Yoga & Osteoporosis
A 5-week online embodied experience for yoga teachers and health professionals who want to safely move clients with Osteoporosis from fragile to confident and grounded.
AUGUST 8 – SEPTEMBER 3, 2024
More than 2 million people live with Osteoporosis . . .
that's 2 million people who need your help.
You CAN help your clients with Osteoporosis to increase their quality of life, improve their sleep, and enhance their movement, strength and mobility so that they feel empowered in their own body.
But Osteoporosis isn’t just another disease where you can follow the standard protocol.
Studies show that over 80% of fractures in the 50+ age community are caused by Osteoporosis.
With 80% of fractures caused by Osteoporosis, this has left yoga teachers terrified to help our Osteoporosis friends.
You are fearful of hurting your Osteoporosis student . . . that you might put them in danger of a fragility fracture.
You avoid anyone who mentions that scary “O” word because you anticipate that any movement is too risky to try.
You get stressed at the idea of working with someone with a bone density score lower than -2.5 which only sets off alarms to your nervous system.
This fear, anxiety, panic and nervousness is stopping you from helping people with Osteoporosis to have a better life!
Here are the Facts:
Studies have shown that balance training and light-excerise in adults over 50 years old can help to lower their fall rate by 23%.
Yoga in particular has been shown to improve bone mineral density, lower pain, and have a significant effect on balance and mobility.
In a 2010 study* of postmenopausal Osteoporosis patients, they found that the yoga group saw momentous improvements in 12-weeks across all parameters of life (including pain, quality of life, sleep, mental health, mobility and activities), whereas the exercise group only saw slight improvements in pain.
*Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department Division of Osteoporosis, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa School of Medicine
What this tells you is that activities like yoga where you can apply light weight to the body to strengthen the muscles that support these fragile bones canimprove balance, posture and help your client feel confident in their own body.
Yoga can improve balance, and posture . . . and help your client feel confident.
But how do you know which yoga poses will help? Will a simple forward bend break a rib? Will a spinal twist snap a vertebrae?
Yoga for Osteoporosis is not a one-size-fits all approach.
There are co-factors that impact your client’s ability to move better.
Not to mention, the fear of breaking a bone affects your client’s nervous system – which you know plays a role in the body’s entire function.
You need a whole-body approach to serve clients and students who have Osteoporosis.
This starts with being confident in the anatomy and biomechanics of an Osteoporosis body.
As a yoga teacher or health practitioner, you must examine your own thoughts and beliefs because whether you know it or not – these are absorbed by your client.
When you can cultivate your own mental state with Osteoporosis, then you can provide a safe place for your clients.
This is what you will embody in the Yoga & Osteoporosis program.
Yoga & Osteoporosis is for yoga teachers, yoga therapists and movement professionals who are eager to learn new techniques, backed by science and experience, reduce their fear and grow their confidence in helping people with Osteoporosis feel better in a safe, supportive way.
Through this embodied experience, you will get a whole body-mind approach to connecting with clients with Osteoporosis in a safe and effective way.
This type of empowering education is typically not offered in 200 or 500 hour yoga training.
This embodied learning experience is a valuable addition to your current training – whether you’re new to yoga teaching or you’re an experienced yoga therapist.
I am Susi Hately, your Instructor
I help people improve the relationship between their body, mind and breath, and have been training yoga teachers and health professionals how to do the same for over 25 years.
With a background in Kinesiology, I blend science-based biomechanics and anatomy with the ancient wisdom of yoga to help you gain awareness and clarity on what your body is whispering to you. Once you are aware of what happens in your own body, you can translate that to your students and clients to help them move and feel better.
The integration of body and mind has created a bridge between the medical world and yoga.
In fact, two of my programs have been studied at a University level (one on cancer recovery and another on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis), which has enabled me to become an integrative hub between traditional forms of rehabilitation and therapeutic aspects of yoga.
I created this Yoga & Osteoporosis program to teach you how to feel confident working with clients who have Osteoporosis, using tools from an anatomical and biomechanical perspective. The key goal with this program is to teach you how to use the tools in a way that serves your client so that they can learn those skills for themselves and help them move better and live feeling more empowered.
What you will learn:
-
Osteoporosis Understanding: Whether you’re completely new to Osteoporosis or you’ve worked with one or two clients or students with bone health concerns, you will walk out of this program with a deep understanding of the disease that scares so many yoga teachers and movement professionals - and you’ll forget you were ever scared of this disease.
