Yoga Continuing Education Trainings for Healthcare Professionals

Evolution Physical Therapy and Yoga offers a series of medical continuing education courses designed to introduce healthcare providers to yoga practices. Learn how yoga can be integrated into patients’ health care goals, explore the research being performed on yoga outcomes and the effects yoga has on the body and mind. Our goal is to teach providers how to provide informed answers to their patients about the benefits of yoga and how to safely start, continue or modify their yoga practice. Our foundation course, An Introduction to Yoga Therapeutics is a great place to begin an exploration of yogic practices such as breathwork, standing, and seated postures, systematic relaxation, and meditation. Our Chronic Pain management course provides greater depth of instruction in chair yoga, breathing techniques, restorative yoga, systematic relaxation, and meditation. No yoga experience is necessary for our Introductory or Pain Management courses. Healthcare professionals who have some experience with yoga or who have taken our foundation course may take our Yoga Therapeutics for Managing Low Back Pain course.

Who Should Attend?

Who should attend?

Physical Therapists and Assistants
Occupational Therapists and Assistants
Naturopathic Physicians*
Nurses*
Physicians and Assistants*
Acupuncturists*
Recreation Therapists*
Chiropractors*
Osteopathic Physicians*

*Nurses, Naturopathic Physicians, Medical Doctors, Physician Assistants, Acupuncturists, Osteopathic Physicians, Chiropractors, and Recreation Therapists are invited to attend this course. You must consult your professional organizations to see if CEUs can be used for your profession.

Tuition

Tuition is $300 early bird registration if registered 1 month prior to the course, $350 per course for licensed healthcare professionals, $250 for students studying in a healthcare profession. We offer a $50 Refer a Colleague Discounts and a $25 per person discount if more than one provider from a facility registers for the same course. E-mail pt@evolutionvt.com for more information on how to apply your discount.

We accept VSAC non-degree grants! Details can be found on VSAC’s website. Create an account at VSAC and e-mail us which course you intend to attend.

An Introduction to Yoga Therapeutics for Healthcare Professionals

This experiential workshop is the first in a series of continuing education courses that introduces adult therapeutic yoga to healthcare providers. Learn how yoga benefits the recovery process and can enhance your healthcare practice for an integrative approach to health and healing.

Participants will receive instruction on how their patient’s yoga practice may affect their injury and impairments. Physiological benefits, safety and contraindications of postures and techniques will be addressed. Participants will learn about simple yoga practices their patients can utilize to improve outcomes in a variety of treatment settings. Providers will learn how to find a yoga class, yoga instructor or yoga therapist who is appropriate to work with their patients. The course will introduce you to the eight limb path of yoga, yogic philosophy, and applications in a therapeutic environment.

Stay Tuned for 2021 Training Dates:

Learning Objectives

Define Yoga and Yoga Therapy
Describe 3 types of yoga most appropriate for rehab of common musculoskeletal injuries
Identify who would most likely benefit from Yoga Therapeutics
Describe the evidence for the appropriate and safe use of yoga in rehabilitation.
Identify appropriate community yoga resources for referral for patients.
Identify the role of yoga in relaxation for stress reduction.
Describe 3 yoga poses, using appropriate props, for proper alignment of the body for therapeutic benefit.
Explain what pranayama is, and how to use it with appropriate patients

Schedule: Friday 3-7:30 pm Saturday 8 am-5 pm

Location: Evolution Physical Therapy and Yoga, 20 Kilburn St. Suite 120, Burlington VT 05401

Cost: Licensed professionals $350 (Early bird rate $300 if registered 1 month prior to the course start date)

Students: $250 – email pt@evolutionvt.com for your discount code to register online.

We offer a $50 Refer a Colleague Discounts and a $25 per person discounts if more than one provider from a facility registers for the same course. E-mail pt@evolutionvt.com for more information on how to apply for your discount. Please note that you can only use one discount per course.

12 CCUs approved by the Vermont Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association

Meets CEU/CCU requirements of Maine, NH, MA, CT, and RI. Most states have reciprocity for CCU’s approved by another state, but please contact your state to ensure that VT CCU’s are accepted.

