Podcast appearances and mentions of shelly prosko

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 317: Balance Flow Yoga with Shelly Prosko   Description: As we age, our balance reaction changes, our strength decreases, and our general mobility is reduced. This can put us at greater risk of falls. Movement is a great tool to help prevent falls, improve balance, and also reduce the risk of injuries. In this episode, Shelly Prosko shares more about her new offer - Balance Flow Yoga - designed to address these common concerns.   Why is balance so important for yoga teachers, yoga students, and people who are interested in pelvic health? Shelly explains how she came to offer Balance Flow Yoga and why it is such a relevant topic for everyone. This offer is created in such a way that yoga teachers would be able to experience it and then go on to share it in their community - why was this such an essential part of how this program is structured and what's covered in the program? Shelly answers these questions and more.   Tune in to learn more about Balance Flow Yoga and how you can join the upcoming training sessions with Shelly Prosko!   Key Takeaways: [1:13] Shannon gives a shout out to sponsors, OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals. [2:29] Shannon welcomes returning guest Shelly Prosko to the podcast. [2:29] What is the work that Shelly does? [4:26] How did the idea for Balance Flow Yoga come about? [7:36] How has Shelly been sharing Balance Flow Yoga out in her community? [9:16] Why did Shelly think that it was important for yoga teachers to be able to share this in their community? [16:39] Shannon pops in with a quick message about OfferingTree. [18:15] Shelly talks about some of the things they cover in terms of the balance aspect in her course. [19:13] Balance Flow Yoga also has a connection to the pelvic floor. [22:14] Shannon shares the details of the upcoming Balance Flow Yoga course. [23:01] Who should attend and what should you bring when you sign up? [25:11] Get the early bird pricing if you sign up by the end of March! [25:56] Sign up for Balance Flow Yoga with Shelly Prosko on the Pelvic Health Professionals website. Links: Shelly Prosko Balance Flow Yoga: 7-Week Online Series with Shelly Prosko Shannon Crow on Instagram The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group   Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals.   Quotes from this episode: “"We have evidence that shows movement is really good to help prevent falls, to help improve our balance and also reduce the risk of injuries."   "It's wonderful to be able to translate the research... and then to actually offer that in the community for everybody."   "Our world just kind of gets smaller and smaller and we do less and less because we're afraid to fall. And then that causes it, it perpetuates the cycle."   "We can look at different meditative practices and different breathing practices that can not only help us with our movement but also with the emotions of confidence and self compassion."  

In today's episode, Amy chats with Neil Pearson, Neil is a physiotherapist, yoga therapist, and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia. He is the Co-Director of Pain Care Aware and creator of the Pain Care Yoga training programs for health professionals and yoga therapists. Neil is the founding Chair of the Physiotherapy Pain Science Division in Canada, recipient of the Canadian Pain Society's Excellence in Interprofessional Pain Education award, and faculty in four yoga therapist training programs. He is the Lead Contributor of Pain BC's Pain Foundations and Gentle Movement/Relaxation Series, and author of Understand Pain Live Well Again, and Yoga Therapy (chapter) in Thompson and Brooks, Integrative Pain Management 2016. Neil and Shelly Prosko are co-editors of Yoga and Science in Pain Care: Treating the Person in Pain, along with Marlysa Sullivan.  Amy & Neil talk about Neil's journey and how he got interested in pain care, How Yoga Therapy plays a role in pain care, safety in Self and relationship, What Compassionate care is, and how Neil uses a scientific approach to compassionate care. They talk about the following:How Neil got started in pain careSafety in your own body in pain careSafety in the relationship with your care providerThe difference between research and clinical careYoga and Pain care, How Yoga helpsResearch on the importance of Safety in pain careHow the body muscles give messages to the brain and nervous systemThe idea of compassionate care in allied health settingsNeil's work with the Veterans Affairs of Canada and how he works with VeteransThe book  Yoga and Science in Pain Care: Treating the Person in Pain by Neil's thought about applying a scientific approach to compassionate care If you would like to receive the free infographics and handouts that correspond to each episode on the Yoga Therapy Hour Podcast, please subscribe to our segmented email list. You will have the opportunity to determine the Infographic Topics that you would like to receive. When The Yoga Therapy Hour Podcast has a topic that corresponds to your choices, then you will receive an email for that week with the PDF's for download.Topics you can choose from include: • Yoga Therapy & Mental Health• Yoga Therapy & Physical Health• Social Justice in yoga & Yoga Therapy• Yoga/Ayurveda Toolbox• Yoga & Indian Philosophy• Global & Trending Yoga Therapy TopicsClick the link below to subscribe. It takes 10 seconds total.https://amywheeler.com/subscribe Today's podcasts is sponsored by: Optimal State We have all benefitted from the ancient wisdom of India and her people, so it feels really great to be able to serve in this way. The Optimal State family has pledged on-going support of $250 per month, to go directly to KYM Mitra (www.kym.org). We will collect the monies and gift them each month. Please consider a recurring monthly payment to the fund. Even a small gift or intention makes a difference! If we make more than $250 in any given month, it will roll into the following month's payment. The hope is that we can contribute for many years to come. If you even lose the link to donate, it is at the top of the homepage at www.amywheeler.com also. I will be reporting on the website the progress; how much money is coming in at any given time and where we are in the process of getting this project off the ground.Here is the link for you to get started with your donation. We are so happy that you have decided to join us. We thank you for the bottom of our hearts!Link to click in the description: http://Paypal.me/KymMitraDonation The Optimal State and Yoga Therapy Hour Podcast also has a Patreon page. We now have 5 staff that help us product the audio and video versions of the podcast. Please consider donating to help us keep this good work for the field of yoga therapy going. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/yogatherapyhourThe new You Tube Channel for this podcast is: YouTube: AmyWheelerPhd    https://www.youtube.com/c/AmyWheelerphdCheck out Amy's website: https://amywheeler.com/  Feel free to use download our free eBook and mobile App by going to the websites below.www.OptimalStateApp.comwww.GoldZoneBook.com Facebook: Optimal State by Amy Wheeler     https://www.facebook.com/OptimalStatebyAmyWheeler Twitter: Optimal State of Living with Dr. Amy TikTok: Dr. Amy@OptimalStateofLiving Instagram: Optimal State by Amy Wheeler    Pinterest: TheOptimalState    https://www.pinterest.com/TheOptimalState To checkout Neil's offeringshttps://paincareaware.com/

Our guest today is Shelly Prosko, 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. She is a Pain Care Aware Lead Trainer and has authored book chapters in several rehabilitation textbooks and is co-editor and co-author of the textbook titled Yoga and Science in Pain Care: Treating the Person in Pain by Singing Dragon Publishers. She is also known for her TEDx talk: Pushing Boundaries in Physiotherapy. Amy & Shelly talk her Journey, Shelly's book, Self-compassion, its importance and how it connects to client's compliance and adherence, reducing burnout for the practitioner, reducing self-doubt and how to deal with it, and a lot more. They touch on the followingShelly's journey and history as a physical therapist and continued education providerShelly's motivation to wanting to understand Self-compassionThe meaning of True self-compassion, and its importantThe 3 main components of self-compassion and how to practice it oftenImportance of practice self-compassion on a regular basisWhy having boundaries is important, to facilitate self-compassionHow Shelly deals with self-doubt as a practitioner of yoga therapyShelly's strategy for connecting with herself  If you would like to receive the free infographics and handouts that correspond to each episode on the Yoga Therapy Hour Podcast, please subscribe to our segmented email list. You will have the opportunity to determine the Infographic Topics that you would like to receive. When The Yoga Therapy Hour Podcast has a topic that corresponds to your choices, then you will receive an email for that week with the PDF's for download.Topics you can choose from include: • Yoga Therapy & Mental Health• Yoga Therapy & Physical Health• Social Justice in yoga & Yoga Therapy• Yoga/Ayurveda Toolbox• Yoga & Indian Philosophy• Global & Trending Yoga Therapy TopicsClick the link below to subscribe. It takes 10 seconds total.https://amywheeler.com/subscribe Today's podcasts is sponsored by: Optimal Statehttps://theoptimalstate.com/ We have all benefitted from the ancient wisdom of India and her people, so it feels really great to be able to serve in this way. The Optimal State family has pledged on-going support of $250 per month, to go directly to KYM Mitra (www.kym.org). We will collect the monies and gift them each month. Please consider a recurring monthly payment to the fund. Even a small gift or intention makes a difference! If we make more than $250 in any given month, it will roll into the following month's payment. The hope is that we can contribute for many years to come. If you even lose the link to donate, it is at the top of the homepage at www.amywheeler.com also. I will be reporting on the website the progress; how much money is coming in at any given time and where we are in the process of getting this project off the ground.Here is the link for you to get started with your donation. We are so happy that you have decided to join us. We thank you for the bottom of our hearts!Link to click in the description: http://Paypal.me/KymMitraDonation The Optimal State and Yoga Therapy Hour Podcast also has a Patreon page. We now have 5 staff that help us product the audio and video versions of the podcast. Please consider donating to help us keep this good work for the field of yoga therapy going. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/yogatherapyhourThe new You Tube Channel for this podcast is: YouTube: AmyWheelerPhd    https://www.youtube.com/c/AmyWheelerphdCheck out Amy's website Feel free to use download our free eBook and mobile App by going to the websites below.www.OptimalStateApp.comwww.GoldZoneBook.comFacebook: Optimal State by Amy Wheeler     https://www.facebook.com/OptimalStatebyAmyWheeler Twitter: Optimal State of Living with Dr. Amy TikTok: Dr. Amy@OptimalStateofLiving Instagram: Optimal State by Amy Wheeler    Pinterest: TheOptimalState    https://www.pinterest.com/TheOptimalState  Check out Shelly's websitehttps://physioyoga.ca/ Books mentioned in the podcastYoga and Science in Pain Care: Treating the Person in PainCo-edited by Neil Pearson, Shelly Prosko and Marlysa Sullivan.https://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Science-Pain-Care-Treating/dp/1848193971/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= Yoga Therapy for the whole woman : A Professional Guide by Cheri Dostal Rybahttps://www.bookdepository.com/Pelvic-Yoga-Therapy-for-Whole-Woman-Cheri-Dostal-Ryba/9781787756649

Janice Taylor is a physiotherapist who specializes in pelvic health. She treats anything related to the pelvis in women and men: incontinence, pelvic pain, pain with intercourse, interstitial cystitis, prolapse, pregnancy discomforts, labour and delivery prep, postpartum recovery, prostatitis, hysterectomy and post-prostatectomy rehabilitation..the list goes on. Today she joins TNP to deep dive into constipation with Dr. Dave. As Dr. Dave says, “you can't get far with an uncooperative anus!”Janice explains how the pelvic floor works, its importance to overall health, and ways in which we can optimize our pelvic health to craft the perfect bowel movement. Here are the links to some resources Janie Discusses in the episode:Toilet meditation with Shelly Prosko https://youtu.be/w9zsTUvNn-8Constipation with Michelle Lyons https://youtu.be/QcVVBtoyixYSquatty Potty Unicorn videoThis Unicorn Changed the Way I Poop - #SquattyPottySquatty Potty - How Toilet Posture Affects your HealthSquatty Potty® toilet stool: How toilet posture affects your healthHere is a link to the description on Anurex, cold therapy for hemorrhoid relief & treatment. You can also purchase this at well.cahttps://themamasphysio.com/product/anurex-fast-hemorrhoid-relief/1tbsp of psyllium + 3 TBSP of apple sauce- mega dose for constipation