You will learn bone anatomy, the difference between Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis, and Osteopenia and what is needed for each diagnosis. You will also learn the different types of breaks that are common for someone with bone health issues. We’ll also dive into the science behind Osteoporosis with research and case studies on Osteoporosis exercises and health. -
How to be Safe with Your Client with Osteoporosis: Yoga teachers avoid students with Osteoporosis because they’re terrified they are going to hurt them. In Yoga & Osteoporosis, you will learn how to safely work with students or clients who have Osteoporosis, so that not only do you feel confident in your skills, but your client is confident in your abilities to help them.
You will learn what a healing relationship is and when to know how much is too much. And how gravity plays a role on your clients and students who struggle with Osteoporosis - how gravity can work with, and against them. You will also explore what safe healing looks like from an interoception and proprioception perspective - what that means, the parts of the body they’re connected to, and how you can guide your clients and students to connect with their bodies. We will also look at what restrictions have been put in place for clients with Osteoporosis and how they’ve changed over the years. -
Awareness & Movement: How can your client know if things aren’t improving in their body if they aren’t aware of what is happening in the first place? In this program, you will embody the awareness concept - in your own body as well as in your clients and students.
You will learn how to become more aware of the posture, sagittal, deep core and neck in bodies with Osteoporosis and bone health concerns. And how to teach your clients and students with Osteoporosis how to transfer from floor or seated to standing with ease and grace by tuning into their awareness. We’ll also go through some simple yoga poses and movements that are specific to students and clients with Osteoporosis. - Progression to Strength and Confident Walking: You will learn how to incorporate movements that help strengthen the bones, as well as functional movements to assure your clients and students with Osteoporosis that they can walk better, without the fear of falling and apply poses and movements in every day life. We will explore the relationship between gait and balance and how that impacts walking and moving from point A to point B.
- Exercise Action Plan: Looking back on the first 4 weeks, it will be hard to believe you ever had an ounce of doubt and fear when it came to Osteoporosis. Towards the end of the program, you will put everything you’ve learned into action! You will gain various styles of training that you can adjust and apply to your clients and students with Osteoporosis - you will know which movements are best for the individual because you will know what to look for, what to feel and what to be aware of. You will learn balance training, aerobic training, spine-sparing strategies and back extensor training.
Meet your Osteoporosis Experts:
Lora Giangregorio
Lora, PhD is a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo, and a Schlegel Research Chair in Mobility and Aging.
She leads the Bone Health and Exercise Science Lab, or BonES lab. The BonES lab team leads research on physical activity for older adults and people with osteoporosis.
Dr. Giangregorio is a member of the Scientific Advisory Council for Osteoporosis Canada, and was on the leadership team that developed the 2020 Canadian 24-hour Movement Guidelines.
She also led the Exercise Working Group for the 2023 Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Osteoporosis and Fracture Prevention in Canada.
Melanie Metrow
Melanie has been a physical therapist for over 30 years. Early in her career, she realized the significant impact that the mind and emotions have on the physical body, which lead her to comprehensive training in cranial sacral therapy, pain science and yoga.
Melanie believes in the body’s incredible, innate capacity to restore health when it’s treated with a holistic approach and compassionate presence.
She loves empowering people to feel freedom of movement in their body and confidence in their abilities so they can get back to the activities that bring them joy. Melanie is currently in the Yoga Therapy Certification program with Functional Synergy.
Laurie-Anne Lamothe
Laurie-Anne began her yoga teaching journey five years ago with her 200-hour YTT. She forged her way by expanding her knowledge to build her skills because of her passion to provide quality classes for people in specialized groups.
Laurie-Anne has taken many trainings including teaching yoga to seniors, bone dynamics, yoga for chronic pain and adapting movement for Osteoporosis. She will be completing her yoga therapist training this summer with Functional Synergy.
Laurie-Anne specializes in teaching small supportive movements to reduce pain and create stability in her clients and classes. She teaches weekly classes for people with Osteoporosis, and the majority of her private clients have Osteoporosis. Laurie-Anne is passionate about providing an inclusive and supportive movement experience.
Amy Yapp
Amy is a practicing yoga therapist who specializes in Hypermobility. She first discovered the healing nature of yoga as a young mother searching for something to help with a long list of persistent and confusing health challenges. Knowing she had found something very special, she fell in love with teaching students of all ages who share her fascination with healing the body from the inside out.
