S1 E13: Breath by Breath: Healing Chronic Illness Through Yoga, Pranayama & Self-Compassion with Amanda Halls

In this episode, athletic therapist and yoga teacher Amanda Halls shares her powerful journey of navigating chronic illness and rediscovering her identity through yoga, Pranayama, and self-compassion.Amanda first encountered yoga at fourteen, learning from a family who lived their yoga—teaching her early lessons about spirituality, connection, and embodied wisdom. Her path led her into Athletic Therapy, where she worked with high-performance athletes, Field Hockey Canada, box lacrosse teams, and spent 14 years at Sheridan College.But when a chronic neurological disorder suddenly changed her ability to move, breathe, and speak, Amanda was forced into a profound transformation. What followed was a journey of loss, resilience, and rebuilding her relationship with her body.Through breathwork, yoga philosophy, and learning to listen to her body,  Amanda found new ways to regulate her nervous system, reclaim her breath, and redefine what healing means.In this episode, you’ll learn about:Early spiritual influences and what it means to live your yogaThe realities of chronic illness and invisible disabilityHow Pranayama can support breath regulation and diaphragm dysfunctionUsing yoga and breathwork to navigate grief, identity loss, and self-doubtMoving from helping others to learning how to heal yourselfFinding resilience, meaning, and connection on the hardest daysAmanda’s story offers hope for anyone living with chronic pain, invisible illness, or the sense of losing who they once were. Her wisdom reminds us that healing isn’t returning to the past — it’s becoming who we’re meant to be, breath by breath.  Amanda's wisdom shines through in this podcast asking important questions for herself, but also questions that we can reflect on.  🌿 Recommended Books + ResourcesWhen Things Fall Apart by Pema Chödrön • Paths To God by Ram Dass • Women Who Run with Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés • The Alter Within by Juliet Diaz • All About Love by bell hooks • Knowing by Tanya Talaga • We Were Made for These Times by Kaira Jewel Lingo • Workbooks:Sacred Powers by Davidji • The Desire Map by Danielle LaporteTo find out more information about Amanda: IG: @therebornalchemist therebornalchemist.caSend us Fan MailSupport the showIf you enjoyed this show, make sure you like, subscribe, follow and download the episode or simply leave a comment.  I would love to hear from you!  Please feel free to share your thoughts, episode ideas or simply to say "hello"!This episode is sponsored by Jackie Vandertuin Therapy.  With over 30 years of practice as a Certified Athletic Therapist and professor of Athletic Therapy, coupled with her experience as a yoga therapist, Jackie Vandertuin MSc, CAT(C), will help guide you in the management and treatment of various disorders including:  low back pain, sprains, strains, anxiety and depression.  Reach out www.jackievandertuintherapy.com  for a free discovery call.If would like to be a guest of this podcast, please reach out to jackie@jackievandertuintherapy with a short bio of your story and how yoga has helped you in your journey of healing.If you are interested in sponsoring an episode or this podcast, reach out to Jackie Vandertuin at [email protected] in touch at:Website:  https://www.jackievandertuintherapy.comInstagram:  jackie_vandertuin_therapyFacebook:  Jackie Vandertuin TherapyTo support the show, feel free to buy me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/theinnerpractice