Podcasts about steffany moonaz

Are there lessons we can take from other professions?What is the IAYT doing well? What can they improve upon?When will I get a vacation?These are all questions we cover in our chat with Dr. Steffany Moonaz.KEY TAKEAWAYS*This point cannot be stressed enough when talking about license within the yoga therapy space. Just because you have a license **Does not** mean you can necessarily bill insurance. Let's uncouple those thoughts, please. Thanks.*We can learn a lot from the journey of other professions. We deep dove into acupuncture with Dr. Moonaz and it is fascinating to hear the stories of professions where there are restrictions about who they can treat, how they can treat, and who supervises the practitioners. What are your thoughts here?*Where the IAYT seems to missed the mark is in understanding how people in yoga therapy find their clients through the referral process. I have said this before, but the amount of LHCPs (licensed health care providers) who have said “I will just get a 200 hour teacher training cert and do what you do, is staggering. Now I still get referrals from those folks because eventually they realize that isn't the case–but the fact that I have to explain this to an organization in our industry is wild to me. That just isn't how it works for any of us on the ground, taking clients as yoga therapists. *Gravitas and money. Those are the things we want. *Steffany said something I really want to emphasize. We can, as a profession, take the steps needed to become a licensed profession–and then decide not to do it. But in my opinion, it is WELL WORTH taking the steps to professionalize as a whole. It benefits us as an industry in the long run.*We need to give the IAYT credit where credit is due. The steps taken thus far in the area of self-regulation are significant. The accreditation process, the credentialing process, continuing education requirements, core competencies, these are all important in the development of yoga therapy as a profession. No doubt about it.*How do we distinguish the difference in all of the different services in the yoga marketplace? This is a huge question, especially in the context of yoga therapy. What ideas do YOU have? Email me, rebecca@workinginyoga.com and let me know.*This is the time where I remind you that the International Association of Yoga Therapists has no legal requirement to advocate for us as professionals. Their designation is a 501c3, which is a public serving organization. Just as a note.*Just to update you, We still have no official stance from the IAYT as to weather or not the Q designation is stopped completely, now a month later after we recorded. Just in case you need to know.RESOURCESWorking In Yoga WebsiteWorking In Yoga NewsletterSteffany's Website

Yoga is a wonderful way to increase flexibility, range of motion, balance and strength to support arthritic joints and improve mental health. In this episode, our guest host and expert explore these and other benefits of yoga for arthritis, and share their experiences and modifications, as well as tips to starting and sticking with your yoga practice. *Visit the Live Yes! With Arthritis Podcast episode page get show notes, additional resources and read the full transcript: https://bit.ly/LiveYes_Ep96 * We want to hear from you. Tell us what you think about the Live Yes! With Arthritis Podcast. Get started by emailing podcast@arthritis.org. Special Guest: Dr. Steffany Moonaz.

