Library & Online Resources
Joanne Spence, MA, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT, is a recovering social worker and certified yoga therapist. She has a Social Work degree from James Cook University and a Master of Arts from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She is the founder and executive director of Yoga in Schools.
Joanne trains and teaches all sorts of amazing people, both nationally and internationally, in yoga. She has taught yoga in prisons, hospitals, schools, churches, and sometimes on street corners. She specializes in working with adults and children who are experiencing chronic pain, trauma, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and insomnia.
Joanne draws on more than thirty-five years of clinical experience as a mental health professional and twenty years as a teacher and practitioner of yoga, including ten years as the first yoga therapist at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. She is in private practice as a yoga therapist and a spiritual director at Urban Oasis Pittsburgh and works with veterans on several behavioral health units in Pittsburgh teaching therapeutic chair yoga. In addition, Joanne leads in-person and online trainings on yoga, mental health, trauma, and contemplative practices.
Joanne has co-authored several published articles as well as a chapter in Stories of School Yoga: Narratives from the Field, and she was a contributor to Best Practices for Yoga in Schools. Joanne likes nothing more than to demonstrate the inclusive nature of yoga practice; if you can breathe, you can do yoga.
Joanne has been married to Doug for over thirty years. Together, they have three adult children, all of whom practice yoga! When she is not teaching, Joanne loves to read, write, hike, travel, cook, and even dance a little—just not all at the same time.
Visit her website at joannespence.com.
Select Bibliography
Most of following books are not currently in the Barbour Library collection. The links below will take you to either Bookshop.org (which supports local bookstores) or Amazon.com, where you can purchase the book.
Childress, Traci and Jennifer Cohen Harper, eds. Best Practices for Yoga in Schools. Atlanta, GA : Yoga Service Council, 2015.
Cook-Cottone, Catherine P. Mindfulness and Yoga for Self-Regulation: A Primer for Mental Health Professionals. New York: Springer, 2015.
Dana, D. The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy: Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation. New York: W.W. Norton, 2018.
Levine, Peter A. Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books, 1997.
Parker, Gail. Restorative Yoga for Ethnic and Race-Based Stress and Trauma. London: Singing Dragon, 2020.
Spence, Joanne. Trauma-Informed Yoga: A Toolbox for Therapists: 47 Simple Practices to Calm, Balance, and Restore the Nervous System. Eau Claire: PESI Publishing & Media, 2021.
Books in Barbour Library
Print books below may be checked out by PTS students, faculty, and staff, as well as local area patrons who have library accounts (requires an annual fee). Ebooks are indicated by asterisks, and are available to current PTS students, faculty, and staff only.
*Body Parts: A Theological Anthropology by
Christians have traditionally claimed that humans are created in the image of God (imago Dei), but they have consistently defined that image in ways that exclude people from full humanity. The most well-known definition locates the image in the rational soul, which is constructed in such a way that women, children, and many persons with disabilities are found deficient.Body Parts claims the importance of embodiment, difference, and limitation--not only as descriptions of the human condition but also as part of the imago Dei itself. This thesis is inspired by a parallel claim in an Indian tradition that posits the reflection of the divine body in humanity. Its thirty-six parts invite Christians to consider how consciousness, limitations, mental and emotional capacities, organs of sensation and action, and elements are reflections of divinity. Each chapter pursues openings in the Christian theological tradition in order to imagine these sets of "body parts" as the image of God.
Call Number: EbookISBN: 9781506418575Publication Date: 2017-12-01
Broken Bodies: the Eucharist, Mary and the Body in Trauma Theology by
The Body of Christ is a traumatised body because it is constituted of traumatised bodies. This monograph explores the nature of that trauma and examines the implications of identifying the trauma of this body. Constructing new ways of thinking about the narratives at the heart of the Christian faith, 'Broken Bodies' offers a fresh perspective on Christian theology, in particular the Eucharist, and presents a call to love the body in all its guises. It offers new pathways for considering what it means to 'be Christian' and explores the impact that the experience of trauma has on Christian doctrine.
