illness-Workbook-Teens-Mindfulness-Based/dp/1684033527/ref=pd_lpo_1?pd_rd_i=1684033527&psc=1⁠ [https://www.amazon.com/Chronic-Illness-Workbook-Teens-Mindfulness-Based/dp/1684033527/ref=pd_lpo_1?pd_rd_i=1684033527&psc=1] * Research: * ⁠Bushnell MC, Ceko M, Low LA. Cognitive and emotional control of pain and its disruption in chronic pain. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2013 Jul;14(7):502-11. doi: 10.1038/nrn3516. Epub 2013 May 30. PMID: 23719569; PMCID: PMC4465351. Cognitive and emotional control of pain and its disruption in chronic pain - PMC⁠ [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41402635/] * Research * Meditation changes the brain: Calderone A, Latella D, Impellizzeri F, de Pasquale P, Famà F, Quartarone A, Calabrò RS. Neurobiological Changes Induced by Mindfulness and Meditation: A Systematic Review. : ⁠https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4465351/⁠ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4465351/] * Biomedicines. 2024 Nov 15;12(11):2613. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines12112613. PMID: 39595177; PMCID: PMC11591838. Neurobiological Changes Induced by Mindfulness and Meditation: A Systematic Review - PMC: ⁠https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11591838/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11591838/]

Ep 32: Emily JohnsonFrom Diagnosis to Empowerment: on Arthritis, Food, and Yoga

In the season premiere of The Yoga Rheum, host Steffany Moonaz is joined by Emily Johnson, widely known as The Arthritis Foodie, for an honest and empowering conversation about living with arthritis. Emily shares her personal journey of being diagnosed with arthritis and how that moment reshaped her relationship with her body, food, and self-care. Together, Steffany and Emily explore how yoga and meditation can support people living with arthritis and chronic pain, the role of food and nutrition in overall well-being, and why lived experience is such an essential part of arthritis care and education. This conversation blends personal story with evidence-informed insight and sets the tone for the season ahead. It is an episode rooted in compassion, curiosity, and practical support for people navigating arthritis, chronic pain, or fatigue, as well as for yoga and wellness professionals seeking a deeper, more inclusive understanding of these experiences. * Emily’s story of being diagnosed with arthritis * Food for arthritis and nourishing the body with intention * Her journey with yoga and meditation * Emily’s books and her work within the arthritis community Show Notes - Emily's Website: https://arthritisfoodie.com/ [https://arthritisfoodie.com/] -Emily's Book: Beat Arthritis Naturally : https://www.amazon.com/Beat-Arthritis-Naturally-Supercharge-lifestyle-ebook/dp/B08HY88CK2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1BJ8Y2OR5IMH0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Fw8dS6ejzg4uACYSFIkiaNr-DpQjbkG9uSB76MLrOHzc12Bly0QUZo_i4QEO7lZFZY146Oknttq0y-LvyulRAS8Qofsd_--XZ44vS8QGQPVYZHWl62bXNQ4PzvVWFDY8uZ0_A21JlYt_Jw3h7ptn3Q.BojihVU85lZii0F4R7c5vdy8XwVjPY33GIOTDpdEDSE&dib_tag=se&keywords=emily+johnson+arthritis&qid=1769810485&sprefix=emily+johnson+arthritis+%2Caps%2C228&sr=8-1 [https://www.amazon.com/Beat-Arthritis-Naturally-Supercharge-lifestyle-ebook/dp/B08HY88CK2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1BJ8Y2OR5IMH0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Fw8dS6ejzg4uACYSFIkiaNr-DpQjbkG9uSB76MLrOHzc12Bly0QUZo_i4QEO7lZFZY146Oknttq0y-LvyulRAS8Qofsd_--XZ44vS8QGQPVYZHWl62bXNQ4PzvVWFDY8uZ0_A21JlYt_Jw3h7ptn3Q.BojihVU85lZii0F4R7c5vdy8XwVjPY33GIOTDpdEDSE&dib_tag=se&keywords=emily+johnson+arthritis&qid=1769810485&sprefix=emily+johnson+arthritis+%2Caps%2C228&sr=8-1] -Emily's Book: Eat Well With Arthritis: https://www.amazon.com/Eat-Well-Arthritis-delicious-recipes-ebook/dp/B0BJZW4ZG9?ref_=ast_author_dp&th=1&psc=1 [https://www.amazon.com/Eat-Well-Arthritis-delicious-recipes-ebook/dp/B0BJZW4ZG9?ref_=ast_author_dp&th=1&psc=1] - Steffany's Episode of Live Well With Arthritis, with Emily Johnson: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6vfODJFyHiKWxNMbMrs0gy?si=iqoRWjN5Rx6L_xyH0wywWA [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6vfODJFyHiKWxNMbMrs0gy?si=iqoRWjN5Rx6L_xyH0wywWA] - Intro To Meditation Self-Paced Course: https://yoga-for-arthritis.thinkific.com/courses/meditation-course-8-weeks-self-paced [https://yoga-for-arthritis.thinkific.com/courses/meditation-course-8-weeks-self-paced]