*Occupational Therapists, Nurses, Naturopathic Physicians, Medical Doctors, Physician Assistants, Acupuncturists, Osteopathic Physicians, Chiropractors, and Recreation Therapists are invited to attend this course. You must consult your professional organizations to see if CEUs can be used for your profession.

Course Schedule and Outline

Day One, Friday 3 pm – 7:30 pm
2:30-3 – Registration
3:00-3:15 – Introductions, explanation of the plan for the night and next day.
3:15 – 4:30 – Lecture

Definitions of Yoga
Names of different yoga styles (hatha, ashtanga, vinyasa, restorative, etc.)
Introduction to the 8 limb path

4:30-4:45 – Questions
4:45-5:00 – Break
5:00-6:00 – Yoga Experience – Alignment-based class
6:00-7:00 – Lecture

Essential components of a class
Styles of yoga that have standard sequences and the benefits and drawbacks of these styles of sequences

7:00 – 7:30 – Yoga Nidra, experience Autonomic Nervous System relaxation

Day Two Saturday 8 am-5 pm

8:00 – 8:15 – Q&A
8:15-9:00 – The Science of Therapeutic Yoga
9:00-10:00 – Pranayama and the Nervous System
10:00-10:15 Break
10:15 – 11:45 – Standing and balancing poses
11:45-12:15 – Restorative Poses
12:15-1:00 – Lunch Break
(Please feel free to bring your lunch, we have a fridge and microwave. We are also within walking distance of several options for a healthy meal)
1:00-1:15 – Questions
1:15- 2:45 – Mindfulness and meditation.
2:45- 3:15 – Seated Postures
3:15-3:45 – Case Study
3:45-4:00 – Break
4:00-4:30 – Inversions
4:30-5:00 Questions and Wrap Up

Instructional Method: Instruction will take the form of lecture, demonstration and interactive lab presentations.

Required Text: Science of Yoga: Understand the Anatomy and Physiology to Perfect Your Practice by Ann Swanson. We will have copies on site to purchase at the course.

Yoga Therapeutics for Managing Low Back Pain

Learn how therapeutic yoga principles may be integrated into treatment for patients who experience a variety of low back pain diagnoses. Explore how to apply the eight limb path of yoga and a biopsychosocial model of treatment into your sessions. Learn how therapeutic yoga benefits the recovery process and will enhance your healthcare practice when working with clients with low back pain.

Participants will receive instruction on how their patient’s yoga practice may affect their injury and impairments. Physiological benefits, safety, and contraindications of postures and techniques will be addressed. Participants will learn how breath work, meditation, yoga postures and guided relaxation can improve outcomes in a variety of treatment settings. We will explore how a patient’s yoga practice may need to be modified for the following diagnoses:

Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain
Lumbopelvic Instability
Scoliosis
Lumbar Disc Herniations with Radiculopathy
Spinal Stenosis
Facet Arthropathy

Stay Tuned for 2021 Training Dates:

Cost: Licensed professionals $350

Students: $250 – email pt@evolutionvt.com for your discount code to register online.

Prerequisites – Completion of An Introduction to Yoga Therapeutics for Healthcare Professionals, or Yoga Therapeutics for Management of Chronic Pain or prior experience with yoga.

12 CCUs approved by the Vermont Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association

Meets CEU/CCU requirements of Maine, NH, MA, CT, and RI. Most states have reciprocity for CCU’s approved by another state, but please contact your state to ensure that VT CCU’s are accepted.

Contact Hours: 12 hours over 2 days

Objectives: Upon completion, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the history/development of therapeutic yoga.
2. Identify 3 styles of yoga most appropriate for the rehabilitation of low back pain.
3. Identify who would most likely benefit from Yoga Therapeutics
4. Describe the evidence for the appropriate and safe use of yoga for low back pain in rehabilitation.
5. Identify appropriate community yoga resources for referral for patients with low back pain.
6. Identify the role of yoga for pain management.
7. Demonstrate 3 yoga poses using appropriate props and modifications for the management of patients with low back pain for therapeutic benefit.

Course Schedule and Outline

Day One, Friday 3 pm – 7:30 pm

2:30-3 pm – Registration

3:00-3:20 Introductions, plan for the night and next day.

3:20 – 4:00 History of modern yoga and the evolution of therapeutic yoga

4:10-4:30 What does a therapeutic yoga session look like?

