The use of Medical Therapeutic Yoga (MTY) has transformed my physical therapy practice by emphasizing the use of education, self-awareness, and self-empowerment with my patients, thereby enabling them to become partners in their own healing.

I am energized by the positive changes in my patients since integrating MTY into my practice. Patient visits now include handouts on anti-inflammatory diet and the neuro-biology of pain as a standard part of preliminary evaluation. Respiratory assessment and the Functional Movement Assessment (FMA) algorithm are the foundation of initial examination. Patients report improved pain control, relaxation, and often curiosity about expanding their own meditative practices after instruction in deep abdomino-diaphragmatic breath work.

The FMA has streamlined my evaluations and documentation, and allowed me more time to listen to patients and to explore any and all aspects of their lives that may be hindering their recovery. By enlisting patients as partners in their total care, I feel less responsible to “fix” them.

This realization has freed me to use and teach the holistic MTY principles and empower my clients to apply safe, evidence-based and individually-prescribed yoga practices as they continue to heal themselves and pursue their own life missions.

Dr. Betty Conroy, PT