Episode 31:Ellyn Ito and Eddie Haaz - Vagal Nerve Stimulation and Pain

Ellyn Ito is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Innerstill, a women-led neurotechnology company reimagining healing at the root with non-invasive, drug-free neuromodulation solutions that restore balance to the nervous system. She brings over 20 years of operational execution experience across large enterprises, middle-market companies, and start-ups. Prior to founding Innerstill, Ellyn invested in and served as a key leader at Helius Medical Technologies, where she helped bring a non-surgical trigeminal nerve stimulator to market in Canada and the U.S. She also founded and led Sigma Integrated Resources, a management consulting firm that scaled B2B and D2C operations in industries spanning life sciences, healthcare, IoT, and manufacturing.Ellyn has also served in senior roles with Granahan McCourt Capital, providing strategic and interim executive leadership to its technology and media portfolio companies. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Redeemer Health Systems, the Executive Board of the Gail Birenbaum Leadership Council at Rider University, and is the Founder and Executive Director of Seeds to Sew International, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls in compromised communities. Edward (Eddie) Haaz Eddie is founder of Corporate Solutions International, LLC., a Bucks County, Pennsylvania consulting firm that specializes in assisting organizations with various Human Resource related needs focusing on health and behavior in the workplace. These activities include guiding corporate health and wellness initiatives, team building, (Executive) coaching and assisting in the management of challenging employees. Clients include “Fortune 100/500” companies as well as small to mid-sized organizations.For 15 years Eddie was President/COO of Corporate Health Solutions, Inc., a consulting firm that specialized in guiding organizations in pursuit of a “Culture of Wellness”. CHS embedded medical/behavioral teams in the “C-Suite” and provided onsite Annual Health Assessments with biometric screenings, coaching and physician executive services. Prior to that Eddie held various positions in the mental health and consulting fields, which have included drug and alcohol research/training, in-patient and outpatient psychiatric/substance abuse services, a private practice and 33 years as the head of Mental Health Consultants, a behavioral health and employee assistance company.An international speaker, Eddie is a Board Certified Medical Psychotherapist and frequently presents information on holistic approaches to wellness. He has been a trainer for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) for over fifteen years and the Pennsylvania State Department of Health (PADOH), for twenty + years. In addition, Mr. Haaz has served as a board member for the Employee Assistance Society of North America (EASNA) for twelve years and is a Past President. He served as a Senior Fellow at the Jefferson School of Population Health at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia PA. and now sits on the Executive Board of Directors at the Livengrin Foundation, a drug and alcohol treatment facility headquartered in Bensalem, PA as well as serves as a board member for Innerstill, a company that is developing and launching non-invasive neuromodulation technologies. Show Notes and Resources: * https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mafsinu1uy7m01cz9oa53/mindvybe-two-page-overview-6.2025-copy.pdf?rlkey=9f1rcob1lmq91kpfwt2fug5tb&dl=0 [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mafsinu1uy7m01cz9oa53/mindvybe-two-page-overview-6.2025-copy.pdf?rlkey=9f1rcob1lmq91kpfwt2fug5tb&dl=0] * https://www.innerstillhealth.com/ [https://www.innerstillhealth.com/] * https://mindvybe.com/ [https://mindvybe.com/] * Vagal Nerve for Arthritis Abstract: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29844694/ [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29844694/]

Episode 30: Leila Stuart – Somatics, Surrender, and the Wisdom of Living with Chronic Illness

