Shows
The Yoga RheumEpisode 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 diagnosisHow somatic practices helped her rebuild trust with her body and participate actively in her healingTh...
2025-07-2954 min
The Yoga RheumEp 29: Rachel Krentzman: Yoga Therapy, Scoliosis, and the Healing JourneyIn 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 Happ...
2025-07-111h 09
Yoga Therapy Hour with Amy WheelerDriving Home to the Self: Yoga, Research, and Recovery with Dr. Steffany MoonazEpisode Summary: In this deeply moving and powerful episode, Amy Wheeler sits down with Dr. Steffany Moonaz—yoga researcher, author, educator, and founder of Yoga for Arthritis—to discuss her professional contributions to the field of yoga therapy, and the personal story that nearly shattered everything she knew about herself.What begins as a conversation about the CLARIFY Guidelines and the evolution of yoga research quickly transitions into a vulnerable and heartfelt dialogue about grief, identity, traumatic brain injury (TBI), caregiving, and the long, often invisible road to healing.Dr. Moonaz shares the inspira...
2025-06-271h 06
Yoga With Jake PodcastDr. Steffany Moonaz: Yoga for Arthritis. Yoga vs. PT for Arthritis. A Comprehensive Guide to Arthritis.Dr. Steffany Moonaz is a yoga therapist and researcher in Southern California. She serves as Research Director at Southern California University of Health Sciences and Professor at the Maryland University of Integrative Health. She became curious about the importance of mind-body activities at a young age and has always had a passion and a curiosity about the healing power of mindful movement. She completed undergraduate work in biology and dance at Oberlin College, earned an MFA from University of Maryland as well as a CMA from the Laban Institute and spent eight years at Johns Hopkins University, helping to...
2025-06-091h 40
The Yoga RheumEp 28: Cheri Dostal Ryba: Chronic Pain & Pelvic Health The Yoga Therapy ConnectionTo learn more from Cheri and Dr. Steffany Moonaz, be sure to join the upcoming Pelvic Yoga Book Summit! This free 2-day virtual event will feature 13 inspiring presentations on pelvic health and yoga therapy, with Dr. Steffany Moonaz as a guest speaker. The summit will delve into the connection between pelvic health, chronic pain, and how yoga therapy can support healing and resilience.Use code STEFFANY10 to save on the All Access Pass, which includes extended access to the summit, bonus content, and CE credits. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to deepen yo...
2025-04-2559 min
The Yoga RheumEp 27: Meredith Hirsh: Navigating the Healthcare World as a Patient or Patient AdvocateAbout Meredith HirshMeredith Hirsh, MBA, FACMPE As Co-Founder and Vice President of The Hirsh Center, Meredith is the catalyst behind the practice's growth from one rheumatologist and four employees to a team of 40 healthcare professionals dedicated to the patient experience. Responsible for the management of the clinical, administrative, and billing departments, Meredith oversees business development, employee relations, and contracting at The Hirsh Center.Born in North Miami Beach and raised primarily in the Midwest, Meredith returned to her Florida roots to graduate with her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida wit...
2025-03-0357 min
The Yoga RheumEp 26: Joshua Pearce: 3D Printing Adaptive AidsJoshua Pearce is the Thompson Chair of Innovation at Western University in Canada. He runs the Free Appropriate Sustainability Technology research group that finds collaborative solutions to problems in sustainability and to reduce poverty.Show Notes: Adaptive Aids for Arthritis Patients: https://www.appropedia.org/Economic_Potential_for_Distributed_Manufacturing_of_Adaptive_Aids_for_Arthritis_Patients_in_the_U.S.#In_the_News Study on Adaptive Aids : https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3417/3/4/89 Study on Open Source Design for Low Cost Walkers: https://www.mdpi.com/24...
2025-02-1558 min
Working HealthcareEp. 32 - Steffany Moonaz: a Yogi’s Guidance for the New YearJoin Meredith Hirsh as she sits down with yoga therapist, health coach and research scientist Steffany Moonaz to discuss how to take better care of ourselves heading into the new year. Two-time author and Johns Hopkins trained PhD, Steffany shares what inspired her to incorporate yoga into her research. Learn more about yoga teachings and how to integrate meditation into your life – even if you’ve never done it. Steffany offers examples of how to blend traditional medicine with non-traditional, eastern-style approaches to live a centered existence. By incorporating Steffany’s secret sauce, even overachievers can find ways to cope t...