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 226: Questions to Ask Someone in Pain with Shelly Prosko   Description: Many people start practicing yoga because of pain, to get relief or to recover from an injury. As yoga teachers, we are sure to encounter students who have some pain in their bodies when they come to our yoga classes. What are some questions we can ask them to be better able to help them? Shelly Prosko shares some questions rooted in empowerment, pain science and self compassion we can ask.   Shelly Prosko is a Canadian physiotherapist, yoga therapist, educator, author and pioneer of PhysioYoga. With over 22 years of experience integrating yoga into physiotherapy within a variety of specialty areas including helping people with chronic or persistent pain, pelvic health issues and professional burnout, Shelly is an expert in this field. Her current focus is on continuing education for other professionals in this area. In addition to this, Shelly has authored book chapters in yoga therapy and integrative rehabilitation textbooks and is the co-editor/author of the textbook Yoga and Science in Pain Care: Treating the Person in Pain. She maintains a clinical practice in Sylvan Lake, Canada and believes compassion is the foundation of pain care, healthcare and overall well-being.   Shelly explains why the questions we ask people who have pain are so important, and how that can influence their healing journey. She also has some insights about how we perceive pain and rest, and why having compassion is essential. This episode is a must-listen for every yoga teacher looking to learn more about pain science, compassion and helping people in pain.   Key Takeaways: [7:22] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Shelly Prosko. [10:32] What is the work that Shelly does and who does she do it for? [12:08] When Shannon was dealing with a herniated disc, Shelly asked her some questions about her pain. They discuss the conversation they had regarding Shannon's injury. [15:25] Many times, when someone tells us they are in pain, our immediate reaction may be to offer suggestions or advice, but this may not be helpful. [16:11] Shelly shares a bit more about what she has learned about pain care and working with people in pain. [22:23] Shannon and Shelly discuss the concept of trusting your body to heal itself. [28:48] Shelly highlights that calming the system can have a profound impact on healing and recovery. [30:53] Regression is as much a part of progression in the healing journey, and it is important for people to know that, and not discount the progress they have made. [34:22] Shannon and Shelly discuss having inquiry around movement, and how yoga ties into that. [40:34] It can be helpful to reframe resting for people who struggle to rest, and encourage them to engage in self-inquiry and self-reflection about the healing process. [44:42] Shelly shares a bit about using compassionate language and being kind to yourself and others. [52:33] Shelly highlights the fact that pain is not necessarily bad. [58:04] Shannon reflects on this interview with Shelly and shares her biggest takeaways.   Key Takeaways from Shelly: What positions or movements bring you ease, peace or joy? The body is set up to progress towards healing. Regression is a normal thing in recovery and healing. Be curious as you move. Increase your movements without forcing. Detach from your expectations as much as possible. Can you reduce your cognitive load as you heal? We are all so unique. Ask individuals, "what do you think?" Speak with compassion to self. Pain is a normal human condition. Pain is not necessarily "bad" - including in a yoga class.   Links: Shelly Prosko Yoga and Science in Pain Care: Treating the Person in Pain, by Neil Pearson, Shelly Prosko and and Marlysa Sullivan Yoga, Neuroplasticity and Pain: New Hope for Self-Empowerment and Healing (Discount code for 15% off: CONNECTEDPCA15) Pain Care Aware The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 225: Yoga for Hip Pain with Shannon Crow The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 116: Pain Language with Shelly Prosko (Part 1) The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 117: Pain Language with Shelly Prosko (Part 2)   The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 009: Kegels, Mula Bandha and Pelvic Health with Shelly Prosko   Pain science episodes   Gratitude to our Sponsors Schedulicity and Pelvic Health Professionals.   Quotes from this episode: "There's all sorts of things you can do that feel good, that feel easeful and peaceful and joyful. So do those instead of trying just to go straight to fixing." - Shelly   "The body is set up to always progress towards healing." - Shelly   "Calm the system down, and that in and of itself is really powerful for healing and for recovery." - Shelly   “The more we check in and be aware, then the more insight we have into our needs." - Shelly

Adrianne and Shelly sit down for Part 2 of their conversation on Yoga and Science in Pain Care: Treating the person in pain. Shelly shares how Yoga can be an effective system to work with individuals in pain. She and her colleagues are passionate about improving pain literacy. To purchase her book and to stay up to date on her latest offerings and public speaking see below link to her website and TEDX video.  https://physioyoga.ca/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUyX7D4kdKw

Summary: Yoga for healthy aging is a way of life to facilitate feeling your best at any age. In today's episode Dr. Baxter Bell walks us through what it means to age well through the use of yoga practices. Baxter Bell, MD, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, YACEP is a certified yoga therapist and medical acupuncturist. He is co-author of the book Yoga for Healthy Aging. Baxter is on faculty for several Teacher Training and Yoga Therapy programs around the country, and serves on the board of the International Association of Yoga Therapists. He teaches public and specialty Back Care yoga classes in Oakland and Berkeley, California, as well as workshops and retreats around the country and internationally. Topics: [1:59] Baxter introduces Yoga for Healthy Aging “I like to say that yoga for healthy aging is a whole philosophy and toolkit that actually can serve us at whatever age we decide that we want to age well.” [5:50] Baxter shares a student success [8:47] How yoga and yoga therapy help with aging [11:28] Research to support yoga for healthy aging [16:48] How people find and keep yoga practices [20:47] Misconceptions about yoga [27:57] The importance of further yoga training “I want to have new, fresh information that I can tap into stuff that does have a little bit of excitement around it, because then I continue to grow as a teacher and my students get to see that wow, learning never ends even for my teacher.” [37:45] Baxter talks about his inspiration for writing Yoga for Healthy Aging QZa Connect with Baxter: www.baxterbell.com https://www.instagram.com/baxterbellyoga/ https://www.facebook.com/baxter.bell.9 https://www.youtube.com/user/BaxterBellYoga Dr. Timothy McCall http://www.drmccall.com Affiliate Link for Principles and Practices of Yoga in Healthcare https://amzn.to/3sJONFs Affiliate Link Yoga for Healthy Aging book https://amzn.to/381x3xr Accessible Yoga Podcast Episode with Jivana Heyman https://theyogapro.libsyn.com/accessible-yoga-with-jivana-heyman Compassion, Pelvic Health, and Pain Care odcast Episode with Shelly Prosko https://theyogapro.libsyn.com/compassion-pelvic-health-and-pain-care-with-shelly-prosko Upcoming Events with Baxter: March 19-21, 2021 Yoga for Healthy Aging: What a Difference a Year Makes! Weekend Workshop, Live Streaming Hosted by Sun & Moon Studio, Arlington, VA April 16th-18th, 2021 Yoga for Healthy Aging 2.0 with Baxter Bell, Melina Meza and Erin Collins ​15 hour immersion- Register: https://www.melinameza.com/product/yoga-for-healthy-aging-2-0/  Other avenues to find Baxter: www.yogauonline.com Nest Yoga Oakland-https://www.nest-yoga.com Mountain Yoga Oakland- https://www.m-yoga.org   Connect with Pamela: Clubhouse:  @pamelacrane www.facebook.com/interoceptiveperformance www.instagram.com/interoceptiveperformance www.youtube.com/interoceptiveperformance www.interoceptiveperformance.com info@interoceptiveperformance.com Join Pamela's Facebook Support Group-Overcoming Fears and Imposter Syndrome https://www.facebook.com/groups/overcomingfearsandimpostersyndrome Sign Up-Confidence on Camera and Connecting on Youtube Course https://empowered-yoga-teaching.teachable.com/p/confidence-on-camera-connecting-on-youtube Sign up for The Yamas and Niyamas in Practice https://interoceptiveperformance.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1044526 Subscribe to the newsletter https://mailchi.mp/e4bd5f0b53c0/interoceptive-performance-landing-page Music:  The State of Things (The Bouncy Song) by Rena Wren is used with permission.  www.renawren.com  

Season 3 Episode 42 P-Soupers, thanks for tuning in! This week, it’s part two of my chat with physiotherapist, coach and author, Ann Parkinson. In this part of the conversation we dive into Ann’s book, "Dancing Through Life: A guide to living well". We explore the golden thread of compassion that runs through it, chat about the frameworks Ann developed to support the reader, talk about the connection between body and mind and reflect that many people are sitting and working in different environments right now, like the kitchen table or even their bed. Reviews are in for Part 1 on my chat with Ann. I think Shelly Prosko from Canada summed it up beautifully. She said on twitter "Wonderful episode – such a lovely interview - Ann you are filled with insight, compassion and wisdom." Shownotes are at www.rossmcintosh.co.uk Connect with Ross and the show! Twitter https://twitter.com/PeopleSoupPod https://twitter.com/RossMcCOACH Instagram https://www.instagram.com/people.soup/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/peoplesouppod/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-mcintosh-261a2a22/ Linktree - for links to many other podcast platforms and apps - linktr.ee/PeopleSoup And you can support the podcast by buying me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/peoplesoup

Join Adrianne as she speaks with Shelly Prosko, International speaker, Yoga Therapist, Author and Trail Blazer of PhysioYoga and Yoga in Healthcare. Shelly explains the science of compassion and how we can live into self-compassion. This was truly a head and heart conversation, grounded in connection. Visit Shelly's website below for her offerings and resources. Part 2 coming soon! https://physioyoga.ca/

Summary Wow, this interview with Shelly Prosko covers the gamut of Compassion, Pelvic Health and Pain care.  It almost felt like a yoga therapy session for a bit, and she shared so much great information. Shelly Prosko, PT, C-IAYT, CPI, 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. Topics Shelly talks about myths and misconceptions around compassion and self-care [1:45] Peace and equanimity [4:21] “What the research shows is actually, when you come from a place of self-compassion, you're you actually are more likely to not only change your behavior to more positive changes, but you're more likely to sustain them over prolonged periods of time. And we think it's because it's coming from a place of genuine love. It's rooted in love for yourself.” Guilt and self-care [8:50] Shelly shares her personal struggle with feeling guilt [14:05] Yoga and accessibility [17:21] The different paths of yoga [19:05] Anatomy and the pelvic floor [21:40] Emotions and the pelvic floor [26:07] Men and pelvic health considerations [29:33] Shelly shares an example of a plan of care [31:02] Creating a safe space [37:28] "If someone has an over recruited pelvic floor-first and foremost, create that therapeutic alliance, that trust.  Create an environment where they feel safe, heard, seen, loved, that will affect the pelvic floor immensely.” Trauma and the pelvic floor [39:21] Changing your relationship with pain [41:23] “We tend to think that the amount of tissue damage that we have, so how bad the problem is, and where it is no, that is directly correlated with pain. And it's not and this is science, we know this, it's not linear.” Changing neural pathways [51:33] Catastrophizing pain [53:41 Interact with Shelly:​  https://physioyoga.ca https://www.instagram.com/proskoyoga/ https://www.facebook.com/physioyogatherapy Yoga for People in Pain by Neil Pearson https://lifeisnow.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Yoga_Chronic_Pain_International_Journal_Yoga_Therapy_2008.pdf Link to Marlysa, Shelly, Neil, and Matthew Taylor's White Paper on Yoga Therapy and Pain https://rb.gy/y0v4iz Link to Book Science of Yoga in Pain Care https://amzn.to/3ll4AYa (Affiliate link) Interact with Pamela:​  www.interoceptiveperformance.com info@interoceptiveperformance.com Sign up for The Yamas and Niyamas in Practice https://interoceptiveperformance.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1044526 Get in The Yoga Pro Hub (FREE) or browse courses in the member vault https://interoceptiveperformance.vipmembervault.com Subscribe to the newsletter https://mailchi.mp/e4bd5f0b53c0/interoceptive-performance-landing-page Work with Pamela https://www.schedulicity.com/scheduling/CYTQ9A/services www.facebook.com/interoceptiveperformance www.instagram.com/interoceptiveperformance www.youtube.com/interoceptiveperformance Music:  The State of Things (The Bouncy Song) by Rena Wren is used with permission.  www.renawren.com

What if relaxation is less than relaxing? What if you hate the word “relax” and what works for others doesn’t work for you? We recorded this podcast on the most stress-filled Tuesday, also known as Election Day. But don’t worry, we didn’t get political, and we DID offer two calming meditations right there in the [...]

What if relaxation is less than relaxing? What if you hate the word “relax” and what works for others doesn’t work for you? We recorded this podcast on the most stress-filled Tuesday, also known as Election Day. But don’t worry, we didn’t get political, and we DID offer two calming meditations right there in the [...]

Compassion is the foundation of health care and overall well-being. Listen as Susi and her guest Shelly Prosko discuss why Shelly believes this, her journey to where she is today, how she learned about compassion fatigue, and much more on this episode of From Pain to Possibility. Shelly is a physiotherapist, yoga therapist, educator, author, and pioneer of physical yoga with over 20 year's experience integrating yoga into physiotherapy and working with people in pain. Shelly teaches in physiotherapy and yoga therapy programs and is the author of the book 'Yoga and Science in Pain Care.' Listen, as Shelly speaks about yoga being a compassionate practice, she teaches health care providers and other professionals on burnout. She also shares how, when she adopted self-compassion, it transferred over to her clients positively. Increased trust and therapeutic alliances lead to better outcomes. Did you know that people with a higher trait self-compassion are more likely to try new things even when they fail or make mistakes? Shelly shares some practices that have served her and the clients she thinks we might find useful around self-compassion and self-appreciation. This has been a very enlightening episode that we all can learn from. In This Episode [01:17] Welcome to the show, Shelly! [01:46] Shelly shares that she started her journey after discovering yoga in the early 90s. [03:54] Shelly speaks about how yoga is inherently a compassionate practice. [04:29] She teaches a course for health care providers and other professionals on burnout. [05:59] When you adopted self-compassion, how did that manifest itself to your clients or patients? [08:40] When you practice self-compassion, it means that it's ok not to be perfect. [11:14] Shelly finds that with self-compassion practices, she has become more present and clear. [11:40] Susi shares what she sees in the training she runs around health professionals being present when you are engaging with them. [14:01] Shelly speaks about science that suggests increased trust and therapeutic alliances lead to better outcomes. [15:45] Susi discusses the chaos that the COVID pandemic has created in her life with her kids and family. [18:00] People who have a higher trait self-compassion are more likely to try new things after they have failed or made a mistake. [19:48] Shelly likes the idea that when we are self-critical, that can be a huge motivator to create change. [22:08] Shelly speaks about the research she did for one chapter of her book. [26:17] What would it be like if the process of getting out of pain could be fun? [29:25] Shelly shares some practices that have served her and her clients that might be useful for listeners to practice. [32:02] Common humanity just means that we are not alone. [33:44] Shelly speaks about how you can show yourself self-kindness. [35:54] Shelly takes Susi and the listeners through the self-appreciation practice. [39:25] To serve self is to serve others and to serve others is to serve self. [42:01] Susi says that on some level if we are experiencing compassion fatigue, there may be something else going on. [43:20] Thank you for being on the show, Shelly! Find Susi Susi Hately Functional Synergy Training Susi on Twitter Susi on Facebook Susi on Instagram Click here to speak with us directly Find Shelly Shelly Prosko Blog Facebook Twitter

Shelly Prosko, PT, C-IAYT, CPI, 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. To learn more about the MINDFUL STRENGTH MEMBERSHIP click here.