Dr. Steffany Moonaz is a yoga therapist and researcher. She completed undergraduate work in biology and dance at Oberlin College, earned a MFA from University of Maryland  and spent eight years at Johns Hopkins University, helping to develop and evaluate a yoga program for individuals with the chronic diseases of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, which became the basis for her PhD in public health.   Dr. Steffany has a podcast The Yoga Rhuem and authored the book Yoga Therapy for Arthritis and brings a lot of wisdom and nuance to the conversation of how to navigate movement with RA.   Subscribe to the Blog by Wrap Your Head Around Silks Roll It Out Registration Order your copy, ebook or audio book of UNDERSTANDING AERIAL SILKS on Amazon Reach me on Instagram @kerrywee1 Greener Grass Podcast HERE Part of the Digitent Podcast NetworkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On October 7th, the terrorist organization known as the Hamas attacked Israel claiming the lives of a reported 1400 people and taking 222 hostages. Since then, a reported 4 hostages have been released, President Biden has visited Tel Aviv to attempt diplomacy and the world has turned their eyes to the region.   Dr. Steffany is a Jewish-American research scientist but is here today to give her personal perspective on how her community is reacting to the atrocities, the complexity of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict in the past and present and how we might approach conversations about the conflict in our own lives. References: The Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan   Check out our website: greenergrasspodcast.com Get the Greener Grass Newsletter HERE Part of the Digitent Podcast Network   Find us at: IG: @grandrevecreative Twitter: @grass_podcast Email:  kerry@grandrevecreative.com The Expecting Aerialist PodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we are talking about the profession of yoga research w/ Dr. Steffany Moonaz, the founder of Yoga For Arthritis. Steffany tells us about the unique path she took to yoga therapy and eventually yoga research, and how you can work in the field of research as well. It is important to hear from yoga professionals who are on the cutting edge of shifting conversations and language, and so I think this podcast episode will inspire you to pull out your most professional pants and head into the arena of yoga with medical and education professionals.KEY TAKEAWAYS-Yoga therapists tend to take roundabout ways to get into the career. This is true for so many of us, so if you feel like it is too late, or you have a story you think is “too quirky”--rest assured. Your story is so many of us.-” Yoga near me” is such a challenge for those of us who work in specialized populations or the yoga therapy field. Make sure that those who are in your area know to call you specifically if they are looking for someone who does your kind of work or needs a yoga professional who is different than what would typically come up from a “yoga near me” Google search.-When getting training it is important to learn from experts who not only have deep knowledge but also know how to teach other people. Vet your trainers and make sure they can also teach what they know when you are seeking out new information and learning.-Feedback is critical when learning new content as a yoga pro. Especially as you grow and evolve, being connected to your teachers is crucial to honing your craft. -Learn how to teach. Learn how to teach a thing from a skilled teacher for adults.-There is a tension between modern Western scientific practice and yoga philosophy and practice that we all hold as we learn more and dive deeper into the teaching of yoga. If you feel that tension, know that you are totally normal, many of us feel it, and we all strike our own unique balance between the two.-If you are lucky enough to be interviewing to be a yoga pro in a medical or academic environment…please be on time. And for the love of all that is holy, wear regular pants.RESOURCESWorking In Yoga WebsiteWorking In Yoga NewsletterSteffany Moonaz's Yoga For Arthritis WebsiteSymposium for Yoga Research 2023Sunlight Streams Blog

On today's episode, we speak with Dr. Steffany Moonaz about a whole person approach to managing arthritis.Dr. Steffany Moonaz is a yoga therapist and researcher residing in the Philadelphia suburbs. She now serves as the Research Director at Southern California University of Health Sciences and Adjunct Faculty at the Maryland University of Integrative Health.Dr. Moonaz completed undergraduate work in biology and dance at Oberlin College, earned an MFA from the University of Maryland as well as a CMA (movement analysis) from the Laban Institute and spent eight years at Johns Hopkins University, helping to develop and evaluate a yoga program for individuals with the chronic diseases of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, which became the basis for her PhD in public health. Along with ongoing research collaborations at the National Institutes of Health and Albert Einstein College of Medicine to improve health equity in chronic pain care, Dr. Moonaz is working to bring yoga to people with arthritis in communities around the country, as well as educating yoga professionals about the unique needs of this population.She currently leads Yoga for Arthritis CEU programs nationwide and serves as a mentor for several emerging researchers who are studying the effects of yoga for various health conditions. Dr. Moonaz proudly serves on the Research Working Group and ACIH Councils for the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine and advocates for evidence-informed practice and policy across integrative health fields.In the Adjusted Reality podcast, well-known athletes, celebrities, actors, chiropractors, influencers in the wellness industry, and other podcasters will talk with host Dr. Sherry McAllister, president, F4CP, about their experiences with health and wellness. As a special gift for listening today visit f4cp.org/health to get a copy of our mind, body, spirit eBook which focuses on many ways to optimize your health and the ones you love without the use of drugs or surgery. Follow Adjusted Reality on Instagram. Find A Doctor of Chiropractic Near You.

