Why is this not called How to Teach Yoga for Osteoporosis?
This course is for you if you teach Yoga for Osteoporosis and this course is for you if you don't.
As yoga teachers and therapists we do need to be aware and informed of conditions that affect our students and clients, whether we teach general public drop-in classes or older adult groups or privates.
We will start by learning about the diagnosis of osteoporosis and then broaden our education about bones. With this perspective we will then dive into how to impart the tools of yoga effectively to each individual who has a skeleton.
Tending to bone health is coming to the forefront as we as a culture begin to acknowledge the 40-50 years women are now living AFTER menopause and the vitality we have in the Third Act of our lifespan.
We are more aware that the decline in our bone health is a huge casualty of the menopause transition. We are also learning that osteoporosis is not an inevitable condition nor should it be relegated to just “little ol’ ladies.” It can happen to all genders.
One of the frightening statistics says that 50% of women and 25% of men over the age of 50 will experience an osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime.
But I believe this is if we continue to be uninformed about our bones.
While our bodies do age, we don’t need to suffer. This is Yoga 101.
Being bone-informed means we can safely convey the teachings of yoga to our older students who may or may not even know they have osteoporosis or osteopenia.
Being bone-informed means our students don’t need to consult with a Physical Therapist about what poses they should and should not do in our yoga classes.
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Case studies in the scientific literature about yoga injuries clearly indicate that yoga teachers need to be better informed about older students and bone health in particular to safely teach all their students.
This is a growing issue as all of our students are aging and more and more older adults are coming to general yoga classes.
Over the years, yoga teacher training programs added modules in prenatal yoga that address how to teach women entering our general classes who may be pregnant. We now need to look at the other end of a woman’s reproductive years, and learn how to work with the silver tsunami of older adults joining our classes as well.
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Being “bone-informed” could be the new “trauma-informed” (and in some ways they go hand-in-hand.) The Trauma-Sensitive Yoga movement of the early 2000s expanded on the trauma-informed care approach originating in the 70s that considered the complexities of prior traumatic experiences (specifically the Vietnam war) when treating individuals.
Bone-Informed Yoga recognizes that everyone has a skeleton and our bones are more than the scaffolding to our muscles, they are vital organs with a rich history of life in our system. There are many factors that contribute to their decline, which can begin at a much earlier age and simply manifest when we get older.
Injury and a sense of frailty are often foisted on older people by uninformed albeit well-meaning approaches. But by being bone-informed, we can shift our awareness and understanding and our approach.
Using the tools of yoga, primed by relevant science, we can help people who have low bone density feel safer while practicing yoga because yoga truly is uniquely beneficial to folks with this condition.
Teaching bone-informed yoga means you understand osteoporosis is a complex condition. There is not a single list of poses or specific movements that should be verboten to everyone with a diagnosis of osteoporosis. Any list of yoga poses that are good for or bad for you if you have osteoporosis is reductive and ill-informed by people who do not know enough about yoga (and are only catering to the most frail cases.) Often the same pose will land on one list to do and another list to avoid depending on the experience of the list creator, leading to even more confusion for our students (and more work for us to turn that mindset around.)
In “How to Teach Bone-Informed Yoga” we will debunk myths, learn nuances of bone health we can address with yoga practices, try on new cues, and solve the problem of keeping your students safe so you can be an even better, more informed, assured teacher for more students.
Your students want to be confident in doing yoga that benefits their bones and does not hurt them.
You want to be the teacher who can confidently teach that kind of yoga.
Expand your knowledge, expand your reach.
“When I discovered that I had osteoporosis, I had a few sessions with a physical therapist to learn how I should and shouldn't move my body to protect my spine and other bones. With that new awareness, I found it hard to participate in my "usual" yoga classes that included positions that were not recommended for an osteoporotic spine. I was so happy to find Mary Beth and her bone-friendly yoga class! Finally, I didn't have to worry that I would be encouraged to move in a way that was not good for my spine, and I could relax and just enjoy Mary Beth's pleasant demeanor and follow her very specific cues.
As a result of participating in Mary Beth's yoga classes, along with several other bone healthy practices, I am happy to report that I have reversed my osteoporosis back to osteopenia. And I hope that by continuing to practice yoga with Mary Beth's community, I will be able to continue in this positive direction.”
~Julie
“… I have practiced Yoga for 25+ years. Since participating in Yoga for Vital Bones, my awareness of breathing and posture has improved with my consistent practice. Before this class I had 2 significant falls with fractures. Since this class I have fallen and not fractured. I also find that I don’t fall as easily because my balance has improved. This program has increased my confidence and strength in general.”
~Pat P., Kansas City, MO
Opening Eyes (And Minds)
This condition is complex - I will walk you through it so we, as teachers, are clear on what we are dealing with on many different levels.
What’s the truth? We will dive into this deeply, look through the science, and sort it out through the lens of yoga so you can address your students’ concerns without passing along unexamined, indiscriminate messages.
We’ll talk about how best to convey precautions, pinpoint potential nocebic languaging in your cueing that you'll want to remove, and learn how to empower your students to be mindful rather than wary of poses.
We’ll broaden your knowledge on what building bone means and needs, and expand your understanding of the benefits of yoga for bone health through the lens of both scientific studies and yoga philosophy like the Yoga Sutras. Moreover, the Fishman approach is based on the Iyengar method. We’ll compare this approach to the style and lineage from which you teach, and clarify what is truly bone-informed yoga and how you can apply it to best serve your students.