In this episode I interview physiotherapist, Shelly Prosko about how yoga came into her life, how she began to integrate yoga practices in her physiotherapy work. I ask her how she came to meet and work with Neil Pearson, another physiotherapist who integrates yoga and pain science. We talk about her Tedtalk on pushing boundaries in physiotherapy and provider burn out. We delve into her new book and talk about the various courses, videos and content she has made available to patients but also other healthcare providers. Be sure to check it out the podcast and check out Shelly's website below to gain access to her book and content. www.physioyoga.ca

In this episode I interview physiotherapist, Shelly Prosko about how yoga came into her life, how she began to integrate yoga practices in her physiotherapy work. I ask her how she came to meet and work with Neil Pearson, another physiotherapist who integrates yoga and pain science. We talk about her Tedtalk on pushing boundaries in physiotherapy and provider burn out. We delve into her new book and talk about the various courses, videos and content she has made available to patients but also other healthcare providers. Be sure to check it out the podcast and check out Shelly’s website below to gain access to her book and content. www.physioyoga.ca

In this episode I interview physiotherapist, Shelly Prosko about how yoga came into her life, how she began to integrate yoga practices in her physiotherapy work. I ask her how she came to meet and work with Neil Pearson, another physiotherapist who integrates yoga and pain science. We talk about her Tedtalk on pushing boundaries in physiotherapy and provider burn out. We delve into her new book and talk about the various courses, videos and content she has made available to patients but also other healthcare providers. Be sure to check it out the podcast and check out Shelly’s website below to gain access to her book and content. www.physioyoga.ca

In this episode, I interviewed Shelly Prosko, 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. We spoke about her unique blend of physio (physical) therapy with yoga therapy, her new book with Neil Pearson & Marlysa Sullivan -- Yoga and Science in Pain Care -- and how her own injury shed a light on how yoga was left out of the medical model.To learn more about Shelly, visit https://physioyoga.caSupport the show (https://innerpeaceyogatherapy.com)

Explore tangible and practical ways yoga teachers can think about pain in order to improve their teaching and support people in pain.    Part two in a three-part series on yoga and pain is a conversation about specific yogic practices for people in pain. Guest Shelly Prosko is a physiotherapist, yoga therapist, educator and pioneer of PhysioYoga with over 20 years of experience integrating yoga into rehabilitation. Shelly is also one of the editors of the book, Yoga and Science in Pain Care. Stay tuned to the very end of the episode for a chance to win a copy of the book. All entries need to be submitted by midnight on Tuesday December 17th, 2019.   Episode highlights:  Why it’s helpful for yoga teachers to understand pain.  How yogic frameworks - the philosophy and other practices - can be applied to helping people with pain.  This difference between awareness and mindfulness and why we need to know the distinction.   The role of self compassion in pain and exploring the definition, different expressions, and stages of compassion.   The koshas and how they relate to the experience of pain including one example of a practice for each of the 5 koshas.    Join us again next week for part three of the series all about yoga philosophy and pain with Marlysa Sullivan.    Links & Resources Purchase the book, Yoga and Science in Pain Care Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Sign up for the email list and get 100 yoga class themes 

This week’s episode kicks off a series of conversations about yoga and pain science with the editors of the book, Yoga and Science in Pain Care. The guest for part one in this three part series is Neil Pearson. Neil is a physiotherapist, yoga therapist, and Clinical Assistant Professor at University of British Columbia. Neil and Mado discuss the basics of pain science, the different ways we experience pain, how the yoga tradition views pain, and how this can be appealing to health care professionals.    Listen to the very end of the episode for a chance to win a copy of Yoga and Science in Pain Care. All entries need to be submitted by midnight on Tuesday December 17th, 2019.   Episode highlights: Defining pain and the ways we can begin to talk about such a multidimensional experience. The role of pain as protective mechanism from a pain science perspective.  How yoga teachers can open a dialogue with health care professionals. What science says about being a part of a community and the effect it has on pain. Guidelines for yoga teachers who teach group classes to support and respond to students communicating some level of pain.  Different relationships to pain as it related to wanting to achieve the more difficult/extreme asanas.  How to learn more about pain science if you are interested in bringing it into your yoga teaching.   Join me again next week for part two of the series where I talk to Shelly Prosko about the specific practices we can use to help people in pain who show up at our yoga classes.    Links & Resources Neil’s website Pain Care U  Lifemark First Five Steps  Purchase the book, Yoga and Science in Pain Care Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Sign up for the email list and get 100 yoga class themes

In this episode, we are exploring physiotherapy, yoga therapy and pain science with physiotherapist, Neil Pearson. Neil is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia and the founding chair of the Physiotherapy Pain Science Division in Canada. He is a recipient of the Canadian Pain Society's Excellence in Interprofessional Pain Education Award and faculty in international yoga therapist training programs. Neil develops pain care resources, collaborates in research and serves as a mentor for health professionals and yoga practitioners looking to enhance their therapeutic expertise. He's also a lead contributor to Pain BC's Pain Foundations and Gentle Movement Series as well as the coeditor of Yoga and Science in Pain Care: Treating the Person in Pain along with physiotherapists, Shelly Prosko and Marlysa Sullivan. You'll learn all about yoga and yoga therapy for pain management, as well as the neuroscience that supports its effectiveness and use in the world of yoga, yoga therapy and physiotherapy. I want to thank Neil for his contribution. This episode is a great tool that you can use if you're a yoga therapist, a physical therapist or a physiotherapist, and you're interested in the intersection between yoga and/or pain science. It's great to share with your patients, your clients or your colleagues. Sign up for the latest episode at www.integrativepainscienceinstitute.com/podcasts/. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here’s How » Join the Healing Pain Podcast Community today: integrativepainsciencinstitute.com Healing Pain Podcast Facebook Healing Pain Podcast Twitter Healing Pain Podcast YouTube Healing Pain Podcast LinkedIn Healing Pain Podcast Instagram  

On this episode, we're exploring the significance of Polyvagal Theory on autonomic resilience as it pertains to the management of chronic pain. Our expert guest is Dr. Marlysa Sullivan. She is an assistant professor at the Maryland University of Integrative Health in both yoga therapy and health promotion. She's also an adjunct professor at the Emory University in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program where she teaches the integration of yoga and mindfulness in physical therapy. She has a new book out which is co-edited with physiotherapists, Shelly Prosko and Neil Pearson called Yoga and Science in Pain Care, which we'll be discussing through the lens of Polyvagal Theory. As a researcher, Marlysa has also contributed to the evidence base with regard to yoga therapy and Polyvagal Theory. If you'd like to get a taste of Dr. Sullivan's work with regards to yoga therapy and Polyvagal theory, she has provided a free download of her paper. The paper's called Yoga Therapy and Polyvagal Theory: The Convergence of Traditional Wisdom and Contemporary Neuroscience. To download this paper, all you have to do is text the word, 157Download, to the number 44222. You can also open up a new browser on your computer and type in www.IntegrativePainScienceInstitute.com/157download. Before we begin, make sure you take a moment to join the Integrative Pain Science Institute and the Healing Pain Podcast community Facebook group. Here you'll be able to connect with like-minded health professionals from the world of physical therapy, psychology, occupational therapy, medicine, nursing. Almost every profession is part of this group and you can connect with them with regard to integrative pain care and what's happening in the world of integrative pain science. To join that group, just go to www.Facebook.com/groups/IPSICommunity. You can send me a quick email. My email address is Joe@IntegrativePainScienceInstitute.com and I'll send that link to you. Sit back, relax and let's get ready to learn about Polyvagal Theory and pain science with Dr. Marlysa Sullivan. Sign up for the latest episode at www.integrativepainscienceinstitute.com/podcasts/. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here’s How » Join the Healing Pain Podcast Community today: integrativepainsciencinstitute.com Healing Pain Podcast Facebook Healing Pain Podcast Twitter Healing Pain Podcast YouTube Healing Pain Podcast LinkedIn Healing Pain Podcast Instagram