Call Number: Stacks BV825.3 .O36 2018ISBN: 9780334056249Publication Date: 2019-01-01
Christian Meditation: Experiencing the Presence of God by
Enter a Monastery Without Walls Christian Meditation introduces an ancient practice to a contemporary audience. James Finley, a former monk and student of Thomas Merton, presents the fundamentals of both understanding and practicing Christian meditation. He provides simple, helpful instructions, as well as explaining the deeper connection with the divine that meditation can bring. Above all, he makes clear that the aim of meditation is to allow us to experience divine contemplation -- the presence of God.
Call Number: Stacks BV4813 .F56 2005ISBN: 9780060750640Publication Date: 2005-06-28
Embracing the Body: Finding God in our Flesh and Bone by
Foreword Reviews' 18th Annual INDIEFAB Book of the Year for Body, Mind and Spirit2015 Readers' Choice Awards Honorable MentionOur bodies teach us about God, and God communicates to us through our bodies. Our bodies are more good than we can possibly imagine them to be. And yet at times we may struggle with feelings of shame and guilt or even pride in regard to our bodies. What is God trying to do through our skin and bones?In Embracing the Body spiritual director Tara Owens invites you to listen to your thoughts about your body in a way that draws you closer to God, calling you to explore how your spirituality is intimately tied to your physicality. Using exercises for reflection at the end of each chapter, she guides you to see your body not as an inconvenience but as a place where you can meet the Holy in a new way--a place to embrace God's glorious intention.
Call Number: Stacks BT741.3 .O94 2015ISBN: 9780830835935Publication Date: 2015-02-11
Finding Jesus in the Storm: The Spiritual Lives of Christians with Mental Health Challenges by
People living with mental health challenges are not excluded from God's love or even the fullness of life promised by Jesus. Unfortunately, this hope is often lost amid the well-meaning labels and medical treatments that dominate the world of mental health today. In Finding Jesus in the Storm, John Swinton makes the case for reclaiming that hope by changing the way we talk about mental health and remembering that, above all, people are people, regardless of how unconventionally they experience life. This means accepting the reality and ramifications of suffering while also affirming that there is more to humanity than cells and synapses. Finding Jesus in the Storm is a call for the church to be an epicenter of compassion for those experiencing depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and related difficulties. Part of this compassion means breaking free of the assumptions that often accompany these diagnoses, allowing for the possibility that people living within unconventional states of mental health might experience God in unique ways that are real and perhaps even revelatory. In each chapter, Swinton gives voice to those experiencing the mental health challenges in question, so readers can see firsthand what God's healing looks like in a variety of circumstances. The result is a book about people instead of symptoms, description instead of diagnosis, and lifegiving hope for everyone in the midst of the storm.
Call Number: Stacks BT732.4 .S955 2020ISBN: 9780802873729Publication Date: 2020-09-01
Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation by
Sitting in stillness, the practice of meditation, and the cultivation of awareness are commonly thought to be the preserves of Hindus and Buddhists. Martin Laird shows that the Christian tradition of contemplation has its own refined teachings on using a prayer word to focus the mind, working with the breath to cultivate stillness, and the practice of inner vigilance or awareness. But this book is not a mere historical survey of these teachings. In Into the Silent Land, we see the ancient wisdom of both the Christian East and West brought sharply to bear on the modern-day longing for radical openness to God in the depths of the heart. Laird's book is not like the many presentations for beginners. While useful for those just starting out, this book serves especially as a guide for those who desire to journey yet deeper into the silence of God. The heart of the book focuses on negotiating key moments of struggle on the contemplative path, when the whirlwind of distractions or the brick wall of boredom makes it difficult to continue. Laird shows that these inner struggles, even wounds, that any person of prayer must face, are like riddles, trying to draw out of us our own inner silence. Ultimately Laird shows how the wounds we loathe become vehicles of the healing silence we seek, beyond technique and achievement. Throughout the language is fresh, direct, and focused on real-life examples of people whose lives are incomparably enriched by the practice of contemplation.