Yoga therapist and researcher Dr. Steffany Moonaz and host Cheryl Crow discuss the many benefits of yoga for people with inflammatory arthritis. They also bust common myths and misconceptions about yoga, including that it's just an exercise or series of physical poses. Dr. Moonaz shares her best tips for patients newly diagnosed with arthritis and explains how the philosophy of yoga can help people with arthritis fully embrace the present moment and improve overall wellbeing. Dr. Moonaz is the founder of Yoga for Arthritis, which aims to bring evidence-informed and heart-centered yoga practices to people living with arthritis and chronic pain worldwide. Episode at a glance:Yoga meaning and philosophy: The union of mind and body through movement, breath, and mindfulness - not just poses and exercise!What makes Yoga Therapists different than Yoga Teachers: Yoga therapists have further training in understanding of health conditions to help patients manage chronic illness or imbalances through yoga.The power of movement for mental health: After experiencing improvements in her own mental health through dance and exercise, Dr. Moonaz realized her purpose of reducing suffering for people through mindful movement. She focuses on arthritis due in part to it being a leading cause of disability.Research on Yoga for Arthritis: It is considered integrative medicine with improvements for overall quality of life. This is due to relief of pain and stiffness, increase in physical function through balance, strength, and flexibility, and mindfulness for stress reductionBeginner Tips: Ask your rheumatologist if there are positions you should avoid, search for a Yoga Therapist who has experience with accessible / adaptive yoga through the International Association of Yoga Therapists, private lessons can be beneficial for added safety and personalized / targeted symptom managementAdvice for newly diagnosed patients: find “RA Thrivers” and listen to their stories, use social media as a resource for building connections, and join Rheum to THRIVE for education and support!Medical disclaimer: All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Episode SponsorsRheum to THRIVE, a community support & education program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. Join the waitlist for the next group, which starts in 2023!Rheumatoid Arthritis Roadmap, a self-paced online course Cheryl created that teaches you how to confidently manage your physical, social and emotional life with rheumatoid arthritis. Full show notes including transcript and videoGo to www.MyArthritisLife.Net to the show page, which should be up soon! 

Dr. Steffany Moonaz, Ph.D. is someone very accomplished you will want to network with if you are working in the arena of pain, arthritis, and autoimmunity but beyond her many contributions thus far, Steffany is taking that curvy hustle so many women must dance through our careers. In this episode, we discuss: Key applications of her research Her recent contribution to future standards in yoga research Steffany's vision for the future and where her writing and professional teaching can meet this vision in the world of systemic dysfunctions and the much-neglected sector of children with pain Steffany Moonaz wants us to know 2 main messages   Message #1: You are the world's leading expert of your own body-mind and you should have agency/autonomy related to its best interest.   Message #2: In taking charge of your own wellbeing, make use of the expertise and support available to guide and serve you. In this conversation, you will soon see how she is one of those modern-day medicine women I love at the intersection of academia, healthcare, and the sacred role of mother and woman in the family.  Does this conversation resonate?  You are a medicine Woman Rising!  Let's have a complimentary career clarity call. I have resources to support a redesign of your talents and skillset. I can have your move from employee to enterprise kept slim and sane.  I am happy to connect you with my network and your people! Book Now.  To learn more from Steffany visit:  Website: https://arthritis.yoga Email: info@arthritis.yoga    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Yoga4Arthritis   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yogaforarthritis/       *Related products to both of these messages include:  My book and online courses/classes available at https://arthritis.yoga/store   Dharma Coaching, Yoga Therapy, or Health Coaching with me at https://arthritis.yoga/bookings

Combining the low-impact movements of yoga with mindfulness provides both physical and mental benefits for people living with arthritis. Learn more in this discussion with Steffany Moonaz, PhD, creator of Yoga for Arthritis. Visit the Live Yes! With Arthritis Podcast site to read the blog and get show notes and a full transcript: https://arthritis.org/liveyes/podcast We want to hear from you. Tell us what you think about the Live Yes! With Arthritis Podcast. Get started here: https://arthritisfoundation.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ebqublsylCl7BIh Special Guest: Dr. Steffany Moonaz.