On this episode of the Healthy, Wealthy and Smart Podcast, I welcome Shelly Prosko on the show to discuss compassion in healthcare. Shelly is a physiotherapist, yoga therapist, educator and pioneer of PhysioYoga with over 20 years of experience integrating yoga into rehabilitation with a focus on helping people suffering from persistent pain, pelvic health conditions and professional burnout. She guest lectures at yoga and physiotherapy programs, presents at medical and yoga therapy conferences globally, provides mentorship to health providers, and offers onsite and online continuing education courses for yoga and health professionals. Shelly is a Pain Care U Yoga Trainer and maintains a clinical practice in Sylvan Lake, Canada. She is co-editor of the book Yoga and Science in Pain Care: Treating the Person in Pain. In this episode, we discuss: -Can compassion be trained? -The six elements of Halifax’s model of enactive compassion -Empathic distress, compassion fatigue and burnout among healthcare practitioners -The five facets of comprehensive compassionate pain care -And so much more!   Resources: Shelly Prosko Twitter  Shelly Prosko Instagram  Prosko PhysioYoga Therapy Facebook Shelly Prosko Youtube Shelly Prosko Vimeo Physio Yoga Website Yoga and Science in Pain Care: Treating the Person in Pain   For more information on Shelly: Shelly Prosko, PT, C-IAYT, CPI, 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 considers herself a lifelong student and 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 maintains a clinical practice in Sylvan Lake, Canada and mentors professionals who are interested in pursuing this integrative path. In addition to her many skills as a healthcare practitioner, Shelly is also an accomplished figure skater and has traveled the world with many professional ice shows. She is passionate about music, dance and spending quality time with family and friends. Shelly believes that meaningful connections, spending time in nature and sharing joy can be powerful contributors to healing and well-being. Please visit www.physioyoga.ca for more info and resources.   Read the full transcript below: Karen Litzy:                   00:01                Hey Shelly, welcome to the podcast. I am excited to have you on. This is going to be fun today. Shelly Prosko:               00:07                Thank you for having me. Really excited to talk about this. Karen Litzy:                   00:11                So I spoke to your coauthor Neil a couple of weeks ago, talking about your book, yoga science and yoga and science and pain care, treating the person in pain. And I'm really excited to dig into sort of your writing within this book because you are writing about compassion. So before we get into the nitty gritty, what is compassion? How do you define it? Shelly Prosko:               00:41                So believe it or not, there actually is not one agreed upon definition. So that's the first thing is some people describe it as a trait. Others say it's more of an emotion. Some people say it's like a motivation or behavior. But the definition that I use in my chapter is the one that is kind of the working definition that the leading compassion researchers use in the Oxford handbook of compassion science. So that's kind of like the compendium, the Bible of all the thought leaders and researchers around compassion. So that definition, the working definition there is basically compassion is first and foremost. You have to be able to recognize that someone is suffering or struggling or in need. And then the second component is then we have to have the motivation to want to do something about it to alleviate or to help. So basically recognizing the suffering with the motivation to relieve and that is not just us and someone else that's also within ourselves. So compassion also includes the self compassion piece and that is I think really important for us to keep in mind. Karen Litzy:                   01:56                Yeah, I was going to say, and would you say that having compassion for yourself allows you to be more compassionate towards others? Do you feel like it's a prerequisite for compassion as a healthcare provider? Shelly Prosko:               02:13                That's a really good question. From my perspective, I think it helps. The more self-compassion we have, the more compassionate we can be for others. But the research is kind of right now from what I've been reading, actually, I just listened to a recent podcast a couple of days ago and with a couple of the leading researchers. And there still is no really solid evidence that increasing self-compassion translates to increased compassion for others or that increasing compassion for others translates to increased self-compassion. That said, there is some research that shows cultivating self-compassion does seem to help increase compassion for others. So we have a bit of research that says that. And my own personal view would be yes, I don't know if it's a prerequisite, but I have noticed in my own self without making this like a therapy session, I have noticed that I scored quite low on self-compassion and I have traditionally been quite, you know, self critical and hard on myself. But as I've learned more about this stuff and practicing self compassion, what that is and, and exploring it and experiencing it, I feel like I overall am just understanding more of what compassion is. And I feel like maybe I'm, you know, more compassionate. It could be just age and stuff too and experience, but that'd be my answer to that. Karen Litzy:                   03:46                And why is compassion important in the care of people in pain? So how does it benefit me as a healthcare provider to understand compassion? When I'm working with people in pain. Shelly Prosko:               04:02                Yeah. So I just want to be clear that sometimes people equate, you know, just being compassionate, they just equate that to being kind, you know, and it's just should be common sense and just don't be a jerk. You know, a lot of people just say, well just, it's not that hard. But, you know, there it is a little more nuanced than that. And just going back to your question on, you know, what are some of the benefits if we actually look at the, the deeper layers of compassion and which I can get into a little bit there later, but the components that go into offering compassion and also self compassion towards, you know, yourself. Lot of the research shows, I mean, stuff that we're not probably really surprised at. Like it can increase quality of care for our patients, increase patient outcomes, increase patient satisfaction, increase therapeutic Alliance, and increased patient self care. Shelly Prosko:               05:04                So I want to just briefly talk about this cause I think it's really important and we don't think about this part of compassion, but there's this one study that I talk about in the book chapter and it was an entire year long. It was in an integrative rehab hospital and it showed there was a hundred women who are living with chronic pain and it showed that it was only once these women actually experienced what it was like to be loved, cared for, to be seen, to be heard. In other words, to have actually to receive compassionate care. Only then could they take active steps towards their own self care, which I think is really important in pain care because so often we talk about how important it is for our patients to play an active role in their pain care. We're always talking about that. Shelly Prosko:               05:55                The literature says that we're trying to help our patients make healthier choices, et cetera. And now we have some research that says, well, you know what, if we provide this very in depth, nuanced, compassionate care, it looks like people that are patients are then more likely to, you know, better make better choices. And it's neat. Some of the women, what they were saying, things like they felt worthy, they felt loved and yeah, worthy enough to be cared for. And I just think all of that is so fascinating. So those are some of the, you know, the benefits to providing compassionate care, but there's also benefits to us as the healthcare provider. So what some of the research is showing is that it can actually help protect against burnout. Shelly Prosko:               06:51                We can dive into that a little bit later too in some of the myths, you know, around too much compassion. But, you know and also just overall the positive health outcomes are increased in us as the health care provider and even things like reduced anxiety, depression, even stuff like reduced medical costs and errors and malpractice claims. Like this is just what all the research is saying. But then I think the other part of it that I do want to really highlight is the self compassion piece. So there is benefit for the person in pain to practice self compassion is what some of the research is showing us now and there is also benefit for us as the healthcare provider to practice self compassion. And again some of that for us as a healthcare provider is like reducing burnout, reducing excessive empathy, which they're calling, you know, empathic distress or empathy key things like that. Shelly Prosko:               07:49                It helping us improve our emotional resiliency and like we said, potentially even increased concern for others, but in the patient, and this is what I thought was so fascinating as of now, I think there's only about five or six studies out there, but they do show that people in pain that either have higher self compassion or some of the studies actually show people in pain. Doing these self compassion practices actually can show reduced pain severity, reduced anger, reduced psychological distress or things like depression, anxiety and even increased pain acceptance. You know, we know there's some benefits. Especially with the ACT, acceptance commitment therapy research, we're starting to see how that's important and, you know, there's even some links to reduce pain catastrophization and rumination and decreased fear avoidance behaviors. And it's just really fascinating. And I think, just the last bit here on that, on that question is increased self-compassion has been shown to reduce our own self criticism and increase our motivation to actually change our behaviors. Karen Litzy:                   09:02                We're just talking today, Nisha mind who's a psychiatrist. And we were just saying, man, how hard it is to change behaviors for human beings. Cause she was talking, she has a dog. And how with a dog, you know, you can change behaviors by motivating them through food. So they have these incentives or incentivize through food. Humans, it's a little bit harder how difficult it is to change behavior in a human being. So now if compassion and practicing self-compassion can help with behavior change, how do we change compassion? I mean, how do we train compassion? Can we train it? Shelly Prosko:               09:47                Yeah. So the literature says yes, it is trainable and we have quite a bit now and there's different programs and different styles. And I think, you know, there's a lot of different models and I think probably just to make it easiest for us here as I'll talk through this one model that I really like. It's Joan Halifax and she's an anthropologist and a meditation teacher and a few other things. But she has a really nice model of inactive compassion. And what she talks about is, you know how I said the definition of compassion was in recognizing the suffering first and then having the motivation to alleviate it. She actually goes beyond this and she says that definition's a little bit limiting because compassion is actually more of a dynamic emergent process. So it's more of a wisdom that emerges within the context of the environment that we're in, which makes sense. Shelly Prosko:               10:53                If you know anything about systems theory or emergent theory and you know, so if we're in a room together with our patient, you've got the patient not person in everything, they're dynamic, you know, evolving system right there in that moment. And then there's us, we're also a dynamic, evolving system that we come together in the context of the environment. And that even changes the dynamic or influences. So compassion can emerge from that interaction, from a series of elements that are actually non compassionate in and of themselves. So we can train and these six elements, and again, this is Halifax's model, but we can train these six elements and it saw like you just train one and then you train the other. It's not linear there, you know, it's like I said, an interdependent integrative process. But I think it's just really fascinating because this is something accessible and tangible. Shelly Prosko:               11:53                And in the book I go obviously into depth and I'll just try to keep this short. But the first element is the attentive domain. So that's just being fully and wholeheartedly a hundred percent present and you can, we can cultivate our focus or concentration ended up and our attention through a whole host of different ways. Whether it's different mindfulness practices or focused concentrative activities. So that's a whole other way to cultivate that. So just by cultivating and practicing the attention is one way to help the process of compassion. And then the second one is the affective domain. So that is being aware of our emotions and we have a lot of research that shows the more aware we are of our emotions, the more aware we can be of others. Shelly Prosko:               12:52                And then we also have research that shows some interoceptive awareness practices, believe it or not because of the way something with the insular cortex, you know, we don't know if it's that more information is being sent to the insular cortex or it's just changing the way the brain is interpreting this. But when we do enter in an interoceptive awareness practices, it seems that that increases our ability to be more in touch with our own emotions, which is super cool. So an Interoceptive awareness practice might be like a body scan. So you're taking yourself, we're guiding a patient through, you know, a two minute, you know, scan of the body and inside and what are inside physiological state is like, it could be even, you know, a breath awareness practice. Shelly Prosko:               13:47                And just knowing how that feels inside the body. And then the third element is intention. So in yoga, that of course, you know, that's my framework, how I frame a lot of things. But in yoga, there's a saying, you know, where your intention goes, the energy follows. So, from a science perspective, when you can actually focus and concentrate on something that you really put, have an attention to it that can affect the outcome. So for example, the intention when you're working with someone might be first and foremost my intention is to care for myself first. Secondly, to then care for the person in front of me. And then you may just want to keep that in mind throughout the whole session. And your intention may be something really specific. Like, I am here to serve, you know, when you sort of keep repeating that to yourself, I'm here to serve, I'm here to serve and my intention setting can be super powerful. Shelly Prosko:               14:54                I don't know if you've done any intention setting before, but you just set an intention. It doesn't even have to be related to our professional career here. Just even personally, you go into a room or a setting where you're feeling like you don't really want to be there, et cetera. Maybe a family Christmas dinner. And if you go in with this intention, okay, I'm just going to focus on, and you could say anything, I just want to be present or I'm just gonna focus on being kind to myself. And you just focused on that one intention. It's like a theme. So that's the third element. So remember, all of these are now together. They start to accumulate into gaining more insight into the person's suffering in front of you, which then can lead us to have a more compassionate response. Shelly Prosko:               15:40                Then the fourth element is insight. And that's basically just the idea that these first three components together and practice can lead to that deeper insight into what that person is, you know, is really going through. And then the other part to that insight, I just want to add, cause I think it's so fascinating once we start gaining deeper insight into all this stuff, we do start to understand that there's something called therapeutic humility, which is this idea that, you know, we can't control the outcome. So we do the best that we can. We gain as much information as we can. We be the best people we can be and we help the person as much as we can. And then we detach from outcome and we can pay lip service to that and we can all understand that. But when it comes down to it, I think a lot of us are attached. Shelly Prosko:               16:38                And we're invested in making sure that the outcome is a certain way. So we could talk about that for a long time. But this is huge in part of the compassionate response is this idea to have this insight that we have to have this humility that we're not the almighty savior and we can't control. And then the last two are embodied and engaged. And so the embodied domain is really this idea that we are fully, fully present. So kind of similar to the first one, but this one is more that we are dividing our attention. Meaning we yes, we have to listen fully and be fully present for the person in front of us. But we also have to stay within our body and not detach from what we're experiencing and disassociate. So we have this idea that we can still feel if our breath is tightening or if there's tension in our body and that can give us a lot of information as well. Shelly Prosko:               17:37                That's really important. So that's part of the compassionate process. And then the last one, the engaged domain that's really compassion in action. So that's your compassionate. And I think for here, this one, I think the biggest take home message for me has been, it's obviously informed by everything I just said. And it's different depending on the context. So there's no, well there's no GoTo, this is the strategy or this is my response or this is what I say, you know, when my friend is struggling and where someone's giving you some bad news and there's no really go to response, you can have some ideas of course, and then some things maybe that aren't, we want to stay away from saying, but it's really important to understand that compassion is this wisdom that emerges in that situation and the engaged part might be not saying anything or not doing anything. It could be just holding space. And so I hope that helps you and the listeners sort of get a deeper appreciation for this process and that we can train it and that it takes time and it can be extremely helpful for both the person in pain. Karen Litzy:                   19:01                Yeah, I think that's great. And thank you so much for going into a little more detail there on that model. I think it makes it a little more concrete for myself and certainly hopefully for the listeners as well. And now I think something that people may misunderstand or misconstrue is the idea of compassion and empathy as being the same. So my question is there a difference between compassion and empathy? And if so, can you kind of give us the similarities or differences there? Shelly Prosko:               19:39                Yeah. So just like compassion, empathy does not have one agreed upon definition either. So this makes it challenging to talk about this stuff because you know, people have different ideas as to what these things are. So some, you know, of what I've read about empathy, it depends if we're talking about cognitive empathy or emotional empathy, behavioral empathy. So that makes it a bit tricky. But I'm going to stick with the empathy that I find most people resonate with and that is more that the empathy where it's our capacity to be able to share the feelings of another person. So what it's like to be in the other person's shoes, right? To resonate with their experience, even to share that emotional experience. So if we use that definition, then we know we can see that empathy is really more of a competency. Shelly Prosko:               20:43                It can be a motivating force for compassion. But what the literature shows is that empathy is neither sufficient nor required for compassion. And you think about that for a moment. It makes sense because we can have empathy for someone. So we may emote, be able to, you know, really understand and emotionally share that same experience or share that same feeling because we've had a similar experience. The response may not necessarily be a compassionate one and there's lots of different reasons as to why we would or wouldn't. I go into a little bit of that in the book, but just I think, I hope that makes sense to everybody. How you could still have this empathy but maybe not provide of a very compassionate response. The other part of that is you don't necessarily have to even have empathy in order to provide a compassionate response. And I think that's actually quite hopeful. And you know, cause I think even talking to some of my colleagues who some people may feel that they're not as empathetic or they've been told that they don't have, what you don't understand. Shelly Prosko:               22:05                And, you know, the good news is you may not be really empathetic or you may not consider yourself an empath, but you can still have a compassionate response. And I think if you go back to the Halifax model of all of those elements, you know, that help us provide a compassionate response. Empathy can be part of that. Like you say, it can be a motivating factor, but not, no, not the only factor in it. Certainly, it could still be lacking. You could still be compassionate. Karen Litzy:                   22:40                That is hopeful for people who may be feel like they're not as empathic as they would like to be. But like you said, that Halifax model is this sort of emergent model by having all of these different inputs go into the system and have, you know, an emergence of compassion from you. So it's not like all of those parts need to be equal. Shelly Prosko:               23:03                Right? And empathy. Like I said, empathy can be good. Of course. You know, just think of a time when you shared someone's experience feeling, you know, or their experience. You've had a similar experience that may help us give us an idea. But we also have to, I think this is interesting too. We also have to look at the fact that sometimes if we have empathy and we can really share that feeling if we're not careful and if we're not in this more clear kind of state. We may actually start to look at our experience and what we went through and put on someone else, like almost feeling that, well, this is how I felt. So they must feel that too. And there's something that Paul bloom, he's a psychologist at Yale, he calls it empathy arrogance or the arrogance of empathy. Shelly Prosko:               23:56                And it's just fascinating. Some of his work and you know, this really made sense to me when he talks about the fact that can we truly, truly have empathy, you know, on that deep level of what it means. Because that means that we want really understand and share 100% with that person is going through. And we can't do that really, if you think about it. And it could be, you know, someone may be that we've had a similar experience, or it could be, think of yourself as a healthcare provider. Look at all the patients we have. I'm coming to see us who are very, very different from us. Different things have happened to them, different socio economic status, people who are maybe vulnerable populations marginalized. And if we're in a position of privilege, how can we truly empathize with some of the issues and the things that they're going through that may affect their esteem? So that's kind of a tangent, but I think why I brought that up. I think it's important is because it's just this idea that we can still be really, really compassionate and we can train for these compassionate responses even if maybe we can't fully empathize. So I think that was the point of me bringing that up. Karen Litzy:                   25:22                Yeah. And I think in my mind, it kind of takes a load off of me as the healthcare provider. You know, that you don't have to have experienced what your patient has experienced in order to provide compassionate care in order to have that therapeutic relationship in order to help that patient in some point of their recovery. So I think it takes a little bit of the pressure off of the healthcare provider, which may in turn help us to be better providers. So we don't have that pressure, like you said, that pressure on us for outcomes because perhaps, you know, you don't want to think, well, because I never experienced it that I can't help this person right now, I'm away or I'm not the right person for you, or something like that. So I think it's an important distinction. And now in the book, in your chapter you sort of have this model of comprehensive, compassionate pain care five sort of points to that. So can you speak about that model of compassionate pain care? Shelly Prosko:               26:42                Yeah, so really just looking at all the different orientations of compassion. So Paul Gilbert, this is based on Paul Gilbert's work, he's another compassion researcher in the UK. And he talks about the orientations which is giving compassion and then obviously we also receive it. And then the third orientation is the self-compassion within us. So the five components that I see when you look at the full comprehensive, compassionate pain care. The first one is of course what we've talked about here, the health care provider providing compassion. And then the second component is the health care practitioner and the person in pain, cultivating or practicing self-compassion. Oh, that's within each of us. And then the third one is also close family and friends, cultivating compassion towards self and others, including the person in pain. And then the fourth is that we want to make sure that the values of the healthcare organization, including its leaders are in line with compassionate care. Shelly Prosko:               27:54                So this includes a commitment to providing and supporting an environment where compassion can be cultivated by both the healthcare provider and the person who, and I think that's, you know, just really important to include in a comprehensive model here because it's not just about the healthcare provider and the person. And then the very last point is just the community at large. You know, I think it's important to have overall public awareness and understanding, you know, surrounding the importance and the health benefits and practices of compassion. And then of course, that includes the person in pain. So that's a little lofty and I don't have a task force or a plan or not this, you know, right now I'm focusing on those first two and I'm doing a lot of different things and this is going to be my life's work, Karen. Shelly Prosko:               28:47                Like I really believe in this stuff. And, I think increasing pain literacy and increasing compassion literacy are two things that, you know, I'm in it for the long run and so how that looks on how we increase pain literacy and compassion literacy in, you know, interest in the general public and in healthcare organizations. I mean, that's a huge topic. But, you know, there are some different things that I've been involved and just with, not necessarily with compassion per se, but just increasing pain that I've seen, you know, our health care community and yoga therapy community. So yeah, to me it's got to be comprehensive like that. Karen Litzy:                   29:42                That's the way you're gonna make, I think a worldwide impact, certainly on those living in pain when we know, at least here in the United States, and I think this is probably can kind of be generalized to other parts of the world. But here in the United States, the burden of care for just low back pain and neck pain is number, I think three or four behind heart disease, like diabetes. So we're talking about pain as being one of the largest burden of care in the United States. And I would argue probably across the world. I don't know that it's that much different or there's that much difference from other parts of the world. I don't know what it's like in Canada, but I mean it's a lot of money. It's a lot of time. It's a lot of resources. It's a lot of relationships. It's a lot of people in pain contributing to that burden, behind those big numbers of trillions of dollars. They're individual people. And so if adding something like compassionate pain care can help make even the tiniest dent in that, then I think it's, I don't think it's a lofty goal. I think it's just a goal. Shelly Prosko:               30:58                Yeah. I'm glad you say that and you put that into perspective, which I appreciate and yeah, and I think that, you know, just overall this compassion what we've been talking about here, like I think it's the foundation of pain care or is this foundation of health care. You know, you can't really argue with that. And, I don't think anybody would argue with that. But what I think we just don't quite understand is that we may have good intentions and we may think that intuitively, yes we are compassionate people, but the research shows that it can be lacking in certain areas of the world and certain regions, healthcare regions. And also there are fears and blocks and resistances to compassion. Like there are actually reasons why we may not offer a compassionate response. And, you know, some of those reasons are the organizational barriers or different social pressures. Shelly Prosko:               32:05                But some of them may also be certain beliefs that we have that compassion may not be the best response for this person. Maybe we have a deep seated belief that the person needs something different. You know, there's a lot to this, but there are different obstacles. And also just our own health. I didn't really talk about this in here, but you know, we might be overwhelmed by stress in our lives or we may have some unmanaged personal distress and we have research that shows we don't need research to tell us this, I don't think, but we do have research that shows when our own physiological state is not regulated. When we're in a state of flight or stress or a sense of anxiety, things like that. Neuro, biologically we are not set to provide a compassionate response. Karen Litzy:                   32:59                Go figure. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. All right, what would you love for the listeners to take away from this discussion and then we'll get into where people can find you in the book and all that other stuff, but, what would be your big takeaway when it comes to compassion and care? Shelly Prosko:               33:25                I think the biggest takeaway that I would like people to understand is that being compassion is not just about being nice or kind or a good person, so that we could still be all those things, but we actually may still be lacking in that compassionate wisdom. So if you can just think of it more than that and that we could, Oh, maybe get a little bit more skilled at developing this compassionate wisdom. And I guess this is more than one takeaway, but that would be the one. And then just knowing that there are these benefits, both the people in pain and also for us as the practitioner for our own health and yes, for burnout and things like that. Karen Litzy:                   34:18                Now where can people find more information about you, what you're doing and where the book is? Shelly Prosko:               34:24                So my website's probably the easiest, kind of the one stop shop. So it's physioyoga.ca like Canada. And you know, if you want to sign up for my newsletter from there, it's on my blog. And then that keeps you up to date. Cause I do online courses, webinars, onsite courses, lots of videos, YouTube, you know, all kinds of different resources and things. So, and then the social media links are all on my website. Karen Litzy:                   34:54                Yeah. And we'll have all of that to up on the podcast under this episode at podcasts.Healthywealthysmart.com so people can one click and get right to you. Shelly Prosko:               35:04                Okay. Yeah. And then the book, the co-editors, you've already mentioned Neil Pierson and then Marlisa Sullivan is the other co-editor. And we do have some other authors who are contributing or who have contributed to the book. And you can find that book. I mean it's just Google yoga and science in pain care, treating the person in pain. It's on Amazon, Barnes, Nobles, you know where books are sold. Karen Litzy:                   35:25                I can say I have not read all the chapters, but I have read several of them and I 100% recommend this for healthcare practitioners or not even healthcare practitioners. Really anyone. Because I just find that for me, it's helping me to kind of look inward a little bit more what I'm doing and not doing and what I can improve upon. And a lot of good reminders of pain science and, and things that I can thentalk about with my patients. I think in a way that, that they're understanding and integrating yoga and integrating compassion, integrating breathing and things like that into my treatment. So I'm finding it very helpful from a practice point. Shelly Prosko:               36:22                Exactly. That's great. Yeah. That was our hope. You know, our hope was that healthcare providers, regardless if they wanted to go deep into, you know, the yoga therapy and bring yoga into their practice or not, you know, we wanted this to be helpful for, you know, people who, you know, just might be informed by some of these teachings. And of course informed by the science and in mind with what the contemporary science is telling us around patients. Karen Litzy:                   37:05                Yeah, exactly. And it's also nice because it's not like, it's not super heavy. It's not like you're like, Ooh, boy, like I need five hours to read two pages. You know what I mean? Cause it's written in simple language, which is very nice versus so you're taking all these studies that are very scientific and able to simplify them and distill it down into something that's very easy to read. And I think that's why it sticks. So well done for you guys on that. You can find the book at any bookseller and we will have links to it on our website. And Shelly, thank you so much for coming on. I mean this is great and hopefully it allows people to at least look into compassion training, at least start incorporating this with clients and with your patients. So thank you so much for coming on. I appreciate it. Shelly Prosko:               38:02                Thank you. Thanks so much for having me. I'm just so, so, so grateful. Karen Litzy:                   38:06                Yeah. Pleasure, pleasure. And everyone, thanks so much for listening. Have a great couple of days and stay healthy, wealthy, and smart.   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram  and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest!  Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!