4:30-5:45 Experiential Lecture – Foundations of Postures & Principles of Alignment:

5:45-6:00 Break – healthy snacks provided

6:00 – 6:15 Lecture – Safety in Yoga

6:15-7:25 Pain management Techniques (Restoratives, Breath Work, Meditation)

7:25-7:30 Wrap-up

Day Two Saturday 8 am-5 pm

7:45 -8 am – Light Breakfast Snacks

8:00 – 8:15 Question Session to Open

8:15-9:00 The Science of Therapeutic Yoga for Low Back Pain (Present the Research)

9-10:00 Yoga for Managing Arthritis and Spinal Stenosis in the Lumbar Spine

10:00-10:15 Break – Healthy Snacks Provided

10:15-11:15 Yoga for Managing Lumbar Disc Herniations

11:15 – 12:15 Yoga for Scoliosis

12:15-1:00 – Lunch on your own

1:00- 2:15 Yoga for Spinal Instabilities

2:15 – 2:45 Therapeutic Uses of the Yoga Wall

3:00-3:30 Chair Yoga

3:30-3:45 Break – Healthy Snacks Provided

3:45-4:30 Case Studies

4:30-5:00 Questions and Wrap Up

Instructional Method: Instruction will take the form of lecture, demonstration and interactive lab presentations.

Yoga Therapeutics for Calming the Nervous System

Patients with pain present with complex physical, psychological and social issues that provide challenges to recovery. Research shows that a biopsychosocial approach to healthcare is the key to working with people to help them learn to manage their symptoms. Yoga as a therapeutic intervention is uniquely positioned to provide tools to introduce mind body-centered exercises that can be helpful with pain management. Learn how therapeutic yoga principles may be integrated into treatment for patients who experience pain. Explore how therapeutic yoga benefits the recovery process and may enhance your healthcare practice when working with clients with pain.

Participants will receive instruction in restorative yoga, chair yoga, breathing exercises, guided relaxation, and meditation techniques. Learn how to help your patients find the right therapeutic yoga program to assist them with their recovery process.

Cost: Licensed professionals $350 (early bird rate $300 if registered one month prior to the course start date)

Students: $250 – email pt@evolutionvt.com for your discount code to register online.

Location: Evolution Physical Therapy and Yoga, 20 Kilburn St. Suite 120, Burlington VT 05401

Prerequisites – None

12 CCUs approved by the Vermont Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association

Meets CEU/CCU requirements of Maine, NH, MA, CT and RI. Most states have reciprocity for CCU’s approved by another state, but please contact your state to ensure that VT CCU’s Credits are accepted.

*Occupational Therapists, Nurses, Naturopathic Physicians, Medical Doctors, Physician Assistants, Acupuncturists, Osteopathic Physicians, Chiropractors and Recreation Therapists are invited to attend this course. You must consult your professional organizations to see if CEUs can be used for your profession.

Program

Contact Hours: 12 hours over 2 days

Objectives: Upon completion, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the history/development of therapeutic yoga.
2. Identify 3 yoga practices most appropriate for the management of chronic pain
3. Identify how yoga affects the nervous system and chronic pain conditions
4. Describe the evidence for yoga as a tool for managing chronic pain.
5. Demonstrate 3 yogic techniques that can be used for the management of chronic pain.
6. Identify appropriate community yoga resources for referral for patients with chronic pain.

Course Schedule and Outline

Day One, Friday 3pm – 7:30pm

3:00-3:20 Introductions, plan for the night and next day.

3:20 – 4:00 History of modern yoga and the evolution of therapeutic yoga

4:10-4:30 What does a therapeutic yoga session look like?

4:30-5:45 Anatomy – Nervous system and pain mediation; Effects of yoga on the brain

5:45-6:00 Break

6:00 – 7:00 Lecture – Science of Therapeutic Yoga for Chronic Pain Management

7:00 – 7:25 Experiential Session – Systematic Relaxation

7:25-7:30 wrap up.

