Exploring Experiential Anatomy in Yoga Therapy Education

In this episode of The Yoga Therapy Hour, Amy welcomes two guests whose work intersects at the heart of yoga therapy education: Leila Stuart and Kimberly Searl from the School of Integrative Health at Notre Dame of Maryland University.

The conversation centers on the integration of Experiential Anatomy into a graduate-level yoga therapy curriculum, and what it means to move beyond memorization of anatomy into direct, embodied understanding.

Rather than approaching anatomy as static knowledge, this dialogue explores anatomy as a lived, perceptual experience—something that can be sensed, refined, and integrated into clinical practice.

In This Conversation

Amy, Leila, and Kimberly reflect on how experiential anatomy supports the development of skilled, perceptive yoga therapists. They explore how students shift from learning about the body to learning through the body.

The discussion highlights the value of integrating subjective experience with objective anatomical knowledge. This approach allows future practitioners to better understand their clients, not just structurally, but relationally and perceptually.

There is also a thoughtful look at how anatomy education can support interoception, clinical reasoning, and therapeutic presence—skills that are essential in yoga therapy but often underdeveloped in traditional anatomy courses.

Key Themes

Embodied Learning in Anatomy

Anatomy becomes more meaningful when it is felt and explored internally, rather than only studied intellectually.

Bridging Science and Experience

The conversation clarifies how experiential anatomy complements traditional biomedical models without replacing them.