Enhancing Pelvic Floor Health Through Yoga + Education – Winfield, AB

Your pelvic floor plays an important role not only in bladder, bowel, reproduction and sexual function, but also in spinal health, hip function, breathing, voice production, 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, CPI, C-IAYT, Physiotherapist and Yoga Therapist, for this 1-day pelvic floor health yoga workshop that offers a combination of inspiring, empowering, educational and valuable theory and practice.

We will explore evidence surrounding the biopsychosocial factors that influence pelvic floor function and combine it with yoga practices and philosophy that can be safely and effectively used immediately to enhance pelvic floor health.

Objectives for workshop (subject to minor changes):

Theory: (approx 2.5 hours):

• briefly overview the anatomy and biomechanics of the pelvic diaphragm
• learn the roles the pelvic diaphragm plays in overall health and wellness
• learn the biopsychosocial factors that can contribute to performance and function of the pelvic floor
• review the first 2 chakras (using a framework based on one modern translation of chakras) and discuss the role they may play in pelvic health
• outline the 4 categories of pelvic floor health dysfunctions
• discuss the debate surrounding the performance of kegel exercises for pelvic floor health and rehabilitation using a best evidence approach
• discuss Mula Bandha (MB)  including the potential intention of MB from a historical perspective, and explore the potential differences and similarities to pelvic floor engagement
• outline factors that may contribute to a Non-Relaxing Pelvic Floor and health issues that may arise from over-recruitment of pelvic floor musculature
• briefly outline the 8 limbed path of Pantanjali’s yoga, and how each limb may contribute to a biopsychosocial-spiritual approach to pelvic floor health and rehabilitation
• Understand scope of practice when addressing pelvic floor health for those practitioners who do not perform internal pelvic floor exams or treatment and when to refer to a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor health.

Practical Session: (approx 4 hours, includes space + time to relax, explore, go-at-your-own-pace, learn, and have fun):

• learn and experience breathing methods and meditation techniques as they relate to pelvic floor health, with a focus on awareness and relaxation of pelvic floor muscles
• discover and practice awareness of pelvic diaphragmatic excursion by integrating mindfulness practices and yoga practices including breathing, visualization, meditation, postures and mindful movement.
• learn and participate in activities that include components of the core strategy system that have been shown to influence pelvic floor muscle engagement and function, including hip and lumbo-pelvic strategies, through the use of a functional integrative approach which includes mindful movement, yoga postures and breathing practices.
• learn and experience how the voice, respiratory and pelvic diaphragms work together through breath, movement and vocalization (as time permits)
• participate in activities to enhance foot awareness and potential connection to the pelvic floor

Shelly is a Canadian physiotherapist, yoga therapist, author, speaker and educator dedicated to empowering individuals to create and sustain meaningful lives by teaching and advocating for the integration of yoga into modern healthcare. She is a respected pioneer of PhysioYoga, a combination of physiotherapy and yoga.

Shelly guest lectures at medical colleges, teaches at yoga therapy schools and yoga teacher trainings, speaks internationally at yoga therapy and medical conferences, contributes to academic research, provides mentorship to healthcare professionals and offers onsite and online continuing education courses for yoga and healthcare professionals on topics surrounding chronic pain, pelvic health, compassion and professional burnout. Her courses and retreats are highly sought after and have been well received by many physiotherapists, yoga professionals and other healthcare providers. She is a Pain Care Yoga Trainer and has contributed to book chapters and is co-editor and co-author of the textbook Yoga and Science in Pain Care: Treating the Person in Pain by Singing Dragon Publishers.

Shelly is a University of Saskatchewan graduate and has extensive training in yoga therapy and numerous specialty areas with over 20 years of experience integrating yoga therapy into rehabilitation and wellness care. She emphasizes the immense value gained from clinical experience and learning from her patients, the professionals she teaches and the colleagues with which she collaborates. She considers herself a lifelong student, truth seeker and change maker. She maintains a clinical practice in Sylvan Lake, Canada and mentors professionals who are interested in pursuing this integrative path.

Please visit www.physioyoga.ca for more details about Shelly and her offerings.

To register: CLICK HERE

or contact Carmon Frick at Pure Awareness Yoga:

780.499.2638
[email protected]