2024-12-3144 min
The Yoga RheumEp 25: Priyanka Varma: Exploring Yoga Therapy for Complex CasesPriaynak Varm is a certified Yoga Therapist (recognized by the International Association of Yoga Therapists), RYT-500 (registered with Yoga Alliance), Pilates instructor, Energy worker, sound healer, and has expertise in working with people having chronic pain, Arthritis, chronic spinal conditions, and medical trauma.
She has degrees in statistics and population sciences and is trained in the Indian classical dance form called Kathak. She's a co-founder of PranaZone, whose motto is, Breath is Joy.
Presently, she's working with seniors in assisted living and memory care facilities teaching private one-on-one yoga therapy sessions in p...
2024-12-131h 14
The Yoga RheumEp 24: Eddie Haaz- Creating A Wellness Culture in the WorkplaceFor 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, he's had a 43-year private practice and spent 33 years as the head of Mental Health Consultants, a behavioral health and employee assistance company...
2024-10-211h 05
The Yoga RheumEp. 24: Eddie Haaz: Creating a Wellness Culture in the WorkplaceFor 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, he's had a 43-year private practice and spent 33 years as the head of Mental Health Consultants, a behavioral health and employee assistance company...
2024-10-211h 04
The Yoga RheumEp 23. Dr. Brit Alder, Elizabeth Clark, & Erica Cerquetti : What is POTS and the Autonomic Nervous SystemIn this episode of The Yoga Rheum Podcast, Dr. Steffany Moonaz is joined by three exceptional guests from the Johns Hopkins POTS Clinic:
Dr. Brit Adler: A renowned rheumatologist and physician scientist, Dr. Adler has developed a keen interest in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). She is currently delving into research on immune dysregulation in POTS, providing valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of this condition.
Elizabeth Clark: A dedicated nurse practitioner who not only treats POTS patients but also lives with the condition herself. Elizabeth's personal experience with POTS gives her a unique and...
2024-08-1658 min
The Yoga RheumEp 22. Dr. Nikki Tugnet, MD, FRACP - Where Yoga and Rheumatology MeetDr Nikki Tugnet MD, FRACP is a Rheumatologist in clinical practice in Auckland, New Zealand, an RYT®500 yoga teacher and a Yoga Medicine® Therapeutic Specialist. She specializes in working one-to-one with people with various forms of autoimmune disease and arthritis, providing online Yoga for Autoimmunity and arthritis.Her clinical research interest is in Systemic Lupus (SLE) and she is an investigator for one of the world's largest lupus research groups, the Asia-Pacific Lupus Collaboration (APLC).Nikki integrates yoga therapeutics within her medical practice, providing whole person healthcare. She is passionate about sharing the health system of yoga so that pe...
2024-05-031h 00
The Yoga RheumEp 21. Julia McNally - Yoga, Wellness, and Serving the Community with the RA YogiJulia McNally is an experienced yoga teacher living with Rheumatoid Arthritis living in Montreal. Before pursuing yoga, Julia spent over 10 years working as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor in the communtiy, a career that she had to leave behind because of the progression of her arthritis. Julia used her personal experience with arthritis to find a new purpose and to help others through accessible yoga.Julia is a certified Yoga Teacher and Chair Yoga Teacher. She has also completed her YFA Level I - Yoga For Arthritis Teacher Training with Dr. Steffany Moonaz, recognized by the IAYT...
2024-04-0555 min
Reinvention Ready - Making the Rest of Your Life Your BEST Life!Yoga for Arthritis - How Yoga and Meditation can improve our lives with Dr. Steffany MoonazSteffany Moonaz, PhD, C-IAYT, Founder and Director of Yoga for Arthritis joins Janie Gianotsos for a discussion on the benefits of yoga for people who struggle with arthritis, especially as we grow older. Steffany also busts some meditation myths and explains how it can be accessible to everyone.
2024-02-0650 min
Live Yes! With ArthritisHow Yoga Benefits ArthritisYoga is a wonderful way to increase flexibility, range of motion, balance and strength to support arthritic joints and improve mental health. In this episode, our guest host and expert explore these and other benefits of yoga for arthritis, and share their experiences and modifications, as well as tips to starting and sticking with your yoga practice.
*Visit the Live Yes! With Arthritis Podcast episode page get show notes, additional resources and read the full transcript: https://bit.ly/LiveYes_Ep96 *
We want to hear from you. Tell us what you think about the Live...