Day Two Saturday 8am-5:15 pm

8:00 – 8:15 Question Session to Open

8:15-9:15 Chair Yoga for Chronic Pain Management

9:15-10:15 Restorative Yoga for Chronic Pain Management

10:15-10:30 Break

10:30-12:00 Pranayama Techniques

12:00 -1:00 – Lunch

1:00- 2:30 Meditation – finding a position, strategies and practicing techniques

2:30 – 3:00 Therapeutic yoga for PTSD and resources

3:00-3:45 Systematic Relaxation

3:45-4:00 Break

4:00-4:45 Case Studies

4:45-5:15 Questions and Wrap Up

Instructional Method: Instruction will take the form of lecture, demonstration and interactive lab presentations.

Feedback from Past Course Participants

“I found this class to exceed my expectations for level of activity, content, and fun! It was a wonderful, thorough yoga review for me personally, as well as an excellent professional learning experience broadening my abilities to integrate PT into my practice in many different ways. Meagen clearly has many years of practice, and in study of yoga; as well as PT. She offers many cues for practicing, and teaching improved core and postural awareness and stability techniques, while maintaining breath. A thorough and varied presentation of many different yoga asanas, breathing, meditation, and mindfulness techniques were covered and practiced with various goals applicable to PT treatment. I personally benefitted and really appreciate learning lots of new cues for teaching others! An excellent presentation for integrating yoga techniques into PT practice. I learned breathing exercises and teaching techniques and skills for chest expansion and increasing inspiratory capacity, and relaxation and mindfulness techniques that will enhance my personal yoga and professional PT practice. I am very grateful that Meagen was able to easily slide into a new presentation style with grace and despite not being in person, she really did a wonderful job attending to each student’s personal needs. I look forward to taking more classes from Evolution PT, hopefully someday, in person. I had a really excellent experience. With so much gratitude, and excitement for the future, Namaste” -SB Introduction to Yoga Therapeutics Course – Live Online Course

I loved how clearly stated the practical inclusion components of a yoga therapy evaluation & treatment were, adapted from a perspective of regular PT evaluation. This really helped make content immediately applicable. The case studies were excellently designed for quality discussion & relevant clinical decision-making. – MS

Lodging in Burlington

Hotels: Burlington has a variety of hotels to choose from that are walking distance or a short drive. Here’s a list of a few local hotels. Take a look online and you will find there are a lot of options to choose from including many Airbnb listings.

Hilton Garden Inn – 5-minute walk

Sunset House B&B – 5-minute walk

Lang House Inn – 10-minute walk

Holiday Inn Express South Burlington – 10-minute drive

Please e-mail pt@evolutionvt.com with questions about any of our course offerings.

Cancellation Policy

All of our Yoga Therapeutics for Healthcare Provider trainings include a non-refundable $50 registration fee. A full refund, minus the registration fee, will be given for cancellations given at least six (6) weeks prior to the course start date. A $50 refund will be given for cancellations made at least two (2) weeks prior to the course start date, minus the registration fee. No refunds are made when cancellation is made with less than two (2) weeks notice before the course start date.

How to Get Here

Evolution PT and Yoga is located at 20 Kilburn St. in the heart of the South End Arts district in the picturesque city of Burlington Vermont. Burlington is situated on the hill overlooking Lake Champlain with views of the Adirondacks and the Green Mountains. We are easy to get to via car, bus, plane, and train. Evolution is just a 3-hour drive from Boston and five hours from New York City. There are inexpensive direct flights from New York, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta and more. There is daily cheap direct bus service to Burlington via Mega Bus from North Hampton MA, Boston, Hartford, New York City and more. Come to visit us for a course on Friday and Saturday and still have time to explore the beauty of Vermont through the rest of the weekend. Turn your training program into a mini-vacation.

Required and Recommended Texts and Yoga Resources

Required Text

Science of Yoga: Understand the Anatomy and Physiology to Perfect Your Practice by Ann Swanson – available for purchase at the studio $19.99

Recommended Texts

Anatomy

The Key Muscles of Yoga. Ray Long, MD

Anatomy for Hip Openers and Forward Bends. Ray Long, MD

Anatomy for Backbends and Twists. Ray Long, MD

Key Poses of Yoga. Ray Long, MD

Yoga Anatomy. Leslie Kaminoff

Meditation

Walking Meditation. Nguyen Anh-Huong & Thich Nhat Hanh