Science & Soul: The Yoga Therapy and Integrative Wellness Summit

The healthcare landscape has officially shifted.
Where do you fit into the future of care?

Healthcare providers and patients alike are actively seeking evidence-based, non-pharmacological interventions that address the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. The silos of the past are breaking down.

This global summit was intentionally designed to serve two distinct groups of passionate individuals who are ready to bridge the gap between traditional clinical science and ancient somatic wisdom.

Healthcare Professional

You're navigating systemic burnout and complex chronic patient cases.

You're looking for deep, evidence-informed somatic tools to enhance patient care—but you don't have a foundational yoga credential yet. This summit is your evidence-based entry point to learn more.

Existing Yoga Teacher

Your students are navigating chronic pain, stress, trauma, and structural issues.

Your 200-hour or 500-hour training is no longer enough to support them safely and effectively. It's time to specialize—and this summit maps the path forward.

The 2-Day Curriculum

Two days.
One transformative roadmap.

Each day builds on the last—from scientific grounding to embodied practice to professional clarity.

July 18

The lay of the land: What is Yoga Therapy and how is it practiced?

Welcome to the opening day of the Science and Soul Yoga Therapy Summit. Today is all about establishing our foundational architecture, bridging the gap between ancient clinical frameworks and modern therapeutic application. We begin by defining the distinct scope of this profession before diving deep into the multidimensional tools used to assess and map both the energetic and structural bodies. Whether you are a healthcare provider seeking a somatic bridge or a yoga teacher ready to learn more about Yoga Therapy, Day 1 will redefine your understanding of whole-person care.

July 19

From Cellular Science to Sustained Practice: The Neurobiology and Business of Yoga Therapy

Day 2 splits our focus into two essential pillars of the modern yoga therapist's journey. In the morning, we ground ourselves in the hard science, oncology research, and clinical pain care models that validate yoga therapy as an evidence-based intervention. In the afternoon, we shift from the clinic to the market, demystifying the care economy to show you exactly how to build a sustainable, high-impact career in hospitals, private practice, and physical therapy networks.

World-Class Educators

Learn from masters of
science and soul.

World-renowned Yoga teachers, healthcare professionals, authors, researchers, and pioneers who have spent decades successfully integrating yoga into modern practice and healthcare.

Host

Summit Host & Opening Presenter

Michele Lawrence

C-IAYT, Founder of Inner Peace Yoga Therapy

Michele is a dedicated practitioner, teacher and leader who believes in yoga's power to transform lives at any stage. As the founder & director of Inner Peace Yoga Therapy, Michele blends her business acumen (MBA) with over two decades of study to lead one of the first accredited 800-hour yoga therapy certification programs. Michele's mission is to make the deeper practices of yoga accessible, helping her students find stability, health, and a profound connection to their true selves.

Joseph Le Page

Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT)

Global pioneer, the founder of Integrative Yoga Therapy (1993), and the co-author of the landmark text Yoga Toolbox for Teachers and Students.

Maria Shamas

RN, MS, C-IAYT

The founder of Functional Yoga Therapy™ and a seasoned community health and rehabilitation specialist who seamlessly integrates Western nursing science with Ayurvedic and advanced assessment techniques.

Neil Pearson

PT, MSc, C-IAYT

Award-winning physical therapist, Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia, and pioneering pain science specialist who integrates cutting-edge neurobiology with compassionate, yoga-informed movement therapies.

Smitha Mallaiah

MSc, C-IAYT

Senior Mind-Body Intervention Specialist at the MD Anderson Cancer Center with two decades of experience clinicalizing yoga therapy, developing oncology research protocols, and designing targeted interventions for cancer patients and caregivers.

Lisa Haake, Ph.D.

LMFT, C-IAYT | Holistic Psychotherapist & Yoga Therapist

As a Yoga Therapist, mental health professional, and founder of Pure Being, an integrative health and wellness center, Lisa integrates yoga therapy with “best practice” from western models of neuroscience, psychology and trauma treatment.

Sarah Cummins

C-IAYT, E-RYT500, CPT, YWT |

As a Yoga Therapist in private practice and owner of Waterfall Yoga, Sarah enjoys inspiring individuals to self-manage their chronic pain through pain science and the holistic teachings of yoga.

Erin Alexander

C-IAYT | Somatic Educator

As a Yoga Therapist in private practice and the founder of All Souls Yoga, Erin is most passionate about creating inclusive, heart-centered communities of compassion, courage, and spiritual connection for those looking to heal and transform through challenge and change.

Janet Liu

MA, C-IAYT | Cancer Center

Janet is a Yoga Therapist specializing in oncology yoga at City of Hope, where she delivers evidence-informed mind–body interventions to support quality of life for patients and caregivers throughout the cancer care continuum. Additionally, she serves as Project Coordinator for the Society for Integrative Oncology’s IMAGINE Project, advancing the integration of massage therapy and acupuncture into oncology care.