Dr. Steffany Moonaz founded Yoga for Arthritis after 8 years at Johns Hopkins University where she studied the effects of yoga for people living with arthritis. She now serves as the Director of Clinical and Academic Research at the Maryland University of Integrative Health, which offers the nation's only Masters of Science in Yoga Therapy. She continues to conduct research on the effects of yoga for chronic pain and joint conditions, and mentors yoga teachers, yoga therapists, and emerging researchers. She is passionate about ensuring that yoga practices are safe, welcoming, and appropriate for people with arthritis nationwide.Resources:https://arthritis.yoga/Mindful MinuteIn this episode, my biggest takeaway was when Steffany told us that meditation is an antidote for the effects of chronic pain on the brain. So if you're already a meditator, great. If not, where will you choose to practice regularly? In bed, sitting in a chair, sitting on the floor? How will you choose to practice regularly focusing on your breath, focusing on a word phrase or prayer or using visualization? So try a meditation that works for you today. Music:The YOGI MD Podcast Theme Music by Lisette Kelly (bass and guitar), Maya Bishop (vocals), & Nadine Kelly (percussion); Produced by Tim Buell.

Do you want to have a full and more vibrant life? Then, don't neglect a single part of your health. Taking care of yourself responsibly means balancing your social, emotional, mental, physical, intellectual, and spiritual health. It's a multidimensional, more comprehensive, and more rewarding approach. I hope you have enjoyed and learned ways to improve your social, emotional, and mental health so far. Now it's time to nurture our physical health! All of my guests compel you to care for your body so that you don't just survive, but thrive  - Former 2x Olympian Bayano Kamani, Sleep physician and psychiatrist Dr. Cara Ooi, Healthy Aging Expert and Nutritionist Annie Gaudreault, and Founder of Yoga for Arthritis Dr. Steffany Moonaz. If you are curious about becoming a physically healthy human being, you will be happy you took the time to listen!

Steffany Moonaz and Shira discuss Yoga therapy for arthritis, and what kinds of Yoga classes benefit, rather than aggravate, arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. We touch on systemic inflammation and its relationship to depression, what makes Yoga therapy different from most Yoga classes and how to find resources and a good teacher for this condition. Dr. Steffany, Yoga therapist, Yoga researcher, and director of research at the Maryland University of Integrative Health, creates, evaluates and trains professionals in programs to work safely and effectively with people who have arthritis and related conditions.  She has written Yoga Therapy for Arthritis for Yoga professionals, healthcare professionals and people living with arthritis who want to better understand the role of yoga in arthritis management. 

Summary: Using evidence informed practices is vital in furthering the field of yoga therapy. Steffany Moonaz, PhD, C-IAYT joins us to share how yoga can help those suffering from arthritis and other pain conditions.  I really love how she shares the latest research in such an understandable way.  Steffany founded Yoga for Arthritis after eight years at John Hopkins university, where she studied the effects of yoga for people living with arthritis. She is now director of clinical and academic research at the Maryland University of Integrative Health, which offers the only MS yoga therapy degree in the nation. She leads yoga for arthritis teacher training programs nationwide, and serves as a mentor for emerging researchers.Her yoga DVD produced by the arthritis foundation has been their best-selling product since it's released in 2013 and her book, Yoga Therapy for Arthritis, the whole person approach to movement and lifestyle was published by singing dragon publishers in December of 2018. Topics: [2:40] Her yoga journey and how she came to work with people who have arthritis “I learned from the population and they taught me how yoga worked and didn't work for them. What practices were most beneficial, what things needed to be adjusted. And so over time, over multiple cohorts, we figured out what we thought was going to make the most sense for this population and started to study it.” [6:52] Steffany explains the different types of arthritis [9:16] Why working through the koshas is important for people who suffer from arthritis “The information that we have about what's happening in our own bodies, the way that we frame it and think about it, the stories that we tell ourselves about what our body can and can't do and what that means for who we are, you know, all of that is wrapped up in the experience of arthritis as well.” [14:22] Meaning and purpose as a means to find relief [16:35] Using energizing yoga practices to combat fatigue and depression [19:16] The yamas and niyamas as tools [21:22] Steffany dispels some yoga myths [24:17] Why posture modification shouldn't be a one sized fits all [26:58] Why pain signals aren't a representation of tissue damage [28:47] Rewiring neural pathways [30:29] Why you shouldn't skip meditation even if you don't feel like you are good at it [32:23] Steffany shares research showing that people with arthritis tend to be spiritual “People who are in pain, people who are suffering are looking for meaning- they're looking for answers.” [34:06] How some arthritis sufferers found gratitude for their disease [35:43] What having an evidence informed practice really means [38:00] Scope of practice for yoga professionals [43:51] Providing yoga safely [47:54] When and why it's best practice to refer clients/students to someone else [52:41] Why you (and your clients) should be moving your joints every day [57:55] How research and evidence informed practice aligns with yoga philosophy Connect with Steffany: Website:  www.arthritis.yoga Email:  info@arthritis.yoga Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/drmoonaz/ *Link to Book Yoga Therapy for Arthritis:  https://amzn.to/3nCBEes *Link to Book Science of Yoga in Pain Care: https://amzn.to/3ll4AYa (Affiliate link) *Affiliate links Link to Neil Pearson's paper: Yoga for People in Pain Paper: https://lifeisnow.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Yoga_Chronic_Pain_International_Journal_Yoga_Therapy_2008.pdf?fbclid=IwAR09gKb7w53RtBtqK7DpcxKSSFLHjQjdjewYabs8zJ9ZPXZFnf63dzM5jLM Link to Steffany and Marlisa's paper:  Toward an Explanatory Framework for Yoga Therapy Informed by Philosophical and Ethical Perspectives https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Marlysa_Sullivan/publication/321082136_Toward_an_Explanatory_Framework_for_Yoga_Therapy_Informed_by_Philosophical_and_Ethical_Perspectives/links/5a37d161458515919e71c4b1/Toward-an-Explanatory-Framework-for-Yoga-Therapy-Informed-by-Philosophical-and-Ethical-Perspectives.pdf Connect with Pamela: www.interoceptiveperformance.com info@interoceptiveperformance.com www.facebook.com/interoceptiveperformance www.instagram.com/interoceptiveperformance www.youtube.com/interoceptiveperformance   Join the Facebook support group for Overcoming Fears for Confidence and Authenticity https://www.facebook.com/groups/overcomingfearsforconfidence   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   Work with Pamela https://www.schedulicity.com/scheduling/CYTQ9A/services   Music:  The State of Things (The Bouncy Song) by Rena Wren is used with permission.  www.renawren.com  