Amy holds an undergraduate degree in Education and a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Boston College. She completed her 200-hour teacher training with Johnny Gillespie of Empowered Yoga/Balanced Athlete and her certification program in Yoga Therapy with Susi Hately of Functional Synergy.
Amy is certified in both Energy Healing and myofascial release. She is passionate about helping people find their own unique path to wellness. Always focused on healing and prevention, fun and compassion are at the heart of her every connection.
Ruth Ann Penny
Ruth Ann is a certified Yoga Therapist and teacher who has been leading yoga and movement classes and serving individual and corporate clients since 2012.
Qualified to teach in the Vinyasa and Yin traditions, and additionally certified in the
Scaravelli methodology, she has achieved designation as a Master Teacher of Yoga for
Seniors from Duke University’s Centre for Integrative Medicine.
Her private therapeutic yoga students include older adult with spinal stenosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Breast Cancer recovery difficulties, joint replacement mobility challenges, osteoporosis and Parkinson’s disease.
Ruth Ann also coaches yoga teachers and yoga therapists in the area of teaching methodology, particularly how best to approach the learning needs of mature adults. A veteran teacher, a senior educational leader and teacher educator, Ruth Ann holds a
Master’s degree in Adult Education from the University of Toronto.
Mona Warner
Dr. Mona Warner is a warm and joyful educator practicing Āyurveda, Yoga, and Vedic Astrology. She works from Kingston, Ontario, Canada where she strives to guide others down the path of health, happiness and well-being in a practical and accessible way. She is a Doctor of Āyurvedic Medicine, an Āyurvedic Yoga Therapist (AYT), a Yoga Teacher Trainer, and a Vedic Astrologer. She is the author of Āyurvedic Yoga, Ayurveda's Three Pillars of Health, and the Grief and Ayurveda Workbook.
Dr. Mona supports clients with Osteopenia and Osteoporosis regularly in her clinical practice. Āyurveda has a useful perspective on supporting these, and many other, imbalances and challenges using food, lifestyle, and Āyurvedic formulas.
Osteoporosis Case Studies
Within 4 sessions over a 2 month time, Ruth Ann’s client saw improvements in her movement and her bone density score.
Ruth Ann worked with a 91-year old woman with Osteoporosis. She was a frail, small boned woman with a bone density score far below -2.5. She was the ‘worst of the worst’ when it came to her bone density score. Ruth Ann’s client had previous health training so she knew how to listen to her body but she was still scared to move, in fear of breaking a bone.
Ruth Ann would visit her client in her home because that was a safe environment where she could work with her client and build the trust and willingness to try different movements.
Within 4 sessions over a 2 month time, Ruth Ann’s client saw improvements in her movement and her bone density score!
By adding gradual load to her body, she built strength and balance. She felt confident enough to walk down the hall without her walker to visit her friend - something she hadn’t done in a very long time.
Amy went from an Osteoporosis diagnosis to reversing her diagnosis and is now in Osteopenia, without medication.
Amy received her Osteoporosis diagnosis 5 years ago. She went through all the emotions - fear, sadness and confusion. Once she cleared her tension and worry around this diagnosis, she began down her healing journey.
As someone with Hypermobility, she wasn’t able to do the usual Osteoporosis exercises. Working with a PT, doing her own research and applying what she has learned as a Certified Yoga Therapist, she created her own healing path - one that is working for her and her body.
Amy had a bone density scan over a year ago (4 years after her diagnosis) and she was pleased to learn that she was now in Osteopenia. She was able to reverse her diagnosis, increase her bone density as well as her overall strength, without having to take Osteoporosis medication.
Within 4 sessions over a 2 month time, Ruth Ann’s client saw improvements in her movement and her bone density score.
Ruth Ann worked with a 91-year old woman with Osteoporosis. She was a frail, small boned woman with a bone density score far below -2.5. She was the ‘worst of the worst’ when it came to her bone density score. Ruth Ann’s client had previous health training so she knew how to listen to her body but she was still scared to move, in fear of breaking a bone.
Ruth Ann would visit her client in her home because that was a safe environment where she could work with her client and build the trust and willingness to try different movements.
Within 4 sessions over a 2 month time, Ruth Ann’s client saw improvements in her movement and her bone density score!
By adding gradual load to her body, she built strength and balance. She felt confident enough to walk down the hall without her walker to visit her friend - something she hadn’t done in a very long time.