2024-01-3031 min
The Expecting AerialistNavigate Pregnancy, Postpartum & A Movement Practice with Rheumatoid Arthritis with Dr. Steffany MoonazDr. Steffany Moonaz is a yoga therapist and researcher. She completed undergraduate work in biology and dance at Oberlin College, earned a MFA from University of Maryland and spent eight years at Johns Hopkins University, helping to develop and evaluate a yoga program for individuals with the chronic diseases of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, which became the basis for her PhD in public health. Dr. Steffany has a podcast The Yoga Rhuem and authored the book Yoga Therapy for Arthritis and brings a lot of wisdom and nuance to the conversation of how to navigate mo...
2023-10-3144 min
Greener GrassBreaking: A Jewish-American Perspective on the Hamas Attack on Israel with Dr. Steffany MoonazOn October 7th, the terrorist organization known as the Hamas attacked Israel claiming the lives of a reported 1400 people and taking 222 hostages. Since then, a reported 4 hostages have been released, President Biden has visited Tel Aviv to attempt diplomacy and the world has turned their eyes to the region. Dr. Steffany is a Jewish-American research scientist but is here today to give her personal perspective on how her community is reacting to the atrocities, the complexity of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict in the past and present and how we might approach conversations about the conflict i...
2023-10-241h 00The Yoga RheumWelcome To The Yoga RheumWelcome to the yoga room, with host Dr. Steffany Moonaz.
To learn more please visit www.arthritis.yoga
2023-08-0801 min
Adjusted RealityThe Whole Person Approach to Managing Arthritis with Dr. Steffany MoonazOn today's episode, we speak with Dr. Steffany Moonaz about a whole person approach to managing arthritis.Dr. Steffany Moonaz is a yoga therapist and researcher residing in the Philadelphia suburbs. She now serves as the Research Director at Southern California University of Health Sciences and Adjunct Faculty at the Maryland University of Integrative Health.Dr. Moonaz completed undergraduate work in biology and dance at Oberlin College, earned an MFA from the University of Maryland as well as a CMA (movement analysis) from the Laban Institute and spent eight years at Johns Hopkins University, helping...
2023-05-0345 min
Arthritis LifeYoga is a Philosophy, Not Just an Exercise: Demystifying Yoga for Arthritis with Dr. Steffany MoonazYoga therapist and researcher Dr. Steffany Moonaz and host Cheryl Crow discuss the many benefits of yoga for people with inflammatory arthritis. They also bust common myths and misconceptions about yoga, including that it’s just an exercise or series of physical poses. Dr. Moonaz shares her best tips for patients newly diagnosed with arthritis and explains how the philosophy of yoga can help people with arthritis fully embrace the present moment and improve overall wellbeing. Dr. Moonaz is the founder of Yoga for Arthritis, which aims to bring evidence-informed and heart-centered yoga practices to people living wit...
2023-01-0456 min
Owning HER Health podcastMeet The Goddess of Comfort for Autoimmunity and Arthritic PainsDr. Steffany Moonaz, Ph.D. is someone very accomplished you will want to network with if you are working in the arena of pain, arthritis, and autoimmunity but beyond her many contributions thus far, Steffany is taking that curvy hustle so many women must dance through our careers. In this episode, we discuss: Key applications of her research Her recent contribution to future standards in yoga research Steffany's vision for the future and where her writing and professional teaching can meet this vision in the world of systemic dysfunctions and the much-neglected sector of children with...
2021-09-2941 minLive Yes! With ArthritisMindful Movement Part 2 | YogaCombining the low-impact movements of yoga with mindfulness provides both physical and mental benefits for people living with arthritis. Learn more in this discussion with Steffany Moonaz, PhD, creator of Yoga for Arthritis.
_The Chronic Strength Sweepstakes promotion ends 9/26/2021.
Visit the Live Yes! With Arthritis Podcast site to read the blog and get show notes and a full transcript: https://arthritis.org/liveyes/podcast
We want to hear from you. Tell us what you think about the Live Yes! With Arthritis Podcast. Get started by emailing podcast@arthritis.org.Special Guest...