Steffany Moonaz, PhD, C-IAYT is the Founder and Director of Yoga for Arthritis, and serves as the Director of Clinical and Academic Research at the Maryland University of Integrative Health (which offers the nation's only Masters of Science in Yoga Therapy). She is the author of Yoga Therapy for Arthritis: ​A whole-person approach to movement and lifestyleIn this episode, Steffany shares a powerful story of how she found “her own unique and individual path, or dharma,” through her love of dance as a child. Steffany, who recognized that there was a certain “mindfulness in motion” that took place while dancing, also developed an understanding of the healing power of mindful movement. With a background in biology, dance, and public health, Steffany went on to develop and evaluate a yoga program for individuals with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, which became the basis for her PhD in public health.Currently, Steffany leads Yoga for Arthritis teacher training programs nationwide and serves as a mentor for several emerging researchers who are working to study the effects of yoga for various health conditions. Steffany believes that through yoga, the arthritic population can recognize their own resilience and wisdom as well as control pain and reduce physical symptoms through mindful practices. With years of studies and evidence to support Yoga for Arthritis, Steffany has developed a program to educate and certify yoga professionals how to best work with this population through physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual guidance. Steffany Moonaz is on a mission to not only connect, but also educate fitness and medical professionals the benefits of catering to all aspects of the arthritic client.CONNECT with STEFFANYWebsite: arthritis.yogaInstagram: @yogaforarthritisFacebook: @Yoga4ArthritisLinkedIn: @yoga-for-arthritisSPONSORSMedFit NetworkBecome a MedFit Network Professional Member: medfitnetwork.org/welcomeSearch the free MedFit Network directory to find a pro in your area: medfitnetwork.org/searchHEALTHEFITThere's an undeniable correlation between the rising rates of chronic disease and the growing cases of COVID-19. With so many uncertainties in the medical industry as to how to curve this pandemic, what we do know is that exercise is medicine and that healthcare needs access to certified and trusted Medical Fitness Practitioners to prevent, treat or manage underlying conditions. Unfortunately, there is a dramatic shortage in this profession.We need your help in filling the prescription of medical fitness. Contact HEALTHEFIT for career and licensing opportunities! healthefit.com

