To educate my coworkers about the PYT certification and to offer them specific PYT-based tools and techniques to apply to their practice.

I recently had the opportunity to present my experience with Professional Therapeutic Yoga to my colleagues. Our facility is an outpatient rehab clinic on the campus of a small critical access hospital called Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital. Since I was allotted 45 minutes for the presentation, I chose a few focus points from the extensive learning that the PYTI has offered me thus far. However, before I began on these points, I provided a description of Medical Therapeutic Yoga and educated my peers about the PYT certification program. I enjoyed sharing about the unique experience (including photos) the on-site courses offer. This seemed to intrigue my audience as I described the extensive learning through lectures, hands-on practice labs, and the self-care aspect, enjoying the incredible venue. The therapeutic concepts on which I chose to focus consisted of the biopsychosocial model of care, the importance of breath, and stability before mobility. Firstly, I described how biopsychosocial approach has affected the way I care for my patients. The emphasis is placed on person-centered care rather than patient-centered care, which brings the diagnosis off of its pedestal. This empowers the individual to take action steps in all areas of his/her life to improve overall wellbeing and optimize their rehab potential. It’s a step away from passive, therapist-dependent care and toward proactive participation in achieving functional outcomes and personal goals. I then proceeded to describe the importance of proper breath control as it impacts an individual’s response to stressors (whether physical stressors or otherwise). Most (if not all) of the therapists attending this presentation have trained patients in diaphragmatic breathing in their years of practice. However, as I explained that this is an important exercise to practice with every individual, no matter Lastly, I provided education and training in the yogic locks. The fact that MTY prioritizes stability over mobility seemed to stand out to my audience of therapists as they likely assume yoga focuses primarily on flexibility. I discussed the potential for injury when participating in group yoga classes without taking into account one’s unique anatomy and joint structure. The presentation covered each of the locks, including TATD breath, and offered the opportunity for the audience members to practice these strategies on their own. During the presentation I trained my audience in TATD breath in seated, chin lock, prayer hands, and hip lock with chair pose (using manual resistance on lateral knees). I went on to demonstrate downward dog prep, incorporating all the locks with verbal narration for the benefit of my audience. I demonstrated short stance Warrior I and II with the locks and described how I have successfully used these with some of my patients.
There was some open time at the end of the presentation for questions and discussion, during which we discussed specific patient cases and how to apply these concepts in patient care. Beneficial questions were asked regarding contraindications, modifications for poses/exercises, and teaching techniques. Overall, this seemed to be a very valuable experience for my colleagues, offering them exposure to a different approach toward, and perspective on, patient care. It was also a valuable experience for me to share with other professionals how I have been developing my own practice and to spread my recent learning for greater awareness clinic-wide.the condition or age of the individual, it seemed to suggest a new way of thinking. Laying the foundation of proper breathing technique sets the individual up for greater rehab potential. Maximizing oxygen uptake, minimizing musculoskeletal effort of breath, and restoring vagal tone for overall wellbeing are critical components for any individual who presents for rehab. After educating my audience about its benefits, I provided the opportunity to experience the methods I use to train my patients in abdomino-diaphragmatic breathing, encouraging each of my peers to perform this breath through the verbal, visual, and tactile cues I provided.