University Of Iowa College Of Public Health

In this first episode of our two part series on yoga and addiction, we sit down with Noelle, a trauma informed yoga teacher who leads Recovery Yoga in Iowa City. Her work brings movement, breath, and community into addiction treatment settings, creating a space where people can reconnect with their bodies and experience healing without judgment. Host Lauren, a yoga teacher of nine years, reflects on attending one of Noelle’s Tuesday night classes and witnessing firsthand how intentionally crafted the environment is. The conversation explores Noelle’s path into yoga, the experiences that shaped her interest in addiction and trauma, and the unique role yoga can play for individuals in recovery. Listeners will hear about what yoga looks like inside treatment programs, why safety and choice are essential, and how even simple practices like breathwork can begin to shift long standing patterns of disconnection. Part Two continues next week with a deeper look at trauma, healing, and long term recovery through yoga