We’re talking about the important topic of compassion and pain care. Our expert guest is my friend and colleague, Shelly Prosko. Shelly is a Canadian physiotherapist, yoga therapist, author, speaker and educator. She is someone who is empowering individuals to create and sustain meaningful change in their life by teaching and advocating for the integration of yoga into modern healthcare. You may know Shelly as the pioneer of PhysioYoga, which is a unique combination of physiotherapy and yoga. Shelly guest lectures at medical colleges, teaches at yoga therapy schools, provide yoga teacher trainings, speaks internationally at yoga therapy and medical conferences, contributes to yoga academic research and offers online and offline continuing education courses for both yoga and healthcare professionals on important topic such as chronic pain, pelvic pain, compassion and professional burnout. Shelly has recently co-authored a book called Yoga and Science in Pain Care: Treating the Person in Pain. That’s available online. We’ll also discuss that book. You’ll learn all about the different components of compassion, why compassion and pain care is important for both people overcoming pain as well as the practitioners who treat them. What are some of the reasons why we don’t always provide compassionate pain care? We’ll discuss if compassion is something that can be trained and cultivated or is it something that you’re born with? Finally, how to differentiate between compassion, empathy, and compassion fatigue. To help celebrate the launch of her new book, Shelly is providing a free chapter written about Compassion and Pain Care from her book for you. To download that free chapter on Compassion and Pain Care, all you have to do is to text the word 155download to the number 44222 or if you’re on a computer or another device, open up a new browser and type in the URL, www.IntegrativePainScienceInstitute.com/155download. Before we begin, I wanted to share a brand-new community with you that I started. I created a free Facebook community for those who follow the Healing Pain Podcast and the Integrative Pain Science Institute. Inside this group, you can access free tips, education resources, and connect with like-minded peers and friends. Anyone can join this group, but I would especially like to meet you if you are an integrated pain practitioner. This would include a physical therapist, a physiotherapist and occupational therapist, a physician, a health coach, a psychologist, a counselor, a social worker. No matter who you are, if you are a healthcare provider, I’m looking forward to personally meeting you and hearing all about the great things that you’re doing in the world of pain care. To join this group, all you have to do is go to www.Facebook.com/groups/ipsicommunity. If you can’t remember that long URL, you can simply send me an email at Joe@IntegrativePainScienceInstitute.com. Make sure to take the time to download our free gift. Make sure to take a moment to join that Facebook group. I can’t wait to meet you there. Let’s begin and let’s meet the wonderful and fabulous, Shelly Prosko. Sign up for the latest episode at www.integrativepainscienceinstitute.com/podcasts/. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here’s How » Join the Healing Pain Podcast Community today: integrativepainsciencinstitute.com Healing Pain Podcast Facebook Healing Pain Podcast Twitter Healing Pain Podcast YouTube Healing Pain Podcast LinkedIn Healing Pain Podcast Instagram

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Ep 121: Yoga for Pelvic Health with Shannon Crow   Description:   Why is yoga such an amazing gift for pelvic health? How does knowing this information and using it change the way we practice and teach yoga? In this episode, Shannon shares more about one of her favorite topics yoga for pelvic health.   Shannon reveals her own personal experiences of going through three pregnancies and births with no idea about pelvic health, and how finding out more about the topic ignited her passion in the topic. She talks more about the four key elements of yoga for pelvic health - breath, alignment, movement and information - and why yoga makes such a difference.   After learning more about pelvic health, Shannon started to incorporate some of the things she learned into her own yoga practice, and how she shared yoga with her students. She walks us through some simple examples you can practice, try out and share with your yoga students.   If you've been wondering about how to improve your pelvic health in some way or have students who have approached you with questions or concerns relating to pelvic health, this episode has some great information that will change the way you practice and share yoga.   Key Takeaways: [4:14] Where did Shannon's passion for pelvic health begin? [7:13] Shannon shares her first experience of meeting a pelvic floor physiotherapist. [10:30] What are the four key elements of yoga for pelvic health? [11:15] Element 1: Breath - How does breath relate to pelvic health? [14:23] Element 2: Alignment - Focus on the yoga student in front of you and their unique needs. [17:16] Element 3: Movement - Movement is a key element in our overall yoga practice, and also in pelvic health. [19:41] Element 4: Information - Internal information is just as important as external information sources. [23:10] Shannon explains how to apply these four elements to Bridge. [28:49] Shannon shares more about rib cage breath vs belly breathing. [30:53] Shannon no longer cues mula bandha / core engagement / pelvic floor engagement in her classes. Why? [35:26] Share your thoughts and questions about these practices with Shannon, and check out her new offering around pelvic health!   Links: Pelvic Health Professionals Website Other The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episodes on Pelvic Health: 008: Core Breath with Kim Vopni 009: Kegels, Mula Bandha and Pelvic Health with Shelly Prosko 033: A New Perspective on Diastasis Recti with Dr. Sinead Dufour 007: Breath & Pelvic Health with Trista Zinn 069: Pelvic Organ Prolapse with Dr. Sarah Duvall 075: Pelvic Girdle Pain with Dr. Sinead Dufour 077: Interstitial Cystitis with Helena Spears 079: Endometriosis [Part 1] with Kimberly Castello 080: Endometriosis [Part 2] with Dustienne Miller Mama Nurture Janice Taylor, Pelvic Health Physiotherapist The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 116: Pain Language with Shelly Prosko (Part 1) The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 117: Pain Language with Shelly Prosko (Part 2) The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 073: 8 Limbs of Yoga [Part 1] with Shannon Crow Yoga Anytime (PROMO CODE: CROW) Yoga for Pelvic Health Training Live Q&A Call The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training, November 2019   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity   Quotes from this episode:   "In the three pregnancies and births that I had, no one talked to me about pelvic health. I didn't even know about my pelvic floor."   "The four elements to yoga for pelvic health, and why yoga is such a great tool to use for pelvic health, ... are breath, alignment, movement, and information."   "There is this amazing information that comes from internal, and this is where we provide the space as yoga teachers for students to come to an awareness of what's going on in their body and their mind."   "There is never a time anymore where I am working with a group class and telling them all to engage their pelvic floor."