Here's a formal synopsis:
Mary Beth Ray is BoneFit™ trained and has over 30 years of experience practicing and studying yoga primarily in the Krishnamacharya breath-centered lineage. She approaches her daily practice and her 15 years of teaching with a curious heart and an academic mind. Through a focus on presence and awareness that benefits our whole health, her teaching helps you better understand the biopsychosocial-spiritual approach to addressing your bone health. To learn more, visit 3greencircles.com
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I’ve been studying yoga since the early 1990s with particular attention on its therapeutic effects. I have taken additional training in Accessible Yoga with Jivana Heyman and Adaptive Yoga with Matthew Sanford that expanded my views of how to distill the teachings of yoga for everyone and creatively apply them in all circumstances. I’m currently deepening my studies further through a 4 year 1008 hr yoga therapist training program in the lineage of Viniyoga through the Yoga Well Institute.
Since my diagnosis of osteopenia in 2016 I’ve turned my attention toward learning and studying more about bones and applying the teachings of yoga alongside the findings of science. This information is to help myself and my students who are living with lower than normal bone density use yoga as part of our bone health plan.
But there are millions of people with this condition - and millions who want to do yoga...safely & wisely!
To reach more people in need, I created this training for other teachers to share my experience successfully working with hundreds of students over the last 8 years. You'll see some of their testimonials scattered throughout this page.
And here's what other teachers I’ve trained say about my teaching style:
"I really feel like I expanded my knowledge."
"Just wanted to say thank you for being our teacher. I appreciate being able to listen to your experience, and really appreciate the energy that you bring in creating an environment where we can feel open discussing and grappling with these age-old and infinitely complex concepts. I'm grateful to be part of it!"
"I have appreciated your guidance deeply. You have a gentle and attentive presence that made me feel accepted and supported. The safe environment you held allowed me to be fully present and share myself without fear. I feel very lucky to have been able to study under you. The qualities you possess as a guide are what I aspire to. "
"The most valuable aspect of this workshop was the “tone” that Mary Beth set & used. Very nurturing and emphasis on improving practice from where each student is."
"Your one size does not fit all approach is empowering but your attention to detail and safety is the key."
"What gifts you're offering and it's also so inspiring! Thank you for being such a resource and visionary."
"Mary Beth’s quiet embodiment as a basis for her teaching made it squarely land and stick. I learned some key things at a doable pace that I have incorporated into daily practice and teaching."
Knowledge of how to practice yoga safely for their level of fitness
Practices that maximize the benefit of yoga for their bones.
Smart, safe routines (aka sequencing) that help them understand how not to hurt themselves.
Better balance and improved posture.
A feeling of confidence that how they are moving through yoga is correct and not dangerous.
Acknowledgement of their limitations but encouragement that fuels their vitality.
To use yoga as a part of their effective bone health strategy.
Help with stress management and anxiety in general and specifically with this diagnosis.
A teacher who understands the risks and benefits of yoga for osteoporosis - and how to impart intelligent modifications where necessary but without being overly cautious (i.e., infantilizing.)
To feel strong, healthy, and inspired.
To regain a feeling of control since this diagnosis.
To understand how to account for bone health and xyz conditions in their practice (different conditions often have conflicting needs, like osteoarthritis vs osteoporosis.)
To avoid fractures and pain.
To keep up their yoga practices while healing from fractures.
To know how to truly strengthen their bones.
“Having a diagnosis of osteoporosis can seem almost like the end of life as you know it or have known it previously. There are so many pieces of information which promote restriction in movement. I have always practiced yoga and was really disappointed and worried when I read about the "dangers" of some postures.
Then I found your yoga group and was increasingly amazed at what you can actually do in terms of yoga. There's not too much off limits!
…you have guided me through some difficult times in the past couple of years as I recovered from previous major fractures. It's great to see that this is not the end of the world.”
~Sue, London England
Here are some of the topics to be discussed in “How to Teach Bone-Informed Yoga” that will make a huge difference in your teaching for these students:
Yoga is not the panacea for osteoporosis but it is absolutely and uniquely beneficial as part of a truly effective, holistic, bone health plan.
With this course, you will learn to be comfortable and confident in bestowing all that yoga has to offer to people living their lives with lower than normal bone density.
“I have been taking Mary Beth’s “Yoga for Vital Bones” class for several years now and love every class. I have osteopenia, and my doctor told me that last my DEXA Scan showed that whatever I was doing was really helpful, and to keep going! As a result of Mary Beth’s class, I have not fallen in these years, my balance and overall health are better, and I am physically strong enough to actively play and lift my grandchildren. I have also slowed down and am more connected to myself and my body. Mary Beth is flexible in her approach by adapting yoga postures given different needs of each person and is deeply kind.”
~Gail, 72 yrs old, Yoga for Vital Bones student
Logistics
Takes Place 100% via Zoom
Day 1 - Saturday October 26th
9:00am to 3:00pm Pacific (with breaks!)
Day 2 - Sunday October 27th
12:00pm to 3:00pm Pacific (with breaks!)
Bonus Follow Up & Check In - Saturday Nov 9th 10:00am to 11:00am Pacific
This course uses a combination of presentation, movement exercises, breakout rooms, and lots of discussion.
All class time will be recorded but your live participation is vital for the success of the course.
This is the inaugural launch of this course**.
You will get lifetime access to the course recordings - and invitations to join future live cohorts for free.
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** You will have access to future updates.
Yoga Alliance CEUs available - please inquire if you need these
Expand Your Knowledge, Expand Your Reach