In this episode I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Steffany Moonaz, yoga therapist and researcher and author of Yoga for Arthritis. We spoke about the field of yoga research -- what's happening in it, who is doing quality research and how to access it. We also spoke about the efforts underway to collect information from yoga therapists and other health practitioners who are working with someone with COVID-19. To access the registry for integrative health practitioners working with someone with COVID-19 visit https://redcap.nunm.edu/redcap/surveys/?s=PE3EHAYDT3Support the show (https://innerpeaceyogatherapy.com)

Did you know that arthritis is not one single disease, but a category of over 100 medical conditions that is actually the leading cause of disability in the US?? Before talking to Dr. Steffany Moonaz (and reading her book) I didn't either!  Dr. Steffany Moonaz founded Yoga for Arthritis after 8 years at Johns Hopkins University where she studied the effects of yoga for people living with arthritis. She now serves as the Director of Clinical and Academic Research at the Maryland University of Integrative Health, which offers the nation's only Masters of Science in Yoga Therapy.  She continues to conduct research on the effects of yoga for chronic pain and joint conditions, and is joining us on The Mentor Sessions today to talk about making  yoga practices safe, welcoming, and appropriate for people with arthritis. In this episode you'll hear: some of the biggest myths about arthritis  why the multifaceted practices of yoga are so supportive for people living with arthritis what is lost when yoga teachers and researchers focus only on asana the difference between chronic pain and acute pain as it relates to the brain how chronic pain impacts the anatomy and function of the brain circuitry and what yoga teachers can do about it how to teach yoga classes that are safe, welcoming and inclusive for people living with arthritis

Steffany Moonaz is a holistic practitioner and therapist helping people who suffer with arthritis live their best lives. A great discussion of the importance of combing eastern and western medicine. To learn more contact: James Cox Cell: 267 323 6936 Email: jamescoxprivateemail@gmail.com

- Steffany is a yoga therapist and researcher specializing in rheumatic diseases - She demonstrates in this episode lots of do-it-yourself exercises to relieve finger, hand and wrist pain - She has written a book called "Yoga Therapy For Arthritis" and has conducted pioneering research in the benefits of yoga for arthritis - Her research confirms Yoga can help with arthritis in a variety of ways - Yoga is currently built into many of the recommendations for safety management of arthritis - It primarily deals with the union of mind and body and is strictly connected with meditation - Managing stress response and relaxation response is key in arthritis treatment - Some simple breathing exercises can help reduce stress

Introduction 2:32 Yoga research occurring for a while, but so many people participating in yoga, it has grown.  Populations are using it for health benefits so researchers are looking at its effects, benefits. Started growing last few decades and will continue expanding in next decades. Patients took yoga for symptom management and told their doctors. Clinical researchers started researching these claims. Research in exercise science, mental health, and occupational therapy contributed to the knowledge. 6:42 Immigration changes brought new ideas to West; people started going to yoga in NYC because of 9/11 and people in Japan started attending more because the tsunami. Japan has the largest growth to date, but China will overtake that rate soon. Why do people gravitate to this method of self-care. 10:15 Youtube has lots of yoga, but people still need connection and study with a teacher. 10 years ago – video markets were lucrative, now its clothing and supplements. 11:54 How is yoga information disseminated and valued? Learning from different teachers and different lineages. This is changing as more people take courses/classes online. Some groups in yoga want to preserve info in lineages, others are wanting info that is evidence-based. Traditions will be valued, but seeing a radical change as people see the results of research.. Research is becoming more refined. Push back from traditional yoga, but understandings change as research brings new concepts. Research changes what we do in our practices based on perceived benefits. Many are coming from research 15:50 What am I gaining from yoga; what does it do? Steffany Moonaz researching chronic pain in underserved populations. Have no experience with yoga but know it is supposed to be good for them. Very motivated to learn yoga to help their health. 17:40 Personal experience; what happens if you stop doing yoga after years of practicing. Missed group connection, a level of calm, body just feels better with yoga. Tried yoga in combination with other exercises and yoga alone. Vigorous yoga vs gentle yoga for cancer patients. Research now is what is the best way to achieve our goal. 19:50 What is yoga? What is providing the benefits of the many aspects of yoga. Individual/combined benefits. What are different effects from different types of yoga. Yoga began with yogis experimenting on themselves and watching/reviewing what happens to their bodies, minds. Majority of Western practitioners are women. Yoga started as a male activity. How has yoga changed because of the change in the participants gender?  Yoga makes us feel better/ take care ourselves. Women are usually the health decision makers for the family. How has this huge increase in yoga affected population health and family health? Predict aging issues to find activities to have a healthy older age. Look longitudinally at life span and see what health activities are needed at different stages. 28:08 How powerful is the effect of teachers? External feedback to propel our growth – can be life changing. Participating in yoga remotely has deficits. Being witnessed and in person contact is powerful in yoga. Can’t be captured by research. 30:18 Research will radically change what we do in yoga. But need more research literacy. Both research and the yoga community can be blinded to what the other can offer. Need to bridge these different viewpoints. 31:49 Research is being refined: looking at different aspects of yoga, different lineages. Non communicable diseases are now the leading cause of death. How do we address that. Must be proactive in health behaviours – yoga can be the entry into physical activity, stress relief. But it is not for every issue. Can yoga be wide and deep enough to meet the needs of different populations – need different approaches. Do we change the name of yoga if it gets too far from its roots. Hold a place for different approaches. 34:02 What are our deficits in understanding as yoga teachers. Have a depth of experience but need to have research literacy to understand and apply the research findings Cross-collaboration between yoga teachers and researchers. Need a platform for day-to-day teachers to share their knowledge/experience. Ranking value of knowledge should not only be measured by degrees or social media followings. Lara has started a FB group Yoga Research Club where she posts a research paper and the members discuss it. Contact Details FB: yogaresearchclub Insta: larayogaluv Twitter: larayogaluv