Whitney Pasch

C-IAYT | Behavioral Health

Whitney is a full-time Yoga Therapist working at Skyway Behavioral Health hospital, serving clients who are experiencing multiple diagnoses fueled by underlying traumatic stress.

Cheryl Van Demark

PT, C-IAYT, E-RYT500

Cheryl is a Yoga Therapist and Physical Therapist with over 40 years of helping people recognize the gifts of embodiment, awareness, and movement. She co-facilitates a Chronic Pain Self-Care program for Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center in Prescott, Arizona — integrating pain science education with mindfulness, self-compassion, and nervous system self-regulation.

Full Schedule

The complete agenda.
Session by session.

Detailed times and topics for both days of the summit.

01 July 18

9:00 – 10:00 AM MT What is Yoga Therapy? Michele Lawrence, C-IAYT We kick off the summit by grounding ourselves in the true scope, definition, and professionalization of our field. Michele will clarify the critical distinction between a general yoga class and professional yoga therapy. You'll explore how yoga therapy serves as an evidence-informed intervention that safely interfaces with modern healthcare systems to address today's chronic pain, trauma, and stress epidemics.
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM MT Yoga Therapy through the Lens of the 5 Koshas Joseph Le Page To treat the whole person, we must look beyond the physical surface. In this masterclass, industry pioneer Joseph Le Page guides us through the Kosha system — the five-layered map of the human being. We will explore the physical, energetic, psycho-emotional, wisdom, and blissful layers of existence, providing a template for multi-dimensional awareness and care.
12:30 – 2:00 PM MT Assessing the Physical Body Maria Shamas We close our first day by bridging the subtle body with structural mechanics. Maria Shamas will guide us through the clinical art of physical assessment. You will learn how to read posture, look at chronic holding patterns in the tissues, and use precise observation to develop highly personalized, adaptive therapeutic protocols that honor the unique individual sitting in front of you.

02 July 19

9:00 – 10:00 AM MT Yoga & the Nervous System: Understanding and Regulation Dr. Lisa Haake Dive deep into the neurobiology of stress, trauma, and resilience. Dr. Lisa Haake will unpack how specific yoga therapy interventions interface with the autonomic nervous system. You will explore the physiological mechanisms of vagal regulation, learning how to shift clients out of chronic survival states and back into homeostasis while experiencing an intentional, nervous system-restoring practice.
10:15 – 11:15 AM MT Yoga Therapy in Oncology Smitha Mallaiah Discover how evidence-based yoga therapy is utilized as an essential complementary treatment in cancer care. Smitha Mallaiah will share clinical research and condition-specific protocols designed to mitigate the side effects of oncology treatments, reduce cancer-related fatigue, and improve overall well-being.
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM MT Pain Care Yoga Neil Pearson Chronic pain changes the nervous system, requiring a specialized therapeutic approach. Renowned pain care pioneer Neil Pearson will guide us through the integration of modern pain science and specialized yoga therapy. Learn how to move past the fear of movement, safely re-educate the nervous system's pain response, and provide clients with actionable, evidence-based interventions to reclaim ease.
1:00 – 2:00 PM MT Building a Thriving, Sustainable Private Practice Erin Alexander & Sarah Cummins Step behind the scenes of a successful private yoga therapy practice. Erin Alexander and Sarah Cummins will break down the strategies they used to scale their client bases, structure high-value session packages, and build reliable local referral networks. Learn how to translate your clinical passion into a viable, sustainable business model that honors your energy and your bottom line.
2:15 – 3:15 PM MT Integrating Yoga Therapy into Hospital Settings Janet Liu & Whitney Pasch Bringing mind-body medicine into allopathic hospital systems requires a specific professional blueprint. In this panel discussion, Janet Liu and Whitney Pasch will share their on-the-ground experiences working within healthcare settings. Discover how to effectively speak the language of medical clinicians, chart patient progress, and navigate institutional frameworks to deliver care on multidisciplinary medical teams.
3:30 – 4:30 PM MT Yoga Therapy in Integrative Rehabilitation Practice Cheryl Van Demark We close Day 2 by looking at the powerful synergy between yoga therapy and integrative rehabilitation. Cheryl Van Demark will explore how to beautifully bridge biomechanical paradigms with the multi-dimensional, whole-person lens of yoga therapy. Learn how this combined approach creates a comprehensive model for recovery, injury prevention, and lifelong structural longevity. Enjoy some simple practices to implement in your personal and professional life.

Science & Soul:
The Yoga Therapy & Integrative Wellness Summit

The healthcare landscape has officially shifted.
Where do you fit into the future of care?

You're navigating systemic burnout and complex chronic patient cases.

Your students are navigating chronic pain, stress, trauma, and structural issues.

Built for practitioners,
not passive attendees.

Practice Over Lecture

Biopsychosocialspiritual Framing

Dual-Track Clarity

Two days.
One transformative roadmap.

The lay of the land: What is Yoga Therapy and how is it practiced?

From Cellular Science to Sustained Practice: The Neurobiology and Business of Yoga Therapy