Dr. Steffany Moonaz welcomes Leila Stuart—clinical massage therapist, yoga teacher, and somatic educator—who shares her deeply personal journey of navigating psoriatic arthritis and chronic fatigue while continuing to teach, learn, and live fully. With decades of experience teaching embodied movement and leading innovative yoga trainings, Leila brings a profound understanding of somatic reprogramming, self-agency, and healing from within. Topics covered in this episode include: * Her winding road to a rheumatic disease diagnosis * How somatic practices helped her rebuild trust with her body and participate actively in her healing * The power of non-physical yoga practices—meditation, breathwork, and Yoga Nidra—during times of deep physical limitation * Navigating the conventional medical system alongside alternative paths, including the Marshall Protocol, Ayurvedic medicine, and Panchakarma * What it means to negotiate care with a rheumatologist and advocate for your own body’s truth * Spoon theory and the right use of energy * Letting go of identity, practicing non-attachment, and reaching the threshold of surrender when living with a chronic condition Leila’s story is not just about illness—it’s about presence, practice, and reclaiming the wisdom of the body. Her words remind us: “It’s not what you do, it’s how you do it… and can you bring all of you to it?” Whether you're a yoga professional, healthcare provider, or someone living with arthritis or chronic pain, this episode offers insight, compassion, and inspiration. About Leila: Leila Stuart BA, LLB, C-IAYT, is a Registered Massage Therapist (retired) and has practiced and taught yoga for over 40 years. A warm and compassionate teacher, she offers accessible teachings on experiential anatomy, movement repatterning and embodiment of the deeper teachings of yoga as pathways to self-healing. With a deep love and intuitive knowledge of experiential anatomy, Leila specializes in transforming academic information into somatic awareness and life changing experience. She is the author of Pathways to a Centered Body, co-authored with Donna Farhi, The Great Yoga Handbook, and Experiential Anatomy, Therapeutic Applications of Embodied Movement and Awareness. Leila teaches in Canada and internationally. Show Notes: -To learn more about Leila visit her website: https://leilastuart.com/ [https://leilastuart.com/] -Ayurveda Course, Intro Into Ayurveda https://yoga-for-arthritis.thinkific.com/courses/intro-to-ayurveda [https://yoga-for-arthritis.thinkific.com/courses/intro-to-ayurveda] -200hr Come As You Are Yoga Teacher Training Beginning January 8th: https://yoga-for-arthritis.thinkific.com/courses/hybrid-online-yoga-for-arthritis-200-hour-yoga-teacher-training [https://yoga-for-arthritis.thinkific.com/courses/hybrid-online-yoga-for-arthritis-200-hour-yoga-teacher-training] -Experiential Anatomy by Leila Stuart https://amzn.to/3IQah0Y [https://amzn.to/3IQah0Y] -Pathways to a Centered Body: Gentle Yoga Therapy for Core Stability, Healing Back Pain, and Moving With Ease By Leila Stuart and Donna Farhi: https://amzn.to/45olIpg [https://amzn.to/45olIpg]

Ep 29: Rachel Krentzman: Yoga Therapy, Scoliosis, and the Healing Journey

In this inspiring episode of The Yoga Rheum, Dr. Steffany Moonaz sits down with Rachel Krentzman—physical therapist, certified yoga therapist, Hakomi psychotherapist, and author—to explore the deeply interconnected worlds of scoliosis, yoga therapy, and emotional healing. Rachel shares insights from over two decades of integrating yoga into physical therapy, her groundbreaking work in scoliosis care, and how psychotherapy practices like Hakomi inform her holistic approach. About Rachel: Rachel Krentzman PT, E-RYT, C-IAYT is a physical therapist, certified yoga therapist and Hakomi psychotherapist. She is the author of two books, Yoga for a Happy Back: A Teacher’s Guide to Spinal Health through Yoga Therapy and Scoliosis, Yoga Therapy and The Art of Letting. A graduate of McGill University, Rachel completed her 2000-hour teacher training with Aadil Palkhivala at the College of Purna Yoga and has studied intensively with Judith Hanson Lasater and Aman Keays. Rachel has been integrating yoga into her physical therapy practice for over 20 years and is the co-founder of Wisdom-Body Yoga Therapy – the first 850 hour Yoga Therapy training program in the Middle East. She has served on the accreditation committee for IAYT (the International Association of Yoga Therapists) and is passionate about integrating yoga into the healthcare system. Rachel offers online trainings for yoga professionals and the general public on Yoga for Spinal Health and Scoliosis. For more information, visit: https://happybackyoga.com [https://happybackyoga.com] Show Notes: * Taking Root to Fly: Articles on Functional Anatomy :https://a.co/d/hZSbZ0n [https://a.co/d/hZSbZ0n] * As Is, Memoir by Rachel: https://a.co/d/3T6IIIc [https://a.co/d/3T6IIIc] * Rachels' Website: https://happybackyoga.com⁠ [https://happybackyoga.com] * Hakomi Method: https://hakomiinstitute.com/about/what-is-hakomi/ [https://hakomiinstitute.com/about/what-is-hakomi/] * Laban Movement Analysis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laban_movement_analysis [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laban_movement_analysis] * Scoliosis, Yoga Therapy, and the Art of Letting Go: https://a.co/d/6CdfAX4 [https://a.co/d/6CdfAX4] * Yoga for a Happy Back: https://a.co/d/4QqB3a9 [https://a.co/d/4QqB3a9] * Work Privately with Dr. Steffany Moonaz: https://www.arthritis.yoga/work-with-dr-steffany-moonaz [https://www.arthritis.yoga/work-with-dr-steffany-moonaz] * Driving Home, Steffany's Memoir: https://www.arthritis.yoga/store-yoga-for-arthritis/p/driving-home-papercopy-tbgmh [https://www.arthritis.yoga/store-yoga-for-arthritis/p/driving-home-papercopy-tbgmh]