“Liberation Through Practice” – Reclaiming Healing Beyond the Bias of Modern Healthcare
Dr. Udim Isang, DPT, EdD, Mbia Idiong, is an award-winning educator, physical therapist, and activist specializing in indigenous healing practices, implicit bias in healthcare, and integrative wellness through movement and mindfulness.
In a world where healthcare often claims neutrality yet reinforces systems of exclusion, Liberation Through Practice: Voices of Black & Indigenous Healers was born out of necessity, not only to disrupt but to affirm. As a queer, neurodivergent, immigrant healer, I found myself asking, where do we go when the system was never built for us? My answer was to listen to my body, my ancestors, and to the quiet wisdom of other healers who, like me, have found liberation through practices rooted in ancestral knowing.
The origin story
I trained and worked for over a decade as a Doctor of Physical Therapy. I moved through every specialty the field offered, neurology, orthopedics, pediatrics, pelvic health, and ultimately found myself disillusioned. The protocols were rigid. The gatekeeping was high. And worse, bias showed up in ways that silenced patients and practitioners alike. So I did what my ancestors would do, I created something of my own. Something whole.
Liberation Through Practice is a tapestry of stories, of Black and Indigenous healers navigating the cracks of colonial medicine to find something deeper. The book is not just a critique. It is a record, a ritual, a roadmap.
What we’ve forgotten in medicine
Modern medicine too often forgets the soul. It sees data before it sees the person. But in our lineages, from the Ibibio and Anaang of Nigeria to Diné and Afro-Caribbean traditions, healing has always been relational. It involves the land. It involves a song. It involves listening.
One contributor writes of using ancestral dance to move through chronic pain. Another blends plant medicine and prayer to guide clients through grief. These are not “alternative” practices. They are the original ones.
Bias isn't just an interpersonal issue
One of the most painful parts of writing this book was naming the implicit bias I experienced, not only from patients but from colleagues and mentors. It’s hard to speak the truth to a field that expects your silence. But if we are to truly practice liberation, we must say the unsayable.
This book doesn’t just document stories. It offers a framework. One chapter details how to assess bias in your own practice. Another explores how to integrate Indigenous modalities ethically, without appropriation.
Liberation is personal and communal
Writing this book helped me reclaim my father’s intuitive nature and my mother’s fierce intelligence. It helped me see that the “black sheep” in the family, the student who questioned everything, the therapist who colored outside the lines, wasn’t lost. They were leading.
Through community, story, and ritual, I found my way back to healing. And now, I teach others to do the same, through my institute, my workshops, and now this book.
Final reflection
We don’t need another book telling us what’s broken. We need guides that help us remember what’s whole. Liberation Through Practice is that guide. And it’s just the beginning.
Want to read the book?
Liberation Through Practice: Voices of Black & Indigenous Healers is now available through:
CashApp: @drdrdee2
Suggested donation: $50
To learn more about my work, visit this website.
Read more from Dr. Udim Isang
Dr. Udim Isang, The (Em)Body Doctor & Nigerian Healer
Dr. Udim Isang, DPT, EdD, Mbia Idiong, is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Executive Leadership Educator passionate about indigenous healing, mindfulness, and movement therapy. As a queer, trans, immigrant, and neuro-distinct individual, they/they/it/we advocate for bridging healthcare equity and inclusive wellness practices. Learn more about their transformative work integrating mind, body, and spirit at the intersections of identity and healing.