Call Number: Stacks BV5091.C7 L35 2006ISBN: 9780195307603Publication Date: 2006-07-01
Invitation to Retreat: The Gift and Necessity of Time Away with God by
Academy of Parish Clergy - 2018 Top Ten List"Come away and rest awhile." Jesus invites us to be with him, offering our full and undivided attention to him. When we choose retreat, we make a generous investment in our friendship with Christ. We are not always generous with ourselves where God is concerned. Many of us have tried to incorporate regular times of solitude and silence into the rhythm of our ordinary lives, which may mean that we give God twenty minutes here and half an hour there. And there's no question we are better for it But we need more. Indeed, we long for more. In these pages Transforming Center founder and seasoned spiritual director Ruth Haley Barton gently leads us into retreat as a key practice that opens us to God. Based on her own practice and her experience leading hundreds of retreats for others, she will guide you in a very personal exploration of seven specific invitations contained within the general invitation to retreat. You will discover how to say yes to God's winsome invitation to greater freedom and surrender. There has never been a time when the invitation to retreat is so radical and so relevant, so needed and so welcome. It is not a luxury, but a necessity of the spiritual life.
Call Number: Stacks BV5068.R4 B37 2018ISBN: 9780830846467Publication Date: 2018-09-18
Mindfulness and Christian Spirituality: Making Space for God by
The spiritual practice of mindfulness has continued to gain popularity throughout the years. But what exactly does this practice offer to Christians? In Mindfulness and Christian Spirituality, Tim Stead explores how practicing mindfulness can help Christians better live out their faith. Stead explains what mindfulness is and what is beneficial about it. He also reflects on how it can impact what and how we believe and seeks to find how mindfulness enables our Christian faith to work for us. Mindfulness practices that are designed to help readers make space for God in their everyday lives are included.
Call Number: Stacks BV4813 .S74 2017ISBN: 9780664263164Publication Date: 2017-08-15
Our Spiritual Brain: Integrating Brain Research and Faith Development by
Brain research is about making discoveries. It is about learning how this most amazing organism works and how it influences every aspect of your life. As religious educators, you need to know how the brain functions and how to translate that information into better, more usable lessons to help students continue, with depth and purpose, on their journey of faith.The first section of this book is a brief background of the brain research that is fascinating so many people in so many fields today. The second section is about learning, particularly brain-based learning. The third section is divided into twelve segments. Each segment is a practical application to Christian education based on the findings in brain research. The fourth section will help you to take your learning about the brain into new areas of discovery.
Call Number: Stacks BV1464 .B78 2002ISBN: 9780687092666Publication Date: 2002-03-01
Practices of Love: Spiritual Disciplines for the Life of the World by
Spiritual disciplines are often viewed primarily as a means to draw us closer to God. While these practices do deepen and enrich our "vertical" relationship with God, Kyle David Bennett argues that they were originally designed to positively impact our "horizontal" relationships--with neighbors, strangers, enemies, friends, family, animals, and even the earth. Bennett explains that this "horizontal" dimension has often been overlooked or forgotten in contemporary discussions of the spiritual disciplines. This book offers an alternative way of understanding the classic spiritual disciplines that makes them relevant, doable, and meaningful for everyday Christians. Bennett shows how the disciplines are remedial practices that correct the malformed ways we do everyday things, such as think, eat, talk, own, work, and rest. Through personal anecdotes, engagement with Scripture, and vivid cultural references, he invites us to practice the spiritual disciplines wholesale and shows how changing the way we do basic human activities can bring healing, renewal, and transformation to our day-to-day lives and the world around us.
Call Number: Stacks BV4501.3 .B4576 2017ISBN: 9781587434037Publication Date: 2017-08-22
Prayer of Heart and Body: Meditation and Yoga as Christian Spiritual Practice by
A practical how-to guide for persons who want to learn how to meditate or practice yoga in a way that is consistent with their Christian faith.