After the age of 40, there is less space between your spinal vertebrae than when you were 20. This steady degeneration of tissues happens predictably but can be exacerbated by weight, high stress, extreme athletics, and even accidents. Aside from the natural wear and tear on our joints, many people also suffer from autoimmune attacks which affect the soft tissues, causing pain, inflammation, and even deformity in extreme cases. We're talking about arthritis. And, not surprisingly, yoga can be a very effective management strategy for anyone with these problems. On this week's show, we'll help define and understand the many different conditions of arthritis, and we'll explore ways to reduce and even eliminate symptoms through movement. What You'll Learn: How “arthritis” is a general term for hundreds of conditions The difference between wear and tear joint degeneration vs. autoimmune conditions Why knees, hips, and low back are the most problematic How x-rays and scans can give insight into joint-space narrowing The risk of rheumatoid cachexia that includes muscle loss Responsible use of cortisone, ibuprofen, and other medications Why strong quads can add years of life to your knees   ABOUT OUR GUEST Dr. Steffany Moonaz founded Yoga for Arthritis after eight years at Johns Hopkins University where she studied the effects of yoga for people living with arthritis. She now serves as the Director of Clinical and Academic Research at the Maryland University of Integrative Health, which offers the nation's only Masters of Science in Yoga Therapy. She continues to conduct research on the effects of yoga for chronic pain and joint conditions, and she mentors yoga teachers, yoga therapists, and emerging researchers. She is passionate about ensuring that yoga practices are safe, welcoming, and appropriate for people with arthritis nationwide. Links & Resources: Steffany's Site Steffany's Book Nutritional Tip of the Week: Sllimming Tea Got Questions? Send me a voicemail here: Ask Lucas a Question Or write to us: podcast@yogabody.com Like the Show? Leave us a Review on iTunes

We are very excited to share our recent conversation with Dr. Steffany Moonaz, author of Yoga Therapy for Arthritis, a whole person approach to movement and lifestyle. In addition to promoting her book (available for pre-order now at yogaforarthritis.com and on amazon), Steffany discusses her own #gettingdirtyandgrowingstrong story about the auto accident and subsequent after effects, (including a TBI) that continue to shape her life and work. Steffany Moonaz, PhD, C-IAYT is a yoga researcher and yoga therapist serving as the Director of Clinical and Academic Research at the Maryland University of Integrative Health. Based on her years of practice and research, she founded Yoga for Arthritis, an organization that trains yoga professionals to work safely and effectively with arthritic populations.As always, we love to hear from you #couragitarians!