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 116: Pain Language with Shelly Prosko (Part 2)   Description: How important is communication and language when working with yoga students, especially those who are dealing with persistent (chronic) pain? The answer is - extremely. We don't want our yoga students to become fearful of movement, or trigger a pain response with our cues or tone.This episode is a continuation of the conversation from last week with Shelly Prosko on the topic of pain language in yoga.   Shelly is a physiotherapist, yoga therapist, author, international speaker and educator with over 20 years of experience in the field. She is also a Pain Care Yoga Trainer, and works to expand knowledge and education on topics surrounding persistent (chronic) pain, pelvic health, compassion and professional burnout. She is currently co-authoring the textbook, Yoga and Science in Pain Care: Treating the Person in Pain.   On the previous episode, Shelly shared cues that empower our yoga students instead of using cues that instill fear of movement. This week, Shannon and Shelly discuss the importance of self-compassion and the language we can use around that, as well as how we can make yoga "safe" - both by creating safe spaces and through the use of our language. Shelly shares more about the topics covered in her upcoming book, and why alignment is so important as a part of yoga.   This conversation is such an eye-opener and will surely provide you with a new perspective on language, how we communicate with cues in a yoga class, and how it all ties in to the way we serve our yoga students who are dealing with persistent pain.   Key Takeaways: [3:50] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Shelly Prosko. [4:35] Shelly shares more about the idea of having self-compassion and the language around that. [6:21] What is an example of how someone might practice self-compassion? [11:27] As a yoga teacher, you want to help people find their own luxurious experience. [17:32] What is Shelly's book about? [20:36] What is "safe" yoga, and how can we achieve it? [27:19] Shelly breaks down the different aspects of language that we should be mindful of. [31:49] Shelly speaks more about the power of intention and visualization. [35:11] Shelly briefly touches on the topic of alignment in yoga. [43:08] Find out more about Shelly via her website, social media and YouTube. [44:11] Join the conversation by leaving a comment or joining our Live Q&A call.   Links: Shelly Prosko Shelly Prosko on Twitter Shelly Prosko on Facebook Shelly Prosko on YouTube The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 114: Compassion Fatigue with Diane Liska The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 115: The Polyvagal Theory and Yoga with Dr. Ginger Garner Kristin Neff Brene Brown Self-Care: The Dark Side, by Shelly Prosko The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 092: Accessible Yoga Begins with Language with Kesse Hodge, Chantel Ehler and Katie Juelson Live Q&A with Shannon Crow Follow Shannon Crow on Instagram Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training in Meaford, Ontario   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity   Quotes from this episode: "I just would like to encourage people if they're interested to learn more about self-compassion and the language surrounding that, and then that will help you cue."   "As a yoga teacher, you want to help people find their own luxurious experience."   "The big question is well, how do you create a safe space? We talk about that a lot but how do you do it?"   "Let's cue alignment, but let's cue it to give [the students] a variable experience.”

In this episode Shelly and Kathryn talk about pain, and the biopsychosocial paradigm. This conversation makes pain simple for the average listener which is so important especially because there is so much misinformation around this topic. They talk about what treating the whole person really means, and how pain is made in the brain.  Know someone in pain? Share this with them, this information is changing the way we understand pain. To learn about Kathryn's online courses click here!

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 116: Pain Language with Shelly Prosko (Part 1)   Description: When people turn to yoga in search of healing, they often carry with them a lot of pain. As yoga teachers, it can be challenging and frustrating to know which words to choose when communicating with our students and giving cues, particularly for those who are dealing with persistent (chronic) pain. In part one of this two-part interview, Shelly Prosko joins Shannon to talk about this topic in a way that makes it playful and fun.   Shelly is a physiotherapist, yoga therapist, author, international speaker and educator with over 20 years of experience in the field. She is also a Pain Care Yoga Trainer, and works to expand knowledge and education on topics surrounding persistent (chronic) pain, pelvic health, compassion and professional burnout. She is currently co-authoring the textbook, Yoga and Science in Pain Care: Treating the Person in Pain.   Shannon and Shelly discuss the concepts of pain and some of the science behind pain  (hint: it's not a ‘thing', it's a phenomenon and an experience!). When guiding a yoga class, some words we use innocently may either be empowering or triggering - Shelly shares more about some words to avoid, and her suggestions for alternatives.   This episode is full of Shelly's tips and strategies for being more aware of language when guiding a yoga class. Whether you're teaching a trauma-informed yoga class or just want to be more conscious of how your language can trigger and alleviate pain responses, you're sure to learn something you can apply to your own classes right away.   Key Takeaways: [4:43] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Shelly Prosko. [5:36] What got Shelly interested in the topic of pain language? [9:58] Shelly explains the connotations of 'chronic' pain vs 'persistent' pain. [13:09] It's important to have self compassion and not get too caught up or stressed about always choosing the right words. [15:39] What do the terms 'neuroplasticity' and 'bioplasticity' mean? [19:03] When people get overwhelmed with language, they shut down - that's why it's important to keep conversations about language playful and exploratory. [21:16] How can language turn someone around from their negative pain story into sometime more empowering? Shelly shares an example. [25:23] How does Shelly approach changing the language used around pain - through explanations, or a gradual shift in language? [29:27] What are some of Shelly's cue considerations around pain language? [34:31] Shelly shares some alternatives that she prefers to use in giving cues. [43:23] What are some other "dos-and-don'ts" when it comes to communicating in your yoga class? [48:51] What is your main takeaway from this interview? Share your thoughts!   Links: Shelly Prosko The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 009: Kegels, Mula Bandha and Pelvic Health with Shelly Prosko The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 114: Compassion Fatigue with Diane Liska The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 115: The Polyvagal Theory and Yoga with Dr. Ginger Garner Neil Pearson on LinkedIn Explain Pain, by Dr. David S. Butler,  Prof. G. Lorimer Moseley Explain Pain Supercharged, by Dr. David S. Butler,  Prof. G. Lorimer Moseley The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 092: Accessible Yoga Begins with Language with Kesse Hodge, Chantel Ehler and Katie Juelson The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 067: Yoga for Every Body with Amber Karnes   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity   Quotes from this episode:   "For people in pain, that have been suffering from persistent pain or chronic pain for a long time, there can be certain changes in the brain and the nervous system that makes the nervous system more hypervigilant, ... or more sensitive."   "We have to also respect the lived experience of pain, meaning what are people in pain saying?"   "Our whole being potentially has the capacity for change."   "Pain is the output of the human."   "The output of the brain is the pain experience, and pain is not a thing. It's a phenomenon, it's an experience."   "With the giving the permission, just be cognizant about are we creating an environment that gives people the sense of safety, confidence and the courage."   "You don't have to tell people what to do or what they should be doing. You're just providing this experience, you're more their guide."  

Yoga can be used by Physiotherapists as a way to teach the movement of the pelvic floor and to treat many pathologies including; pelvic pain, stress urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, constipation, and sexual dysfunction. In an attempt to elevate our knowledge as a profession and share home exercise routines for clients, Shelly Prosko has built […]

Shelly Prosko returns to talk with J about some difficult questions he has been grappling with. They discuss the concept of right or proper alignment, the difference between yoga therapy and yoga, changing understandings around pain, compassion science, and moving from a postural-structural bio-mechanical model to a biopsychosocial-spiritual model. They also consider the fine line between science and mysticism, and how we might keep yoga from falling into foreseeable pitfalls. This episode is brought to you by YogaAnatomy.net.   This episode is part of our premium podcast subscription. To subscribe and support the show… GET PREMIUM.  

080: Yoga and Endometriosis [Part 2] with Dustienne Miller   In part 2 of our 2-part series on endometriosis, Shannon asked yoga teacher and physical therapist Dustienne Miller to share her knowledge and experience working with clients with this chronic illness.   Dustienne feels strongly endometriosis is underdiagnosed and that there is much more to be understood in this area of women's health. It is now recognized that 1 in 10 women struggle with this chronic illness. Dustienne also wants all women to trust their intuition when determining the severity of their pain and to know that period pain should never be debilitating.   Dustienne began studying to become a physiotherapist in 1994 and began practicing yoga while doing musical theater in New York City as a way to warm up. She continued practicing yoga at home and decided to pursue yoga teacher training at Kripalu. Dustienne came to realize as a yoga teacher and a physiotherapist specializing in pelvic health, that these disciplines complemented each other beautifully. She began to integrate yoga into physical therapy home programs and saw the difference yoga made to her clients suffering from endometriosis.     Dustienne details for us how pranayama and asana can ease the symptoms of endometriosis. She describes the connection between pranayama and the pelvic floor and her way of leading clients through asana in a progressive fashion to minimize overextending themselves. 6:20 Dustienne's yoga and physical therapy journey   8:50 Dustienne describes endometriosis   10:40 Symptoms of endometriosis   12:20 What Dustienne has heard from her clients suffering from endometriosis   13:20 Are the endo flare-ups in sync with the menstrual cycle? 15:40 Pain management- the importance of teaching strategies in order to allow sufferers to have ownership over managing the flares   How yoga can benefit those with endometriosis:   16:25 Pranayama- a daily practice can help with the prominence of the parasympathetic nervous system to be more dominant which can lessen the pain   17:30 Relationship between pranayama and the pelvic floor and the importance of lengthening the spine to optimize the pranayama-pelvic floor connection   20:55 Asana- a gentle yoga program can mobilize the tissues and the muscles that are attaching to both the pelvis and the thorax 22:15 Yoga poses to approach with caution extensions and cause rebound pain   24:40 Is there a pain level where one should avoid asana and Dustienne's hope that students will feel that for themselves   27:40 The benefit of child's pose, goddess pose, banana pose, standing half-moon, supine twist (to help with rotation through the spine) and their variations   32:55 Dustienne's love for restorative yoga, that it is “real” yoga   33:55 Additional advice from Dustienne and on reconditioning the body to have a different response to pain to help lessen it (softening the belly, table pose letting belly hang)   36:05 Other treatments Dustienne recommends for endometriosis   38:20 How endometriosis can be diagnosed and how treatment options are evolving as research into this illness expands   40:25 Misconceptions around endometriosis, how raising awareness is helping e.g. through social media campaign #1in10   42:10 Importance of listening to intuition- don't push yourself   42:55 Shannon's closing thoughts and wrap-up and on “curating your team” Links   Dustienne's summary page of resources   Dustienne's website: Your Pace Yoga Related TCYT Episodes:   079: Yoga and Endometriosis [Part 1] with Kimberly Castello   007: Breath and Pelvic Health with Trista Zinn   008: Core Breath and Pelvic Health with Kim Vopni   009: Kegels, Mula Bandha, and Pelvic Health with Shelly Prosko   033: A New Perspective on Diastasis Recti with Sinead Dufour   073: The 8 Limbs of Yoga [Part 1] with Shannon Crow   074: The 8 Limbs of Yoga [Part 2] with Jennie Lee       Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training September 22nd and 23rd, 2018 Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity

077: Interstitial Cystitis (Painful Bladder Syndrome) with Helena Spears   Shannon met Helena Spears through a discussion in The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook group about interstitial cystitis.   Upon graduating from her 200-hour yoga teacher training, Helena turned her focus towards teaching chronic pain informed yoga as well as yoga for pelvic health. Shannon asked Helena on as a guest to share her first-hand experience with interstitial cystitis and persistent pain and the many benefits of practicing yoga in regard to pain management.   As a teen, Helena was diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis (IC) and in her 20s, through a cliff jumping incident, she developed chronic back pain. The back pain evolved into Fibromyalgia and Ankylosing Spondylitis (an inflammatory arthritis that attacks the spine).   Helena describes how she turned to yoga for chronic pain management but soon found the benefits were limited within the confines of a traditional yoga practice. She shares this experience and her perseverance in pursuing her own yoga path on her website:   “It was in my early 30s that I discovered how powerful yoga can be in managing pain; the emotional, spiritual and physical. I decided to pursue my yoga teacher training out of frustration and curiosity. I was frustrated that “regular” yoga practice seemed to flare my Fibromyalgia, yet I knew that yoga could be the key to helping heal my overactive nervous system and dialing down my pain. Since completing my yoga teacher training, my practice has deepened in a way I never thought possible. The emotional healing and guidance I have received from studying sutras and yogic philosophy inform my life and practice every day. Through meditation, I have learned to tap into the calm part of my soul, pranayama allows me to quickly tap into that inner calm”   Helena candidly shares her experience with Interstitial Cystitis, the anger she encountered while coping with her persistent pain, the importance she places on the mind/body connection, and the sutras that are guiding her along her journey. 7:30 Helena's yoga journey   10:40 Helena describes her chronic pain   12:30 The definition of Interstitial Cystitis (from the IC Network website)   13:25 5 different types of IC (listed in The Connected Yoga Teacher Interstitial Cystitis (Painful Bladder Syndrome) PDF)   16:35 No one-size-fits-all treatment for IC   17:30 Helena's take on the term “Painful Bladder Syndrome” as an alternative to Interstitial Cystitis   18:55 Helena's IC symptoms   19:45 Helena's experience with the mind/body connection in relation to persistent pain   21:35 The benefit of yoga in nurturing Helena's mind/body relationship and the activities Helena has given up due to pain and stress   25:35 Helena's yoga practice   27:05 The benefits Helena has found using Muse headbands   32:50 Helena's interest in pursuing Yoga for Pelvic Health and taking Pain Care Yoga- Teacher Training and Learning with Tianne   34:40 How Helena wants to empower her yoga students and how she's always learning as a teacher   36:30 How Helena feels the spiritual aspect of yoga, such as the Yoga Sutra has helped her cope with chronic pain- Ahimsa (compassion for self) and Aparigraha (non-attachment) and Brahmacharya (dedication to practice) are guiding principles in her life   39:55 Anger and chronic pain- how Helena identified and worked on her anger and the importance of acceptance   42:25 What Helena would say to someone suffering from persistent pain   45:30 Helena's concern for men who feel like they can't convey their pain which is toxic for pain management   46:00 The emotional component of persistent pain and the importance of treating the mind, body and soul   48:35 How best to reach Helena Links   To enter to win a Muse Headband leave a comment below these shownotes :)   Helena's Website: Helena Spears Yoga   The Pelvic Health Podcast   PDF: Interstitial Cystitis (Painful Bladder Syndrome)   Website: The IC Network   Definition of Interstitial Cystitis on The IC Network website:   “An unpleasant sensation (pain, pressure, discomfort) perceived to be related to the urinary bladder, associated with lower urinary tract symptoms of more than six weeks duration, in the absence of infection or other identifiable causes.”   Shelly Prosko's Website: Physio Yoga   Pain Care Yoga- Teacher Training and Learning with Tianne   The 10 Step Approach to Living with Pain Webinar (scroll down the page a bit to see video and links to handouts)   Book: When The Body Says No by Gabor Maté (chapter 1 available for no charge)   The Connected Teacher Facebook Group   Follow The Connected Teacher on Youtube   Book a Consultation Call with Shannon   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity

075: Yoga for Pelvic Girdle Pain with Dr. Sinead Dufour   Shannon is pleased to have Dr. Sinead Dufour as her first returning guest to discuss pelvic girdle pain. Sinead has been a practicing physiotherapist for about 15 years, with a PhD in Primary Health Care. Her extensive studies also include training in obstetrics and urogynecology. She is a professor in the Health and Science department at McMaster University and is the Director of Pelvic Health at The Womb.     Pelvic girdle pain develops in pregnancy or postnatally. It's pain that develops below the rib line and travels below the gluteal fold. 75% of women have pelvic girdle pain in their second pregnancy and 20% have continuous pelvic girdle pain postnatal.   Shannon and Dr. Sinead Dufour discuss how our understanding of pelvic girdle pain has evolved, the misconceptions that make treating the pain difficult, and what yoga teachers can do to help their students experiencing pelvic pain. Dr. Sinead discusses how important it is for women to trust their pelvis by recognizing its strength and directing signals of safety, reassurance, and resilience to help prevent the pain and reduce fear of giving birth.   9:35 What is pelvic girdle pain?   14:45 What do we now know about the effect of pregnancy hormones in causing laxity of the pelvis and how that understanding has evolved; central mechanism versus mechanical factors   20:15 How we can talk to our yoga students about their pelvic girdle pain; pelvic sensitivity does not mean lack of strength of the pelvic region, the effect of asymmetrical movement, misconceptions and outdated information   22:25 The problem with misconceptions around pelvic health in pregnancy; creates increased fear around giving birth, can actually cause more pain if the woman feels compelled to clench her pelvis believing it to be weak   26:45 How new research has informed the way Dr. Sinead Dufour treats her patients with pelvic girdle pain and how it can inform the way yoga teachers can help students   29:40 Previous pregnancy as a risk factor but not a determining factor, higher risk if there's been a trauma in the first pregnancy   32:05 Understanding that the mechanics isn't the driver of the pain but it is relevant, and the mechanics is something they can have control over- don't be afraid of movement, be mindful, some movement is good to avoid   33:15 Movements for those with pelvic girdle pain (and those to avoid)   38:10 Study of the effect of high cortisol and the importance of education around these findings and the application to yoga   40:00 Importance of language around pelvic girdle pain using “sensitive pelvis” instead of “falling apart” or “dysfunctional” and the misconception of engaging the pelvis to remedy the pain   42:50 Incidents of long-term pelvic girdle pain (20% of women) indicates the current approach needs to incorporate new research and deconstruct long-held beliefs   46:25 Hypertonic pelvis and taking care around doing exercises such as kegels   48:50 The importance of referring students to a pelvic floor physiotherapist- even before pregnancy to “reset” the pelvis, build trust in the body, empowerment in knowledge   53:40 Do men experience pelvic girdle pain?   56:15 The benefit of therapy in pregnancy and postnatally- is it appropriate to refer a student to a therapist?   58:40 Dr. Sinead's preference for the term “motor control exercises” instead of “stability exercises”   1:02:44 How to reach Dr. Sinead Dufour   1:03:15 Shannon's wrap-up and key takeaways   Links   Email Dr. Sinead Dufour: dr.sinead@thewomb.ca   Website: The Womb   Find a Canadian Pelvic Health Specialist   PDF: Dr. Sinead Dufour's Postpartum Movement Tips   PDF: Dr. Sinead Dufour's Study: Association between lumbopelvic pain and pelvic floor dysfunction in women: A cross sectional study.     Pelvic Symmetry Sequence by Shannon Crow   Relevant TCYT Episodes:   007: Breath and Pelvic Health with Trisha Zinn 008: Core Breath and Pelvic Health with Kim Vopni 009: Kegals, Mula Banda and Pelvic Health with Shelly Prosko 033: A New Perspective on Diastasis Recti with Dr. Sinead Dufour   The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group Book a Consultation Call with Shannon   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity

Each day, millions of yoga enthusiasts flock to yoga studios for their daily or the weekly practice, celebrating an ancient wellness tradition as well as a form of exercise and therapy that's been validated in many studies by modern pain science. If done under the guidance of a skilled instructor or therapist, it can bring several health benefits that help people cope with conditions including anxiety, depression, chronic pain, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, and chronic stress, something that all of us are exposed to on a daily basis. If you're a practitioner who treats patients with pain, Shelly Prosko says you can integrate yoga therapy into your pain practice. Shelly is a physiotherapist and professional yoga therapist who is dedicated to bridging the gap between yoga and modern healthcare philosophies. Learn how you can integrate yoga into your physiotherapy treatments to create and sustain optimal health. Sign up for the latest episode at www.drjoetatta.com/podcasts.   Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here’s How » Join the Healing Pain Podcast Community today: drjoetatta.com Healing Pain Podcast Facebook Healing Pain Podcast Twitter Healing Pain Podcast YouTube Healing Pain Podcast LinkedIn

069: Yoga with Pelvic Organ Prolapse with Dr. Sarah Duvall   After meeting physiotherapist Dr. Sarah Duvall through a webinar, Shannon knew that Sarah, through her expertise and passion for pelvic health, would make a great guest for an episode of The Connected Yoga Teacher, complimenting the series of episodes on pelvic health (links below).   In addition to her work as a physiotherapist who specializes in helping women recover from pelvic health issues, Sarah has experienced first-hand how emotionally and physically draining it can be to suffer from pelvic health issues when, following the birth of her child, she was diagnosed with Pelvic Organ Prolapse.   Sarah mainly works with women, specifically athletes and mothers, who need help with pelvic health issues including Diastasis and Pelvic Organ Prolapse. She was tired of seeing injuries that were entirely preventable; prolapse that worsens after birth, abdominal separation that just didn't heal, and back pain from women lifting their infants.   Dr. Sarah Duvall's goal is to help women exercise better. She sees many trying to back into shape after having a baby through jumps, crunches, sit ups, and other physically damaging workouts that impact both the abdominal muscles and pelvic floor. Sarah wants to empower women to build strength without getting hurt. She runs online courses for moms who are recovering from pregnancy and childbirth as well as those tailored to professionals who are working with pre and postnatal students.   Sarah defines Pelvic Organ Prolapse, the importance of breath awareness in relation to pelvic health, prolapse prevention, and advice for yoga teachers on how to support and accommodate those with prolapse.   4:30 Sarah's journey to becoming a Pelvic Health Specialist   5:40 Sarah defines Pelvic Organ Prolapse   8:20 Breath and pelvic health   14:00 Using your sitz bone to check-in with your breath and pelvic floor (a good exercise to teach your students)   18:10 Who is most susceptible to Pelvic Organ Prolapse   23:00 What it feels like to have Pelvic Organ Prolapse   25:40 Different types of prolapse   26:30 Other breath practices Sarah recommends for teaching yoga, including breathing through transitions   30:45 How yoga teachers can help students in class who've been diagnosed with prolapse   33:55 Is breath holding damaging to pelvic health and the importance of giving women hope they can resume their physical activities   37:00 Sarah's personal experience with Pelvic Organ Prolapse; the challenge of healing, relapses, and the emotional impact the diagnosis and treatment   43:15 Other considerations when you have a student with prolapse   44:05 How to recognize if you're straining or bearing down through kinesthetic awareness and the importance of checking in throughout the yoga class   47:15 What Sarah wants to tell yoga teachers and those teachers who are dealing with Pelvic Organ Prolapse themselves   48:15 How to get in touch with Sarah and her other offerings   49:20 Shannon's key takeaways Links   Email: sarah@coreexercisesolutions.com   Sarah's Website: Core Exercise Solutions   Course for Healthcare Professionals   Courses for Moms: Pre and Post Natal Pelvic Health Care   Dr. Sarah Ellis Duvall on Facebook   Core Exercise Solutions Youtube Channel   Printable PDF about Pelvic Organ Prolapse   Relevant TCYT Episodes:   007: Breath and Pelvic Health with Trista Zinn   008: Core Breath and Pelvic Health with Kim Vopni   009: Kegels, Mula Bandha, and Pelvic Health with Shelly Prosko   033: A New Perspective on Diastasis Recti with Sinead Dufour   The Connected Teacher Facebook Group   Book a Consultation Call with Shannon   Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training with Shannon Crow Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity

054: **Anniversary Episode ** Launching a Podcast and Facebook Group with Shannon Crow   Welcome to The Connected Yoga Teacher one-year anniversary episode! Episode 001 of The Connected Yoga Teacher was launched on February 24th, 2017 and here we are, just over one year later on episode 054. Shannon's vision to provide a platform for yoga teachers to connect between trainings has grown in a way that she could never have imagined. Always reading about and researching yoga topics, Shannon wanted to support other yoga teachers by sharing important and relevant information. She has invited a variety of guests to share valuable knowledge about a wide array of subject matters such as running a yoga business, pelvic health, eating disorders, yoga and social media, re-thinking stretching, and the importance of trauma-informed yoga. Shannon provides a behind-the-scenes look at creating and maintaining The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook group and the work put into the podcast each and every week. She also shares more about herself; her vulnerabilities and her view on making mistakes. With much gratitude, we want to thank our listeners for taking this journey with us. Downloading the podcast and engaging with and supporting one another on The Connected Facebook Group keeps this community thriving. Thank you also to The Connected Yoga Teacher team -- Rob, Laura, Samantha and every single listener. 2:25 Shannon's journey that led her to the creating a podcast for yoga teachers and the fear that accompanied that   4:40 Brainstorming in her red journal and finding the common thread was wanting to help yoga teachers   5:10 Why Shannon thinks supporting other yoga teachers is so important   5:40 How Shannon got her ideas for topics- from yoga consulting, connecting with and interviewing experts, reading articles   6:40 The Connected Yoga Podcast team   9:55 If you're interested in making a podcast or creating content   10:05 Some of the content Shannon wanted to include in the podcast and choosing her guest   11:05 The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group- creating and maintaining the group   12:05 Podcast listener and TCYT FB group member Barbara Peter's question for Shannon: “Would you please do a podcast about everything you do behind the scenes to make everything in The Connected Yoga Teacher group page so wildly successful. Every minute detail. Hold nothing back.”   13:00 Naming the podcast and making the choice to avoid asking others to join, hoping to grow the group organically   14:20 July 2017 (5 months into the podcast)- 346 members, a solid foundation had been built with Shannon working hard to keep the members engaged   14:55 Nov 2017 (9 months into the podcast) -1000 members, great questions and content posted regularly by members   15:35 February 2018 (the one-year anniversary of the podcast)- over 2000 people (100 people added just this week!)   15:40 3 question set-up for those that want to join a group, post questions to start discussions, post questions on behalf of other teachers   16:55 The challenge of making a welcome post that you can pin to the top of the group page, the purpose of the welcome post and tagging people in the group   18:25 Shannon's TCYT Facebook Group welcome post   20:40 Context of people's posts when it's in writing, in text, easy misunderstandings challenges in moderating the group   23:35 Online negativity and taking a look at your own reaction to posts, avoiding the knee-jerk reaction- “Can you say that in a more vulnerable way?”     Related episode: 051: Yoga and (Anti-) Social Media with Carol Horton, PhD   24:50 Question from Shelly Prosko of Prosko Physio Yoga: “My question for you relates to compassion and sense of community and connection...What is one thing that you've failed at or made a mistake of you're struggling with right now if you can get a little vulnerable if you feel comfortable…”   27:25 Shannon reflects her on making mistakes, owning up to them, embracing them, how her view of mistakes has changed over time   36:15 When Shannon thought she was ready to launch the podcast and what she still had to consider   Related Episode: 005: Set and Achieve Big Goals with Natalie Eckdahl   37:50 Steps needed make TCYT podcast   42:20 How Shannon got Schedulicity as a sponsor   44:30 Automation and engaging with guests and listeners through emails   46:40 Show notes and our desire to have a great summary, quotes, timestamps and links   47:50 How profit can be made through podcasts   48:40 Shannon's began using Facebook Live as a way to engage her audience   49:30 Shannon's Facebook Launch Party Event   51:40 TCYT downloads statistics   52:50 Shannon's final thoughts and voicemail by TCYT podcast listener Haunani Drake   Contact us:   Email: info@theconnectedyogateacher   Voicemail: The Connected Yoga Teacher Website (click on the ‘Send Shannon a Voicemail') Links   Seth Godin's Podcast 01: Akimbo- The Grand Opening- a great episode about launching a podcast   Dr. Kristin Neff's website: Self-Compassion.org   Accessible Yoga Conference- June 22nd-24th, 2018 at the University of Toronto   Related TCYT Podcast Episodes:   051: Yoga and (Anti-) Social Media with Carol Horton, PhD   009: Kegels, Mula Bandha and Pelvic Health with Shelly Prosko   005: Set and Achieve Big Goals with Natalie Eckdahl   Facebook Live Show: The Connected Yoga Teacher   The Connected Teacher Facebook Group   The Connected Yoga Teacher Launch Party Facebook Event Page   The Connected Yoga Teacher Launch Party Facebook Event Video   Mama Nurture Teacher Training (RPYT)   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity

Shannon met Dr. Sinead Dufour at a pelvic health workshop for yoga teachers as part of the MamaNurture prenatal yoga teacher training. It was through Sinead that Shannon discovered she had Diastasis. Shannon talks about how some of the yoga poses done after she gave birth were contributing to her condition. Diastasis is not widely understood in prenatal and postnatal health. It has been falsely understood as the separation of the abdominal muscles (it is even implied in the name) when it is actually the overstraining or damaging of the linea alba tissue. It was after giving birth to her twins that Sinead discovered significant gaps and misconceptions in the health care system and fitness community that left women without the tools needed to take care of the pelvic health. She felt strongly that she needed to be part of the solution. Sinead has been a practising physiotherapist for about 15 years, with a PhD in Primary Health Care. Her extensive studies also include training in obstetrics and urogynecology. She is a professor in the Health and Science department at McMaster University and is the Director of Pelvic Health at The Womb.   Among this episode's points of discussion are: the role the linea alba plays in Diastasis, Dr. Sinead Dufour's  leadership in up-and-coming research on DRA to establish common practice principles, and what can be done to prevent this condition.   8:55 Sinead's journey to becoming a leading Pelvic Health expert 10:50 What is Diastasis? A common misconception about Diastasis. Diastasis or Diastasis Recti Abdominus (DRA) 12:25 Linea alba's role in pregnancy and Diastasis 15:30 New study by top 22 Diastasis experts in Canada in order to establish practice principles experts can agree on 18:10 Delphi Process with 3 phases setting the practice principles 20:45 Diastasis related to manometric pressure system manometric pressure system- the pressure system modulated by the core four, inclusive of the linea alba and the glottis (think the concept of intra-abdominal pressure)   19:10 Dr. Sinead's research study 20:10 What experts are saying: what is Diastasis and how should we manage it? 23:00 Prenatal - how can we prevent Diastasis? Avoid exercises that concentrically engage the superficial abdominal muscles such as crunches and sit-ups Emphasis on facilitating optimal co-activation of the deep inner unit Ensuring the core 4 are working together: pelvic floor, diaphragm, transversus abdominis and multifidus Working synergistically Promoting effective, tension free diaphragmatic breathing More focus on diaphragmatic breath with ease -- less extended belly breathing and more rib cage breath Emphasizing postures that reduce excessive strained intra-abdominal pressure Avoid plank pose while pregnant or straining on the toilet,(especially with breath holding). 25:15 Importance of continuous breath 28:45 Encouraging students, not to breath hold (and why they may be doing so) 31:00 Empowering language - What can students do instead of what can't it do 32:15 Listen to the body - pain or struggling in a pose 33:05 Intrapartum (during childbirth) considerations Continuous breath - no Valsalva breath Avoiding a back lying position when possible 37:35 Prenatal yoga teachers are the ones who can advocate, inform and empower those who are susceptible to diastasis or other pelvic health issues 38:25 When to refer a yoga student to a pelvic floor physiotherapist 40:00 Postpartum (4th trimester) - "critical healing period" Abstain from exercises that concentrically engage the superficial abdominal       muscles Promote exercises that are not the same action as a crunch Every body is unique and so each person needs something different Watch for doming or invagination at linea alba during exercise 5.Optimal load transfer at linea alba 45:25 Later diastasis- watch out for doming or invagination (reverse doming) 46:10 Front loading poses: bird dog, plank - when can we do these? 47:30 Any incontinence issues - because Diastasis is a pelvic floor dysfunction   48:50 How yoga can help with the internal pressure system and nervous system   49:55 Autonomic nervous system tension affects the connective and visceral tissue   50:45 Benefits of a yin yoga style   51:40 Fertility yoga series at The Womb   52:50 Increased inter-recti distance is normal in pregnancy   53:45 Diastasis has nothing to do with the inter-recti distance (the width between the rectus abdominis muscles)   57:20 How to test for Diastasis at home   58:40 How a yoga teacher can help assess linea alba during a pelvic floor contraction   1:00:25 Another Diastasis assessment- digital pelvic floor contraction (highlights how integrated the linea alba is with the pelvic floor)   1:01:25 Yoga teachers are in a great position to get ahead of the curve to spread new information discovered through research (before it will be widely taught)   1:05:50 Inter-recti distance as an assessment needs to be thrown out- as people get better and more functional the distance can actually increase proving that inter-recti is meaningless   1:06:55 The general preface statement that will be published in their research document   1:08:50 Preface statement for assessment of DRA   1:10:10 How to work with Dr. Sinead Dufour     Links   The Womb   Find a Canadian Pelvic Health Specialist   Mama Nurture   Relevant TCYT Episodes: 007: Breath and Pelvic Health with Trisha Zinn 008: Core Breath and Pelvic Health with Kim Vopni 009: Kegals, Mula Banda and Pelvic Health with Shelly Prosko   The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group   Gratitude to Our Sponsor -- Schedulicity  

Shelly Prosko, Physical Therapist, Professional Yoga Therapist and Pilates instructor, is a highly respected pioneer in the area of Physio Yoga Therapy, a combination of Physical Therapy and medical therapeutic yoga. She received her Physical Therapy degree at the University of Saskatchewan in 1998, her medical therapeutic yoga training through Professional Yoga Therapy Institute in North Carolina and her Pilates certification through Professional Health and Fitness Institute in Maryland.  Shownotes: Blending yoga and PT Yoga is: connecting to one’s truest self and connecting with others Blending and shifting multiple avenues of self-healing What does the Yoga industry need? (Hint - all health industries need this) How to approach care while wearing multiple hats What specific conditions or injuries have been found very responsive to yoga therapy? The best way to explain a new idea: give someone an experience Feeling out the timeframe of integrating yoga into PT care Cultivating the art of mindfulness, then sharing it with others Where is yoga falling under the umbrella of health and wellness   Reach Shelly on her website www.physioyoga.ca and subscribe to her news list FILLED with TONS of free content Facebook: Prosko PhysioYoga Therapy Twitter: @proskoyoga Youtube: shelly prosko  

In Part III of Shannon's Pelvic Health Mini Series, she welcomes Shelly Prosko, another passionate professional who works in the realm of pelvic health. With warmth and grace she shares her perspective adding to our discussion on pelvic health. Shelly Prosko has an extensive fitness and physical therapy background which led her to combine physical therapy and yoga to become a Professional Yoga Therapist. She is a pioneer in her Physio Yoga Therapy- a combination of Physical Therapy and Medial Therapeutic Yoga. She received her Physical Therapy degree at the University of Saskatchewan in 1998, her Medical Therapeutic Yoga training through the Professional Yoga Therapy Institute in North Carolina and her Pilates Certification through the Professional Health and Fitness Institute in Maryland. Shelly has treated those with issues surrounding pain management and, driven by her passion for sharing all she has learned with others, she offers specialty PhysioYoga Therapy courses along with speaking at various educational schools and conferences throughout Canada and The United States. Shelly has a love for acting, dancing, and music and figure skating. Shelly's journey to PhysioYoga 2:50 Who can study with Shelly 7:25 Building relationships and gaining referrals from health care professionals 11:00 Shelly contemplates if there would be an effective way to integrate physiotherapy into the 200-hour yoga teacher training and learn more about anatomy and physiology? 17:55 The practice of Kegels and Muhla Bandha 22:00 The movement of the diaphragm and pelvic floor when breathing 23:45 Caution around doing Kegels 24:45 An overactive pelvic floor is more common than we might think 25:30 Shelly discusses a study done in 2016 by Van Dyken & Sinead Dufour that discover that 83% of people with low back pain have an over-recruited pelvis 25:45 Another study done on incontinence links the condition with poor balance and often the pelvic floor is over-activated in this case 26:25 Referring a yoga student to a Physiotherapist or with pelvic health, a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist when it is appropriate 28:00 Clues that yoga students may be over-engaging their pelvic floor 30:09 Jules Mitchell and her thoughts on stretching 31:00 Kegels may aggravate pelvic floor dysfunction 32:25 Proper way to do a Kegel or do Mulha Bandha 33:00 Shelly shares that 50% of people, after being taught one-on-one still struggle with the proper way to do Kegels 33:15 Mulha Bandha - one of the energetic locks 34:30 Introduction of Mulha Bandha in Western yoga 35:05 Leslie Kaminoff's explanation of the history of Mulha Bandha and its use in pranayama and sitting 36:10 Pelvic Floor health in relation to health and movement 37:20 Antony Lo the Physio Detective #tensiontotask 41:00 Is the Muhla Bandha comparable to Kegels? 42:40 How Shelly cues Muhla Bandha Shelly's article (link below) 8 ways to Engage Pelvic Floor Links Shelly's Webpage Anthony Lo- The Physio Detective Julie Wiebe pt Jules Mitchell Pelvic Floor Galore Blog Post: Optimizing Pelvic Floor Health: Where Does Yoga Fit In? by Shelly Prosko Article: 8 Ways to Help Yoga Students Engage Their Pelvic Floors by Shelly Prosko Article: Optimizing Pelvic Floor Health Through Yoga Therapy by Shelly Prosko Article: Anatomic connections of the diaphragm: influence of respiration on the body system by Bruno Bordoni and Emiliano Zanier Youtube Video: Bandhas in a Modern Practice: A Historical Perspective by Leslie Kaminoff Special Thanks: To Laura for compiling the show notes (I am still laughing over your blueberry story from last week Laura!) and to Rob who edits all of the audio between bear sightings

J talks with Shelly Prosko, founder of Physio Yoga, about her mission to integrate yoga into the healthcare system. Shelly shares some of her personal story of how a random injury catapulted her work incorporating medical therapeutic yoga and traditional physical therapy. They discuss earlier days before yoga was considered an alternative healing modality, the difference between bringing medicine into yoga and yoga into medicine, the limitations of allopathic models, yoga therapy, and the need for clarity of scope. This episode is part of our premium podcast subscription. To subscribe and support the show… GET PREMIUM.  

Shelly Prosko is a Physical Therapist, Professional Yoga Therapist & Pilates Instructor, she is a highly respected pioneer in the area of Physio Yoga Therapy, a combination of Physical Therapy & Medical Therapeutic Yoga. Her mission is to educate, inspire & empower people to create health by authentically sharing her knowledge, expertise & experience as she travels across Canada & the U.S. offering specialty PhysioYoga Therapy workshops, presenting at international yoga therapy conferences, lecturing at medical college programs, instructing at numerous yoga therapy schools and actively promotes the integration of yoga therapy into our current healthcare system. Michael Solberg is classically trained in the Rolf Method of Structural Integration and has studied extensively in Boulder, Co and Kauai, Hawaii. Alongside his wife, Virginia Solberg, they own the Solberg Center for Structural Integration in Dallas, Texas. Michael has also founded Pause Hawaii, a transformational immersion process in Hawaii for his clients, which combines structural integration, yoga, nutrition, meditation and personal discovery alongside adventure and the tranquility of the islands. Michael and his family reside in Plano, Texas.

In this interview with Shelly Prosko, she shares with me how physio yoga can be used to treat persistent pain.  Before Shelly started her career as a physiotherapist, she was involved in yoga, and it became an integral part of her life.  After realizing the benefits of yoga, she was passionate about bringing it to her patients in her physio practice.  Yoga is not only calming and gentle, but it can be used as a method to wholistically treat your patients.   You'll get some great ideas from Shelly about how to educate your patients and to empower them to reach their physiotherapy goals, such as working with your patient to create a Daily Plan of respite, calming and challenging exercises that they can choose from in order to optimize their daily success.  

Shelly Prosko, PT, PYT, CPI, specializes in pain science, yoga therapy and pelvic floor health. She's dedicated to bridging the gap between yoga and modern healthcare philosophies and believes this integration is highly effective in creating and sustaining optimal health. Shelly has been integrating yoga into her physical therapy treatments since 1998, addressing a wide variety of conditions and populations, with a special focus on helping people suffering from persistent pain and pelvic health issues. We discuss what yoga therapy is, how it can be used in healthcare professions, pelvic floor health, pain science, how the research does not support the idea that “optimal alignment” eliminates pain and the how we can still teach alignment without instilling fear of movement and more.

Featuring Shelly Prosko; Physical Therapist, Professional Yoga Therapist & Pilates Instructor In This Healing Pain Podcast You Will Learn:  Why yoga is about more than flexibility, poses and asanas. How to integrate physical therapy and yoga into clinical practice. How yoga can help people suffering from persistent pain. The types and styles of yoga that are better than others for people in pain, and those to avoid. Tips and recommendations for people in pain that are interested in starting a yoga practice. The latest science on how the brain changes with chronic pain. The post Episode 1 | Shelly Prosko: Changing Chronic Pain Through Physical Therapy & Yoga appeared first on Dr. Joe Tatta.   Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here’s How » Join the Healing Pain Podcast Community today: drjoetatta.com Healing Pain Podcast Facebook Healing Pain Podcast Twitter Healing Pain Podcast YouTube Healing Pain Podcast LinkedIn