Call Number: Stacks BV4813 .R93 1995ISBN: 9780809135233Publication Date: 1995-01-01
Right Here Right Now: The Practice of Christian Mindfulness by
Christians have always practiced mindfulness. Yet, from the popular landscape of mindfulness movement, you'd never know that. Where is the Christian voice in this fast-growing movement? Many Christians practice mindfulness outside of church and believe it does not belong to our faith tradition. This book reveals the Christian roots of mindfulness and the actual practices that, when reclaimed, deepen the life of faith and the power of our mission of love in the world. When we understand how radical it is to live in God's presence right here, right now, our lives are transformed toward mercy, justice and abundant life. Amy Oden shows how the practice of Christian mindfulness begins with the teachings of Jesus and continues throughout Christian history. It also includes step-by-step instructions for the practice of Christian mindfulness today. Pastors and leaders will find this book useful on the ground as they curate current culture and guide Christians in spiritual practices. " ... this is the best introduction to Christian mindfulness I have read." --Shaun Lambert, Senior Minister of Stanmore Baptist Church, United Kingdom "Amy Oden knows the history of Christian spirituality as well as anyone, and she helps us see what might seem surprising to many--that mindfulness has deep roots in the Christian tradition. The wisdom she shares in this clear, winsome book has already deepened my own life of prayer. I know this book will bear fruit in classrooms and congregations as readers heed its call to stop and pay prayerful attention to what God is doing, right here, right now." --L. Roger Owens, Associate Professor of Christian Spirituality and Ministry, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh, PA "Oden deftly lifts up a clear template for what lies at the core of all spiritual practice: mindfulness--a simple awareness within ordinary life of divine presence, here and now. Unlike many generic practices of mindfulness now popular in business, education, and the fitness industry, Oden underscores that Christian mindfulness is not an end in itself but an awareness that turns us toward God. Amy's words become a litany of invitation into the posture of open-hearted presence to the Presence, right here, right now." (from the foreword) --Marjorie J. Thompson, author of Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life, former Director of Pathways in Congregational Spirituality with Upper Room Ministries, and an ordained minister in the Presbyterian church (USA)
Call Number: Stacks BV4501.3 .O34 2017ISBN: 9781501832499Publication Date: 2017-08-01
The Revelatory Body: Theology as Inductive Art by
Argues that theology can respond faithfully to the living God only by paying due attention to human bodily experience Scripture points to the human body and lived experience as the preeminent arena of God's continuing revelation in the world, says Luke Timothy Johnson. Attentively discerning the manifestations of God's Spirit in and through the body is essential for theology to recover its nature as an inductive art rather than -- as traditionally conceived -- a deductive science. Willingness to risk engaging actual human situations -- as opposed to abstract conceptualizations of those situations -- is required of the theologian, Johnson argues. He celebrates the intimations of divine presence and power in such human experiences as play, pain, pleasure, work, and aging, showing how theology can respond faithfully to the living God only by paying due attention to human bodily experience.
Call Number: Stacks BT741.3 .J64 2015ISBN: 9780802803832Publication Date: 2015-08-23
Trauma and Grace: Theology in a Ruptured World by
This substantive collection from noted scholar Serene Jones explores recent work in the field of trauma studies. Central to its overall theme is an investigation of how individual and collective violence affect ones capacity to remember, to act, and to love; how violence can challenge theological understandings of grace; and even how the traumatic experience of Jesus death is remembered. Jones focuses on the long-term effects of collective violence on abuse survivors, war veterans, and marginalized populations and the discrete ways in which grace and redemption may be exhibited in each context. At the heart of each essay are two deeply interrelated faith claims that are central to Joness understanding of Christian theology: (1) We live in a world profoundly broken by violence, and (2) God loves this world and desires that suffering be met by words of hope, love, and grace. This timely and relevant cutting-edge book is the first trauma study to directly take into account theological issues.
Call Number: Stacks BV4910.45 .J66 2019ISBN: 9780664264772Publication Date: 2019-03-12
Trauma-Informed Yoga: A Toolbox for Therapists by
Although many forms of trauma treatment rely solely on talk therapy as a means of healing, we cannot "talk out" every issue related to trauma. Indeed, trauma is stored in the body and the brain and must be treated as such. Designed with both mental health clinicians and clients in mind, Trauma-Informed Yoga offers 47 short, simple practices that regulate the autonomic nervous system, calm the racing mind, and center those of us living chaotic 21st century lives. Drawing from over 20 years of teaching and clinical practice, Spence masterfully weaves together the ancient wisdom of yoga with modern neuroscience and clinical practice in an accessible and compassionate manner. This how-to toolbox will arm you with knowledge and with powerful, yet simple, mind-body activities that reduce suffering and increase well-being.
