These W.O.W. Chats are candid, clear, and concise Words of Wisdom gathered from people I respect and admire: professionals and friends I have connected with throughout my travels across the globe. This compilation is Part 6 of 7 of the 2018 interview collection of brilliant and binge-worthy tidbits of insight, information, life lessons, and more.

Hope you enjoy!

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Your pelvic floor plays an important role not only in bladder, bowel, reproduction and sexual function, but also in hip function, breathing, core strategies, standing balance and more. The pelvic floor is also known to be intimately connected to the feet and the floor of the mouth. Pelvic health issues related to these many roles are commonly poorly addressed or often left untreated in both women and men.

Join Shelly Prosko, PT, C-IAYT, CPI, physical therapist and yoga therapist, for her 20 hour, Live In-Person, yoga therapy course focusing on pelvic floor health that offers a combination of inspiring, empowering, educational and valuable theory and practice. This course explores the evidence surrounding the biopsychosocial factors that influence pelvic floor function and integrates this evidence with yoga practices and philosophy that can be safely and effectively used to address and maintain optimal pelvic floor health in both men and women in an accessible way. Read more →

In this WOW Chat episode, Shelly sits down with Professor Lorimer Moseley, one of the world’s leading and most respected pain researchers and co-author of the ground breaking books “Explain Pain” + “Explain Pain Supercharged” with David Butler.
In this WOW Chat, Lorimer talks about the difference between ‘pain science education’ and understanding pain and how he is somewhat apprehensive about the way ‘pain science education’ is becoming a stand alone modality. So much wisdom to unpack in this chat!

He also shares his perspective on passion vs clarity for clinicians and all humanity and cautions Shelly and everyone to be open to challenging our own biases and not always surrounding ourselves with people who only agree with us.

Enjoy this delightfully light hearted, inspirational, informative and value-packed 13 minute WOW Chat video OR read the full transcript below:

Shelly:  Welcome to my WOW Chats!  Words Of Wisdom with people I admire and respect and whose work is in line with making this world a better place.

Lorimer:  Thanks – well, was that a compliment to me just then?

Shelly:  Yes, because you’re my Wowser. Read more →

Case Report: Physio + Therapeutic Yoga for an Individual with Persistent Pain

When I was invited to write a patient case report for the International Association of Yoga Therapists’ Spring 2016 special In Focus issue of Yoga Therapy Today magazine on Yoga Therapy in Pain Care, I was honoured, but knew it would be challenging to include all aspects and details of an individual’s assessment, planning, treatment, and outcomes within a word count limit.

I have been working with people suffering from persistent (chronic) pain for over over 18 years, using a combination of my skills, knowledge and experience as a physical therapist and medical yoga therapist. I am pleased to share this concise and brief review of a case report in hopes that it gives the reader a sense of how and why therapeutic yoga in conjunction with physiotherapy can be a safe and effective approach to helping an individual who is suffering from persistent pain.

The article outlines the individual’s assessment (history, subjective interview, physical observations, goals), treatment plan and outcome. There are some specific examples of techniques and methods used, as well as the patient’s testimony in his own words.

I hope you find this valuable and worth sharing with health care professionals, colleagues, patients, family, friends, and anyone suffering from persistent pain.  Part of my mission is to help healthcare professionals understand the profound efficacy and value that yoga has to offer when combined with rehabilitation in an evidence informed manner.

Enjoy the article and please feel free to comment below with any questions or comments that you think would serve or add to the reader’s experience! Access to the article is below:

Case Report: Yoga Therapy for an Individual with Persistent Pain

This entire Spring 2016 YTT issue focuses on pain rehabilitation through yoga therapy. Contributors to this issue include a variety of yoga therapists and healthcare professionals that have studied and teach about pain, pain science and that have trained and worked with people suffering from persistent pain for decades. It is a solid issue that explores a variety of options (and consequently, offers HOPE) for people in pain. You can access the full issue HERE

Other resources related to this topic:

“The Truth About Back Pain: A Biopsychosocial Approach to Treatment”

“Overcome Pain with Gentle Yoga Videos Now Available”

“Yoga, Neuroplasticity & Pain: New Hope for Self Empowerment + Healing” Webinar

“Neil Pearson: Blending Optimism + Scientific Research” by Sunlight in Winter

“Yoga for Pain” Blissology Talks interview

I recently wrote an article that was published in the International Association of Yoga Therapists Winter 2016 Issue of “Yoga Therapy Today” publication titled:

“Optimizing Pelvic Floor Health Through Yoga Therapy.”

The purpose was to review the role that a yoga therapist has in helping people create and optimize their pelvic floor health. The article is also valuable for yoga teachers, health care professionals, or anyone interested in or requiring more knowledge about the pelvic floor.  Pelvic health physical therapists have provided me with positive feedback, stating that the article is an accurate and valuable resource for their clients and also for educating other physical therapists who may want to learn more about the pelvic floor:

“Excellent article. Well written and one of the most accurate I’ve read. So needed.” Diane Lee, PT

In this article, I explain specifically what ‘is’ pelvic health and the pelvic floor, the many roles of the pelvic floor, the numerous factors that influence the healthy functioning of the pelvic floor muscles, and the role that yoga therapists may have in working with people with pelvic floor dysfunctions, with examples of some techniques they may use.  I also discuss what some of the research is saying about yoga and certain pelvic health conditions.

There are 27 citations included in this evidence-informed article.

**Above Photo credit: Raymond Long www.bandhayoga.com

You can find the article here:  “Optimizing Pelvic Floor Health Through Yoga Therapy”

Please also review the 4 min trailer of the videos, “Creating Pelvic Floor Health with PhysioYoga” that I created for you to download that include many of the techniques discussed in the article!

 **This article and video is not meant to diagnose, treat or act as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider for clearance and guidance before following or participating in these activities**