2021-09-2145 min
The YOGI M.D. PodcastPhysical Health - Yoga for Arthritis - with Dr. Steffany MoonazDr. Steffany Moonaz founded Yoga for Arthritis after 8 years at Johns Hopkins University where she studied the effects of yoga for people living with arthritis. She now serves as the Director of Clinical and Academic Research at the Maryland University of Integrative Health, which offers the nation's only Masters of Science in Yoga Therapy. She continues to conduct research on the effects of yoga for chronic pain and joint conditions, and mentors yoga teachers, yoga therapists, and emerging researchers. She is passionate about ensuring that yoga practices are safe, welcoming, and appropriate for people with arthritis nationwide.
2021-08-1853 min
The YOGI M.D. PodcastThe YOGI MD Podcast - Physical Health Trailer 2021Do you want to have a full and more vibrant life? Then, don’t neglect a single part of your health. Taking care of yourself responsibly means balancing your social, emotional, mental, physical, intellectual, and spiritual health. It’s a multidimensional, more comprehensive, and more rewarding approach. I hope you have enjoyed and learned ways to improve your social, emotional, and mental health so far. Now it’s time to nurture our physical health! All of my guests compel you to care for your body so that you don’t just survive, but thrive - Former 2x Olympian Bayano Kamani, S...
2021-06-3003 min
This is Yoga TherapyThe Field of Yoga Research with Dr. Steffany MoonazIn this episode I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Steffany Moonaz, yoga therapist and researcher and author of Yoga for Arthritis. We spoke about the field of yoga research -- what's happening in it, who is doing quality research and how to access it. We also spoke about the efforts underway to collect information from yoga therapists and other health practitioners who are working with someone with COVID-19. To access the registry for integrative health practitioners working with someone with COVID-19 visit https://redcap.nunm.edu/redcap/surveys/?s=PE3EHAYDT3Support...
2020-04-0533 min
The Mentor Sessions64: Yoga for Arthritis with Dr. Steffanny MoonazDid you know that arthritis is not one single disease, but a category of over 100 medical conditions that is actually the leading cause of disability in the US?? Before talking to Dr. Steffany Moonaz (and reading her book) I didn’t either! Dr. Steffany Moonaz founded Yoga for Arthritis after 8 years at Johns Hopkins University where she studied the effects of yoga for people living with arthritis. She now serves as the Director of Clinical and Academic Research at the Maryland University of Integrative Health, which offers the nation's only Masters of Science in Yoga Therapy. Sh...
2019-12-031h 10
The You-est You® PodcastDid You Know Yoga Can Heal Your Body? with Dr. Steffany MoonazDr. Steffany Moonaz is a yoga therapist and researcher in Baltimore, MD and serves as Director of Clinical and Academic Research at the Maryland University of Integrative Health. She became curious about the importance of mind-body activities at a young age and has always had a passion and a curiosity about the healing power of mindful movement. She completed undergraduate work in biology and dance at Oberlin College, earned a MFA from University of Maryland as well as a CMA from the Laban Institute and spent eight years at Johns Hopkins University, helping to develop and evaluate a yoga...
2019-07-1040 min
human insights with james coxUsing Yoga to Treat Arthritis: a chat w Steffany MoonazSteffany Moonaz is a holistic practitioner and therapist helping people who suffer with arthritis live their best lives. A great discussion of the importance of combing eastern and western medicine.
To learn more contact:
James Cox
Cell: 267 323 6936
Email: jamescoxprivateemail@gmail.com
2019-06-0931 min
The Rheumatoid Solutions PodcastYoga Therapy For Arthritis With Steffany Moonaz- Steffany is a yoga therapist and researcher specializing in rheumatic diseases
- She demonstrates in this episode lots of do-it-yourself exercises to relieve finger, hand and wrist pain
- She has written a book called "Yoga Therapy For Arthritis" and has conducted pioneering research in the benefits of yoga for arthritis
- Her research confirms Yoga can help with arthritis in a variety of ways
- Yoga is currently built into many of the recommendations for safety management of arthritis
- It primarily deals with the union of mind and body and is...
2019-04-1352 min
Age Less / Live MoreYoga for Arthritis: An Expert Author ExplainsAfter the age of 40, there is less space between your spinal vertebrae than when you were 20. This steady degeneration of tissues happens predictably but can be exacerbated by weight, high stress, extreme athletics, and even accidents. Aside from the natural wear and tear on our joints, many people also suffer from autoimmune attacks which affect the soft tissues, causing pain, inflammation, and even deformity in extreme cases. We’re talking about arthritis. And, not surprisingly, yoga can be a very effective management strategy for anyone with these problems. On this week’s show, we’ll help define and un...
2019-02-2743 min