Call Number: Alumni Collection RC552.T7 S64 2021ISBN: 1683733460Publication Date: 2021-03-09
What Your Body Knows about God: How We Are Designed to Connect, Serve, and Thrive by
Have you ever had an experience where you felt particularly aware of God? If God is real, and we are created in God's image, then it makes sense that our minds and bodies would be designed with the perceptive ability to sense and experience God. Scientists are now discovering ways that our bodies are designed to connect with God. Brain research shows that our brain systems are wired to enable us to have spiritual experiences. The spiritual circuits that are used in prayer or worship are also involved in developing compassion for others. Our bodies have actually been created to love God and serve our neighbors. Award-winning journalist Rob Moll chronicles the fascinating ways in which our brains and bodies interact with God and spiritual realities. He reports on neuroscience findings that show how our brains actually change and adapt when engaged in spiritual practices. We live longer, healthier, happier and more fulfilling lives when we cultivate the biological spiritual capacity that puts us in touch with God. God has created our bodies to fulfill the Great Commandment; we are hardwired to commune with God and to have compassion and community with other people. Moll explores the neuroscience of prayer, how liturgy helps us worship, why loving God causes us to love others, and how a life of love and service leads to the abundant life for which we were created. Just as our physical bodies require exercise to stay healthy, so too can spiritual exercises and practices revitalize our awareness of God.Heighten your spiritual senses and discover how you have been designed for physical and spiritual flourishing.
Call Number: Stacks BT741.3 .M65 2014ISBN: 9780830836772Publication Date: 2014-09-26
Library Resources by Subject
Click on the links below to perform subject searches in the library catalog:
Brain – Religious aspects – Christianity
Christianity and yoga
Health – Religious aspects – Christianity
Human body – Religious aspects – Christianity
Meditation – Christianity
Mind and body
Mindfulness (Psychology)
Psychic trauma – Religious aspects – Christianity
Spiritual life – Christianity
Suffering – Religious aspects – Christianity
Select Bibliography
The articles below without links are not available in the Barbour Library journal collection - please check your local library for interlibrary loan services in order to obtain copies of these.
Hyde, Andrea and Joanne Spence, 2013. "Yoga in Schools: Some Guidelines for the Delivery of District-Wide Yoga Education." Journal of Yoga Service, 1(1): 53-59.
Miller, Robert and Joanne Spence, 2013. "The Impact of Breathing and Music Interventions on Stress Levels of Patients and Visitors in a Psychiatric Emergency Room." The Arts in Psychotherapy Journal, 40(3): 347-351.
Spence, Joanne, 2021. "Social Work and Yoga: The Evolution of Practice from Talking to Moving." Australian Social Work 74(2): 235-242.
Stevens, Jane E., 2012. "The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study — The Largest Public Health Study You Never Heard Of." Huffington Post, October 8, 2012.
Articles in Barbour Library
Articles that are available online have links, and are only available to current PTS students, faculty, and staff. Articles without links are in the print journal collection.
Cavallin, Clemens. “Yoga: It’s About You.” First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion & Public Life, January 2021, 1–5.
Jindani, Farah and Guru Fatha Singh Khalsa. 2015. "A Journey to Embodied Healing: Yoga as a Treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder." Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work 34 (4): 394-413.
Rangel, Leslie. 2020. "Bend Before You Break: How Yoga Can Help Manage Trauma." IRE Journal 43 (3): 35-35.
- ACESTooHighReports on research about adverse childhood experiences, including developments in epidemiology, neurobiology, and the biomedical and epigenetic consequences of toxic stress
- ADHD & MarriageHelps adults thrive in relationships impacted by ADHD
- HeartMathHelps people experience science-based technology and programs for taking charge of your life
- Joanne Spence - Slow Movement MavenProvides information on how to heal physically and mentally with gentle yoga and breathing exercises
- Kira WilleyProvides music, movement, and mindfulness for kids
- LifeSpaProvides alternative health and wellness information with a specialty in Ayurveda with Dr. John Douillard
- PACEsConnectionA human and digital catalyst that unites people, organizations, systems, and communities in the worldwide ACEs movement
- Remember-to-BreatheTeaches simple techniques that balance your brain and positively affect everything in your life
- Yoga in SchoolsEmpowers students and teachers with yoga-inspired exercises to promote lifetime wellness, with the goal of making yoga available in all schools
- Yogis in ServiceCreates access to connection—to self, others, and the community—through yoga practice and the stress management tools of yoga