From Social Anxiety to Inner Strength: A Yoga Therapy Journey with Jenna Schissel

In this episode of The Yoga Therapy Hour, host Amy Wheeler welcomes Jenna Schissel, a yoga therapist based in Des Moines, Iowa, who brings a deeply personal and integrative perspective to the field. Jenna shares her journey of self-discovery, shaped by her experiences with social anxiety and introversion. She discusses how yoga became a natural path for inner healing, providing her with a structured way to cultivate self-awareness, resilience, and confidence. Rather than focusing on symptom management or pathology, Jenna approaches yoga therapy through the lens of salutogenesis—the process of fostering well-being rather than merely preventing or treating illness. She and Amy explore how yoga therapy facilitates whole-person healing, supporting individuals in cultivating inner stability, self-regulation, and a sense of personal agency. While Jenna also maintains a separate psychotherapy practice specializing in trauma and ketamine-assisted therapy, this conversation focuses on the role of yoga therapy in personal transformation, embodiment, and nervous system coherence, rather than trauma treatment. Key Topics Discussed in This Episode:Jenna’s Personal Journey with Yoga – How yoga provided Jenna with a framework to understand and navigate her experiences with social anxiety and introversion. She reflects on the ways that movement, breathwork, and meditation helped her shift from internal self-doubt to self-trust and connection with others.Yoga Therapy as a Path to Whole-Person Healing – Jenna and Amy discuss how yoga therapy facilitates salutogenesis, supporting individuals in building resilience, internal balance, and long-term well-being. They highlight the importance of seeing yoga therapy as a process of self-cultivation rather than symptom reduction.The Role of Self-Awareness in the Healing Process – Jenna explains how self-awareness practices, such as breath observation, mindful movement, and reflective inquiry, serve as fundamental tools in yoga therapy. These practices allow individuals to tune into their internal states and develop a more compassionate and attuned relationship with themselves.Working with the Nervous System in Yoga Therapy – The conversation explores how yoga therapy supports autonomic regulation, helping individuals transition from chronic stress patterns to a more balanced and responsive state. Jenna shares insights on how simple breath and movement techniques can be applied in daily life to foster internal steadiness.The Interplay Between Personal Practice and Professional Work – Jenna reflects on how her personal experiences inform her work as a yoga therapist. She discusses the importance of ongoing self-practice, not only for maintaining professional integrity but also for deepening her understanding of the mind-body connection.Yoga Therapy vs. Psychotherapy: Clarifying the Distinction – While Jenna also works as a psychotherapist, she explains the clear distinctions between her yoga therapy practice and her clinical work. Yoga therapy offers a non-pathologizing, strength-based approach to personal growth, while psychotherapy serves a different role in addressing clinical concerns. This conversation helps clarify how yoga therapy can complement but is not a substitute for mental health treatment.The Power of Introversion in Yoga Therapy – Jenna discusses the unique strengths that introverts bring to both yoga practice and teaching. She and Amy explore how introversion can be reframed as a gift, allowing for deeper self-reflection, insight, and meaningful connection. Connect with Jenna & AmyJenna SchisselBased in Des Moines, Iowa[Insert Jenna’s website: https://www.jennaschisseltherapist.com/Amy Wheeler & Optimal StateWebsite: www.TheOptimalState.com Come join us at Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH) for our Signature Programs starting in Fall 2025. Master of Science in Yoga Therapy https://lnkd.in/gBSCUsMQ Are you already a licensed healthcare professional? Explore MUIH’s Post-Master’s Certificate in Therapeutic Yoga Practices, designed specifically for licensed healthcare professionals.  https://lnkd.in/gbWHSjQq