From Pain to Possibility

As the demand for support post knee and hip surgeries continues to rise, many are turning to yoga therapists for rehabilitation. So this week, I'm sharing some effective strategies for working alongside your client's medical team and two vital concepts to share with your clientele as they approach and recover from surgery. Remember, regardless of how many years have passed since the surgery, there...

Are you tired of rushing into strength training post-injury only to end up with more persistent pain? The strengthening process has so many misconceptions and pitfalls, so I'm offering a fresh perspective on "strengthening for real" this week. Tune in as I draw from my personal experience of recovering from an injury, detailing the stages of initial healing, stabilization, and ultimately regaining...

This week, I'm exploring compensatory patterns and the importance of growing our awareness of unconscious movement. Discover how one of my clients identified her non-compensatory range and in doing so, the incredible changes she experienced in her weightlifting regime. Learn how to measure your movement bandwidth and how to prompt your client's most easeful range of movement.   Get full show notes...

A client's movement desires, hopes, and dreams for their life matter. These are some of the factors that lead to them seeking help to eradicate and reduce their pain. Time and time again, I've found that uncovering these factors and really diving deep is essential for them to experience optimal healing.   This week, discover how I inspire my clients to explore all aspects of their being through th...

Do you wonder if the Yoga Therapy Certification will serve you in your retired life? I'm discussing this with two Yoga Therapy Certification grads who both happen to be over 60 years old, Lory Newmyer and Ruth Ann Penny.   Lory and Ruth Ann are sharing their experiences as trainee elders, why they decided to take the therapy certification, and how they have put their skills to use post-graduation....

The quicker you can identify the sensations of your body the quicker you can find your way out of pain. There are various identifiers and communication techniques I'll teach you in this episode to help you understand your pain gradient and its connection to movement.   Discover methods for communicating and identifying the subtleties of pain, and how knowing these subtleties can help you move with...

Your client might think that eradicating pain will be too hard, too confusing, or that because other practitioners couldn't help them, no one can. Obstacles like this prevent you from diving deep into the underlying cause of the pain, so they're incredibly important to address.   In this episode, learn how to figure out your client's obstacles to getting out of pain and how to work through them. I...

Yoga Therapy is fascinating, especially for those who join with a background in physiological knowledge like my guest, Kirsten Richardson. Kirsten has helped people decrease their pain and increase function over her 15 year career as a Physiotherapist. As a trainer in my certification program as well as a certification graduate, Kirsten joins us to graciously share how Yoga Therapy has transformed...

Learn about the profound benefits of a practice I call the art of doing nothing . I'm guiding you through a deliberate, gentle movement that helps you connect with your body without strain and discomfort. You'll be reminded to move slowly, slightly, and intentionally feel nothing. By slowing down and letting go of the need for constant action, you can tap into a place of curiosity and connectednes...

Have you ever wondered what life is like after learning my principles of movement? Today, you get to find out! I am thrilled to introduce one of my certification graduates, Clinical Somatics Practitioner and Certified Therapeutic Yoga Teacher, Natasha Boldrieff. Natasha shares how she integrated my training, and how it has bloomed in her life since. Discover how the training experience is differen...

This week I'm digging in to why your relationship with you matters. Our relation to our bodies is more than physical, more than cognitive. It's a web of complex and subtle inputs and outputs. Discover how to translate the sensations of your body, why identifying your inner knowing is so important, and how to move slower to heal quicker.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www....

This week, I am thrilled to introduce my personal client and Certification Trainee: Beth Kaplan. Beth's story is unique because she has scoliosis, is a yogi, and has extensive experience with pain. Beth and I unpack how she tuned into the subtlety of her scoliosis to experience transformative change, and share 3 takeaways from Beth's journey that will help you on your path toward eradicating pain...

My  Therapeutic Yoga Intensive  and  Therapeutic Yoga Certification programs are extensive and challenging, but we also have fun, build community, and support one another. This week, two of my current trainees, Maria Hykin and Nicole Nanfra, share more about why they chose the certification program, how I support my trainees within it, and how the training has exceeded their expectations.    Get f...

The neck can be a very classic compensator for issues elsewhere in the body, and there are several ways to deal with neck pain. This week, I teach you the next steps you can take to continue exploring and experiencing your neck and share four ideas to help you reduce and eradicate your neck pain.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/192

This week, I am guiding you through a series of movements from your neck to your rib cage to your pelvis. As you join in these movements, I invite you to notice tension patterns. Understanding where the tension occurs in your body can help you better understand your movement habits and how they relate to pain. We will observe stretch sensations, twists, and breath, and learn to identify your feeli...

By looking closely at common stretches, we can observe how our bodies react to various movements and sensations. This week, discover the nuance that exists within your movement and some methods for identifying a pain-free range. Because this is an active episode, I suggest you find a chair to sit in as you tune in and follow along.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.funct...

Welcome to week one of my Neck Mini Series where we will reinterpret our understanding of posture and alignment. Alignment and posture are often used as a fix-all, treating our pain and bodies like Lego pieces. The "block building" approach to treating pain is missing the multi-faceted nature of our beings. This week, I explore how posture is in tune with our subconscious and unpack how encouragin...

I have a very exciting announcement to share this week. From October 28th to November 2nd, 2023, I'm running my Therapeutic Yoga Intensive where you can learn about the foundational principles for helping people reduce and eradicate physical pain using the Functional Synergy model and toolkit.   Discover the three essential elements of this training, why my teaching style is intrinsically successf...

Listen in for a sneak peek into my certification program with a conversation I had with my trainees. One trainee shares a transformational story of using my teachings to eradicate her husband's migraines. Hear her success story of training (and playing) with her husband to eradicate his pain. Discover how my teachings have impacted this family's life, how my trainees support one another, and how I...

To wrap up my series on the feet, I'm sharing the key factors required to heal foot pain and prevent it from coming back. Discover how to better interpret the sensations in your body as information, how to use that information to change your behavior, and how the Healing Helix and Principles of Movement can help you overcome your pain. You'll learn how to manage foot pain, or any pain in the body,...

Nothing says summer like walking around barefoot. But is going barefoot good for you? This week, I'm exploring this question as well as the pros and cons of not wearing shoes. Discover some methods for observing your gait while barefoot, how going barefoot can help you understand the body's mechanics, and what to consider if you're thinking about being barefoot more often.   Get full show notes an...

Flip flops are so light and easy to slip on in the summer. However, after consistent use for long periods of time, you might start to notice some foot pain and discomfort. In this episode, I'm not telling you to throw away your flip flops, but I am here to suggest ways you can make your body more comfortable so you can recuperate from wearing flip flops for a period of time that might be too long...

I'm leading you through a massage and breath technique to help you connect with your feet. Our feet are a part of an extended kinetic chain: connected to our legs, hips, and pelvis. Through the techniques I offer today, you can deepen your understanding of your feet and how to eradicate their pain. Discover the connection between your feet and pelvis, and learn to enhance your understanding of the...

Have you been listening to my podcast and love my methods? Do you help your students/clients eliminate and heal from pain? Are you a health professional? My Yoga Therapy Certification might be for you!   Today I outline the key features of my Yoga Therapy Certification from bio-mechanics to business training so that you can decide if this program is a good fit for you. I share my passion for helpi...

When you're trying to help yourself get out of pain, it's essential to tune in to your body to identify your range of movement, quality of movement, and your breath. This week, discover techniques for knowing if you are in a safe range of movement and how to combat straining or restricting in the body and breath. Find out why a focus on ease will catapult you toward progress.   Get full show notes...