When Dr. Brandon Yuenger first reached out to Free Range and I learned that he practiced as an integrative physical therapist, I was immediately intrigued. I wanted to learn more about this field I had never experienced. When Brandon and I sat down to record this podcast, I asked him to tell his story, but I wasn’t expecting that the tales of his personal health journey and professional growth would intertwine to reveal exactly what integrative physical therapy is all about. As he learned to help others heal in more and more effective ways, he was able to understand his own health struggles and hear what his body had been trying to communicate all along.

This conversation is delightfully nerdy. We talk about everything from meninges to digestive health, and how it’s all connected. I learned that a big part of integrative physical therapy is bridging the gap between the in-depth knowledge of the physical functioning of the human body and the much less tangible practices we can use to help it heal. Even more important is the ability to explain this in a way that meets each patient where they are. It involves a beautiful understanding of the movement of energy that can help even the skeptic patients find relief in the so-called “woo woo” modalities.

It’s interesting to see how Brandon’s story takes us from his initial path into physical therapy, all the way through his training in shamanic healing. He observed how, as his modalities became less tangible and more spiritual, he was able to make bigger differences in his patients’ lives. In this first part of the story, we talk about the progression from osteopathic manipulation, to acupressure, to craniosacral therapy, to dry needling. The latest evolution of his practice utilizes shamanic teachings, but we’ll save that for the next episode.

I really enjoyed how well this conversation connects the physical to the spiritual, and I can honestly say it is one of those conversations that makes my brain hurt in a good way every time I listen. If you want to learn about all of this goodness from another curious soul, tune in. You can find this episode of Psychiatria and all the others on your podcatcher of choice, embedded below, or at the links HERE. If you’ve already listened – What did you think? Do you have questions or feedback on something that could be improved? Ideas for future episodes? Any questions, comments, or feedback are welcome! Email me at dani@freerange.org. Want to keep up with the show and get a heads up on new episodes? Find me on Instagram (@PsychiatriaPodcast). I can’t wait to hear from you! Stay curious, dear listeners.

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LINKS

  • Step Forward Wellness
  • My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor
  • Feldenkrais Method
  • Integrative Dry Needling
  • Seeds of Promise
  • Books Brandon recommends:
    • Shaman, Healer, Sage by Alberto Villoldo
    • Dancing the Dream by Jamie Sams
    • Hand of Light by Barb Brennan
    • Awareness Through Movement by Moshe Feldenkrais
    • Craniosacral Therapy by John Upledger
    • Integrative Dry Needling by Yun Tao Ma
    • Acupressure Way of Health by Iona Teegaurden
    • The Web That Has No Weaver by Ted Kaptchuk