Autoimmune Diseases & Yoga – The Science, the Practice, and the Hope with Renu Jain

Autoimmune conditions are complex, deeply personal, and often misunderstood.

In this episode of Let’s Talk Yoga, I sit down with Renu Jain, yoga therapist and researcher at Kaivalyadhama, to explore how yoga can meaningfully support those living with autoimmune disease — not as a cure, but as a path toward regulation, balance, and hope.

Renu brings together modern medical science and classical yoga with clarity and integrity. Our conversation moves beyond surface-level wellness advice and into a grounded discussion of what is actually happening in the body when the immune system turns against itself.

We explore:

• What autoimmune disease really means from a physiological perspective
• The powerful relationship between chronic stress and immune dysregulation
• The critical role of gut health in inflammation and immune response
• Why personalised yoga therapy matters more than generic sequences
• How breathwork and nervous system regulation influence healing
• What yoga teachers must understand before working with students with autoimmune conditions
• How yoga philosophy — not just asana — supports long-term resilience

One of the most important takeaways from this conversation is that yoga is not a quick fix. It is not a replacement for medical care. But it can be a powerful complementary path — one that restores agency, improves stress resilience, and supports whole-person wellbeing.

For yoga teachers, this episode is especially important. Supporting students with autoimmune conditions requires sensitivity, education, and humility. Renu shares thoughtful guidance on how to create safe spaces, how to avoid overpromising outcomes, and how to integrate yoga’s deeper teachings into therapeutic settings.

If you or someone you love is navigating autoimmune disease, or if you are a yoga teacher wanting to deepen your understanding of therapeutic application, this episode offers grounded insight and practical wisdom.

Yoga does not promise perfection. It offers steadiness.

And sometimes, steadiness is the beginning of healing.

Episode Highlights:

• Introduction to guest Renu Jain and her background at Kaivalyadhama.
• Understanding what autoimmune diseases are and how they affect the body.
• Exploring common shared patterns and root causes behind autoimmune conditions.
• Exploring the connection between stress, the gut, and immune function.
• Understanding the pranic system and how energetic imbalance mirrors physical symptoms.
• The role of yoga in managing autoimmune conditions holistically.
• Importance of personalization in yoga therapy: why no one-size-fits-all approach works.
• Go-to questions yoga teachers should ask students before planning a practice.
• Pranayama practices that support balance and calm for autoimmune health.
• Restorative yoga, relaxation, and mindfulness as healing tools.
• How meditation helps regulate the nervous system and supports emotional healing.
• The mindset and empathy yoga teachers need when working with these students.
• Why yoga philosophy and ethics should always guide therapeutic teaching.
• Final reflections on patience, compassion, and using yoga as a bridge between science and spirit.

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Upcoming Workshops: Manage Auto Immune Disorders with Yoga by Ms. Renu Jain
• Waitlist for the Online 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training (launching January)
• Free upcoming workshop: “Queuing for Yoga Teachers – From Gross to Subtle” (November 14, 10 a.m. PT)
• In-Studio 200-Hour Yoga Study Program (Redmond/Seattle)
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