In 5 Weeks, You Will:
- Welcome confidence in yourself, and your ability to combine your skills and knowledge to support clients with Osteoporosis
- Build awareness in your own body, as well as in those who are struggling with Osteoporosis so that you can support them move safely and with ease
- Master the biomechanics and anatomy in relation to bone health diseases so that you can tune into your client’s body movements and create a practice that best suits them and their body
- Effectively communicate your knowledge and skills to your clients and students so that it lands with them and they’re eager to apply functional poses and movements outside of the studio
- Connect to the body for a whole-body mind approach that will help your clients with Osteoporosis - from their breathing, mindset, and movement.
This training is for you if:
- You are a yoga teacher, yoga therapist or health professional that focuses on bodywork
- You want to help students or clients with Osteoporosis and want to be confident in your practice with them
- You want less fluff and more therapeutic benefit to yoga so you can start applying it to your own clients or students who have bone health issues
- You are ready for some usable techniques and tools to change, harness, and channel your strengths with your clients or students
This training is NOT for you if:
- You don't think change is possible.
- You’re not willing to tap into your deep inner knowing, and learn how to embody the practices.
- You would rather stay fearful and avoid working with clients/students who have Osteoporosis.
- Your schedule is packed from morning to night. If you’re already struggling to find the time to attend to your daily responsibilities, this may not be the right fit at this moment.
There is no other training available anywhere that offers this embodied experience for yoga teachers and health professionals.
With this training, you’ll be able to help clients and students with Osteoporosis feel better – something you may not have done before. This alone will increase your client base or group classes and get your return on this program within 3 sessions!
This is the only time Yoga & Osteoporosis will run as a live program . . . meaning this is the ONLY time you will get a personalized, embodied experience where you can learn in real-time about Osteoporosis and other bone health diseases so you can get your questions answered.
Yoga & Osteoporosis is a 5-week live, online program that runs August 8 - September 3, 2024.
Yoga & Osteoporosis
– LIVE ONLINE PROGRAM –
August 8 – September 3, 2024
Tuesdays @ 10:15am MDT
&
Thursdays @ 1:45pm MDT
Tuesdays – August 13, 20, 27, September 3
10:15am – 11:15am MDT
(9:15am PDT, 12:15pm EDT, 5:15pm UK)
Thursdays – August 8, 15, 22, 29
1:45pm – 2:45pm MDT
(12:45pm PDT, 3:45pm EDT, 8:45pm UK)
*all live trainings will be recorded and available in your classroom. Times are subject to change.*
- 8 hours of live training (2 x1 hour a week) with Susi and Osteoporosis Experts
- 6 modules of additional video trainings (30 min to 1 hour a week)
- Exclusive access to the private Functional Synergy community group
- Unlimited, ongoing access to full program & recordings for a minimum of 2 years
PLUS . . .
- FREE BONUS: 4 Age Doesn’t Matter Mini-Series
- FREE BONUS: Principles of Movement
- FREE BONUS: Process of Healing Video
FAQ
I can't make all the live calls, will there be a recording?
Where are the live training calls?
The Yoga & Osteoporosis program includes 8 living training calls! These will take place on Tuesdays at 10:15am MDT (12:15pm EDT) and Thursdays at 1:45pm MDT (3:45pm EDT) between August 8 and September 3.
The live trainings will take place on August 8, August 13, August 15, August 20, August 20, August 27, and September 3. Please note dates and times are subject to change. If a change occurs, you will be notified at the earliest convenience.
All living trainings will be recorded and available in the classroom within 24 hours after the living training ends.
How long is this program?
The Yoga & Osteoporosis program is a live program that will run August 8 to September 3. There is 8 living training calls during this time on Tuesdays and Thursdays, plus pre-recorded training videos that will be released each week.
If you’re unable to make a live training call, you can watch the recording afterwards.
All living trainings will be available in the classroom within 24 hours after the living training ends.
How do I access this program?
Once you register, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to your Classroom. There you will see all the programs you have with Functional Synergy. You will have ongoing access to Yoga & Osteoporosis for a minimum of two years.
All live training calls will take place on Zoom. The Zoom link will be provided a few days before the program starts. The Zoom link will be in the Classroom and you will also get an email reminder when the program starts.
How long do I have access to this program?
Once the program begins, you will have ongoing, unlimited access to Yoga & Osteoporosis for a minimum of two years.
Are there CEUs for this program?
CEUs will be available for Yoga & Osteoporosis. We are in the process of submitting this program to IAYT and NCBTMB for CEUs.
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