Monthly Archives: July 2020

Episode 2: The Biopsychosocial Model with Marlysa Sullivan


EPISODE 2:

The Biopsychosocial Model with Marlysa Sullivan

Have you heard of the polyvagal theory? Listen as your host Susi Hately and her guest Marlysa Sullivan discuss this theory, the roles of our sympathetic and parasympathetic systems and relaxation, gunas, and much more in this episode of From Pain to Possibility.

Marlysa is an assistant professor at the Maryland University of Integrative Health, where she teaches in the integrative health sciences and yoga therapy departments. She’s developed courses in the yoga therapy curriculum and is the founding clinical director for the Master of Science in Yoga Therapy program at Maryland University.

Listen, as Marlysa describes the polyvagal theory, how the autonomic nervous system works, and the three qualities of gunas. Marlysa shares how with the two models of polyvagal theory and gunas, it shows how to work with clients from a yogic perspective. She also discusses how she starts a conversation about gunas with some clients she will speak to them in the language of gunas.

Marlysa speaks about the use of yamas and niyamas in her sessions, and how all of this circles back to polyvagal theory. Even though all of this sounds so complex, it becomes simple as you practice it, pure in terms of the result you are seeking and as you develop it into an art of how you start and how you continue.

This is a great topic, and the way Marlysa describes it integrates it so nicely with the biomedical and the biopsychosocial model. Susi has such a great conversation with Marlysa that you will want to sit in a comfy chair, prop your feet up, and relax because you don’t want to miss this episode.

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“We can look at everything in the environment and see the properties of gunas within them.” Marlysa Sullivan


In this Episode:

[01:22] Welcome, Marlysa!
[02:09] Marlysa shares her background and her journey to where she is now.
[05:05] How would you describe polyvagal theory?
[07:24] Marlysa shares how the autonomic nervous system can either have a relaxed response or life-threat response.
[10:19] If we are in a shutdown dissociative state, can we get stuck there?
[11:52] Marlysa discusses the three qualities of gunas.
[13:16] Marlysa shares how gunas are similar to this idea of the autonomic nervous system.
[15:17] What is nice about these two models of polyvagal theory and gunas is that they show that we can work with clients from a yogic perspective.
[16:45] How would you start the conversation with clients around gunas?
[17:38] Marlysa shares that she speaks to clients in the language of the gunas.
[20:45] Marlysa speaks about how yoga is supportive, and this qualitative measure can bring more detail or direction to support someone’s process.
[23:04] What are some ideas of ways they can start integrating these ideas or just thoughts to think about as they move towards integration?
[26:47] Marlysa shares about yamas and niyamas and what they are.
[29:19] Marlysa speaks about knowing when you are centered in your expression of compassion that supports you and those around you.
[30:22] How does this all circle back to polyvagal theory?
[34:31] Thank you so much for being on the show!

“When we play around with the guna world, there’s an exploratory, curious space.” Susi Hately

What You Will Learn In This Episode:

  • What the Polyvagal Theory is
  • Why the Polyvagal Theory helps create an integrative approach to healing
  • Using Gunas for recovery and healing
  • Using the Yamas & Niyamas for recovery and healing

“A cool concept in yoga is this idea of yamas and niyamas, which are these ethical purposes of yoga.” Marlysa Sullivan

Featured On The Show & Other Notes:

“So then, as complex as it can be, it becomes simple as you practice it.” Susi Hately

Episode Transcript:

Connect with Susi

Do you have a question or a desire for more learning opportunities at Functional Synergy? Let's Connect!

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Episode 1: Blending the Biomedical and Biopsychosocial Models


EPISODE 1:

Blending the Biomedical and Biopsychosocial Models


Did you know that if you integrate yoga, medicine, and rehabilitation, you can get better results? Welcome to the very first episode of From Pain to Possibility, with your host Susi Hately. Susi is giving us some useful information that can be implemented today, and along the way, she is sharing bits and pieces of her life so we can get to know her better. 

Susi is the owner and director of Functional Synergy Yoga Therapy, where she trains healthcare professionals and yoga teachers on how to integrate yoga therapeutically into their practices. Susie also runs a private one-to-one session series for people who have pain, long-standing pain, and those who want to get rid of the pain.

Listen as Susi shares her background and what she means by a biopsychosocial model. She speaks about being creative after her twins were born and condensing several concepts into one model, which she calls the integrative healing journey or integrative healing process. Susi also discusses blue and purple ribbons. How the ability to assess effectively helps grow the client's clarity to understand what is and isn't working.


Are you curious about what is going on in your body? Susi discusses how sometimes when moving our bodies, we think we are moving our hips when in fact; we are moving our pelvis. This can be a neuromechanical miss between our brain and the tissue of what we are supposed to be moving. Susi says that sometimes improvement requires a change of belief.

Hopefully, you have found some usable techniques in this episode that you can play with for yourself, your students, or clients that will take you up into this next level of understanding and the application of both a biomedical and a biopsychosocial model.


Subscribe:   iTunes   |   Spotify  

“When I help someone reduce their compensatory patterning, they will experience reduced pain.” Susi Hately


In this Episode:

[00:22] Welcome, everyone!
[01:01] Susi shares how the pandemic allowed her to do the podcast she has wanted to do finally.
[01:39] She hopes that this podcast will give you some information you need on your journey of being able to integrate yoga, medicine, and rehabilitation for better results.
[02:34] Susi shares her kinesiology background and her focus on exercise physiology, motor control, and biomechanics.
[03:37] Susi explains what she means by the biopsychosocial model.
[06:07] She shares that when she was on maternity leave after having twins, she got creative and brought all the concepts together into one model.
[06:58] Susi explains what you see when you look at this model.
[08:49] Our ability to assess effectively helps grow the clarity for the client to understand what is working or not working.
[11:05] If you listen to the whispers, you will grow your own internal locus of control.
[12:30] Susi gives an example of what she has been talking about.
[15:30] Growing someone's awareness through a biomechanical model is a fascinating process.
[17:01] Are you curious about what is going on in your body? Why is my body breaking down?
[18:08] Susi shares that sometimes improvement requires a change of belief.
[19:42] An aha is a glimpse of what could be whether it is less pain or more movement.l
[23:13] Susi is speaking about another concept, where you have pain isn't the problem.
[25:42] How is your neuromuscular communication?
[27:58] The takeaway for this first episode is that there is an intersection between the biomedical and the biopsychosocial model.
[29:55] We will connect with you in the next episode; thank you for listening.

“Yellow lights are the whispers.” Susi Hately

What You Will Learn In This Episode:

  • How to blend the biopsychosocial models of recovery for better outcomes.
  • The Healing Helix:  An Integrative Model
  • Taking Ownership of Your Healing Process

“Presence really enables awareness.” Susi Hately

Featured On The Show & Other Notes:

“Where the pain is isn’t the problem, it’s an expression of the problem.” Susi Hately

Episode Transcript:

Connect with Susi

Do you have a question or a desire for more learning opportunities at Functional Synergy? Let's Connect!

Subscribe to my Mailing List

Never miss a new episode!
Subscribe to the Podcast Mailing List below.

“A-ha is a glimpse of what could be.” Susi Hately