  2:31 As a dancer, Steffany understood movement could be a strategy to alleviate suffering. As a child, she wanted to help people find this state for themselves and suffer less. Wanted to help people find a mind-body connection to be fully engaged in the present thought the experience of what is happening in their bodies and alleviate suffering. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability 6:00 Min-body practice defined by National Center  for Complementary and Integrated Health. Many kinds of mind-body practices that you can do yourself. Mind-body practices are strategies for self-care. Treatment can be passive like drugs or give people the tools for self-care like a yoga class. Changing the way we live by using self-care tools. 8:00 Research: clinical experience and personal perception. Yoga works because we can see the benefits for students, clients and ourselves. Research aims to reduce the personal perception bias. Yoga also is aware of being able to tell the difference between one subjective experience and and our objective reality. Our decisions must be informed by both to make decisions. Expert opinion (training, gurus, etc.), clinical preference (client’s need),  and generalisable evidence from well-designed research studies. The third one is viewed most strongly by decision and policy makers. Yoga research conducted with modern health research guidelines is fairly new. Last few decades  yoga research was not funded resulting in very small studies that showed promising results. They indicated that yoga was safe to do. These original studies brought research funding to yoga to now do research with rigorous design. Dose (how often), style, poses, comparison with other modalities are now part of yoga research. Results from 1 research study is 1 piece of a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle. It is difficult to really understand if yoga is beneficial from that one study. But a thousand studies brings the whole picture and much more confidence in yoga’s benefits. Tips to help someone who is unsure on how to review research studies. Read summary research – meta-analysis, systematic reviews – by an expert in the field. They will be very knowledgeable and by looking at several pieces of the jigsaw will have a better idea of what the research says about a yoga topic. 19:55 Steffany is developing Guidelines for Clinical Research.  If you are writing about yoga research, these guidelines tell you what must be reported so that the research is designed correctly. Things like: yoga style, poses, modifications, time spent in each pose, etc. Without this kind of information, no one can make a recommendation for or against. 23:11 Yoga for Arthritis: developed rigorous, randomised control group structure, replicated with another population research on the benefits of yoga for arthritis. Yoga works, but that conclusion is based on how yoga is taught. Yoga is safe and appropriate for people with arthritis, decreases pain. Steffany’s research showed a 30% decrease in pain (comparable to drugs) but no side effects. Yoga can transform life, even without pain decrease. Research shows Yoga can improve quality of life, mental health and depressive symptoms. Study reports  changes in the clinical assessment of joints. Received funding from Arthritis Foundation. Subsequent studies included qualitative (peoples’ stories about yoga’s effects) and quantitative aspects.  (Arthritis Foundation asked Steffany to develop a DVD  which is available on the Arthritis Foundation website. The Yoga for Arthritis website has additional resources. 29:18 Steffany has written a book: ”Yoga Therapy for Arthritis” that will be published December 2018. Arthritis affects the whole person; yoga intervenes on every level. Uses the Pancha Maya Kosha system to see the effects of arthritis on each kosha. It is illustrated by a series of personal stories of people living with arthritis and how yoga facilitates personal transformations. Includes a section on lots of different practices and modifications. The book is for three audiences: Yoga professionals, people with arthritis, and health professionals 33:59 Anyone can suffer from arthritis: 300,000 children have arthritis is the US. Self-concept is changed by arthritis as well as movement. A participant in Steffany’s research had arthritis in her twenties and it significantly affected her life as she was a dancer and gymnast.  Through yoga she came to realise she and her body could partners in dealing with the arthritis. 38:45 Steffany offers Teacher Training in Yoga for Arthritis. 3 Levels: 1st level – provides protocol for 8 week / 16 classes based on her research. Level 2: 1-1 mentoring for teachers, detailing how to teach. Level 3: 1 to 1 practice – yoga therapy. Training in several cities in Us, starting a hybrid on-line programs 42:50 Open invitation to listeners to send questions to Steffany and she will try to answer them.   Contacts: www.arthritis.yoga FB: yoga4arthritis info@arthritis.yoga Book: “Yoga Therapy for Arthritis: A whole-person approach for Movement and Lifestyle” by Steffany Moonaz