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 people of any gender.

Join Shelly Prosko, PT, C-IAYT, PCAYT, physical therapist and yoga therapist, for her 20 hour, Live Online (or In-Person where permitted), yoga therapy course or her 14 hour Online pre-recorded 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 people of any gender, in an accessible way.

Shelly is a highly respected leader and pioneer in the area of PhysioYoga Therapy, a combination of physical therapy and yoga therapy. Her mission is to educate, inspire and empower people to create health by authentically sharing her skills, knowledge and expertise as she travels extensively offering specialty courses, presenting at international medical and yoga therapy conferences, lecturing at university programs, instructing at yoga therapy schools and yoga teacher trainings and offering individual sessions to those suffering from a variety of health conditions. Please visit physioyoga.ca for more details about Shelly and her offerings.

Yoga Therapy: An Evidence Informed Integrative Approach to Help People Enhance Pelvic Floor Health

This course is an IAYT Approved Professional Development (APD) Course:

C-IAYT Yoga Therapists are awarded 16 CEU’s upon completion of the onsite course and 14 CEU’s upon completion of the ONLINE course.

Objectives for this course:

Theory

  • Briefly provide an overview of anatomy and biomechanics of the pelvic floor/diaphragm and bony landmarks of the pelvis as relevant to yoga therapy
  • Learn the roles the pelvic floor (PF) plays in overall health and wellness and why gaining skills in addressing PF health can be important and valuable for any yoga therapist, healthcare provider or movement practitioner working with clients
  • Learn the biopsychosocial factors that can contribute to performance and function of the pelvic floor, using the pancha maya kosha model
  • Define and discuss the 4 categories of PF health dysfunctions
  • Outline numerous yoga practices that may help serve as an adjunct to empowering people with PF health issues to progress towards improved pelvic health and wellness, staying within a yoga therapist’s scope of practice
  • Discuss the debate surrounding the performance of kegel exercises for PF 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 PF engagement
  • Outline factors that may contribute to a Non-Relaxing Pelvic Floor and health issues that may arise from over-recruitment of PF musculature
  • Learn how the respiratory diaphragm and pelvic diaphragm work together as a coordinated team to contribute to PF health and wellness
  • Briefly review the vocal diaphragm anatomy and physiology and how it works together with the respiratory and pelvic diaphragms
  • List different paths of yoga, focusing on describing the 8 limbed path of Patanjali’s yoga, and how the components of the limbs can contribute to a biopsychosocial-spiritual approach to PF health and rehabilitation
  • Understand scope of practice as it relates to the yoga therapist when addressing PF health for those practitioners who do not perform internal PF exams or treatment and when to refer to a physical therapist who specializes in PF health
  • Gain a general understanding of how yoga methods and philosophy might be used as an adjunct to support optimal PF health for people who may be suffering from a variety of PF dysfunctions, including disorders associated with pelvic pain, pelvic organ prolapse, and bowel or bladder dysfunctions. Four Case Studies are presented in this course.

Practical Session

  • Learn and experience breathing methods and meditation techniques as they relate to PF health, with a focus on awareness and relaxation of PF 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 PF 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
  • Participate in activities to enhance foot awareness and potential connection to the pelvic floor
  • Discover and experience how yoga philosophy, including the yamas and niyamas, can be used to inform the therapeutic interaction in pelvic floor yoga therapy

 

Shelly currently offers this course live online

2022:

April 30 & May 1 Live Online through Ajna Yoga Therapy

Details and to Register HERE

2023:

March 4 & 5 Live Online through Ajna Yoga Therapy

Details and to Register TBA

 

PRE-RECORDED Online Version:

There is also a pre-recorded version of this course through Embodia Academy, so you can go at your own pace and keep the content forever!

Register for the ongoing ONLINE version of this course HERE

 

Please review the Calendar of Events and feel free to sign up for Shelly’s newsletter here that keeps you up to date as new courses are scheduled.

Contact Shelly here for further inquiries about this course.

This course is an IAYT Approved Professional Development (APD) Course, awarding C-IAYT Yoga  Therapists with 16 hours of CEU’s.

 

 

 

 

**This workshop is not intended to assess or treat or act as medical advice for your individual health concerns. Please ensure you feel safe to practice in a group class without individual assessment or attention. Please seek guidance and treatment from your health professional in your area for any unmanaged conditions.**