From Pain to Possibility: Recent Episodes
Susi Hately
You are a yoga teacher or a health professional who wants to integrate yoga therapeutically. You want a more holistic, biopsychosocial approach to helping your clients heal. You want to empower them to listen and to learn about their bodies.
In From Pain to Possibility, Susi Hately, B.Sc. Kinesiology blends modern understanding of anatomy and biomechanics with the ancient wisdom of yoga. This weekly show will share Susi's best ideas from over 25 years of helping her clients reduce and eradicate pain.
In this episode, I explore knee health and talk about common concerns regarding knee pain in yoga practice. I maintain that knees are resilient, not fragile, and I highlight the importance of considering the whole body—especially the foot, hip, and breath—when addressing knee issues. I encourage a holistic, integrated approach to movement, focusing on healing rather than just symptom management.
In this episode, I explore how traditional anatomy education often overlooks the body’s interconnectedness. I explore a holistic, “woven” approach to understanding movement and the role of fascia. I encourage movement professionals and yoga teachers to shift from treating isolated symptoms to addressing the body as an integrated system, and to deepen their understanding of functional anatomy for better teaching and client outcomes.
In this episode, I explore the planes of movement—sagittal, frontal, and transverse—and their vital role in reducing physical pain. I explain how these biomechanical principles help movement professionals identify and address compensatory patterns in clients. I emphasize observation, curiosity, and building trust in movement, rather than simply correcting alignment. I offer practical insights for yoga teachers, physiotherapists, and body workers to teach with greater precision and compassion, ultimately empowering clients to restore movement, ease pain, and rediscover their potential.
In today's episode, I share a case study of a client with persistent shoulder pain. I explain how pain often signals deeper, interconnected issues in the body. I highlight the importance of understanding movement patterns, breath, and compensation, encouraging listeners—especially women—to view pain as an opportunity for insight rather than just a problem to fix. Through gentle, integrated movement and awareness, I aim to demonstrate how addressing underlying patterns can lead to real relief and healing.
In this episode, I describe my program "I Love Kinesiology" which is all about bridging the gap between an academic kinesiology education and practical movement training for yoga teachers and movement practitioners. I share my own journey from getting a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology to weaving yoga into my practice. I emphasize how crucial it is to understand the body, the nervous system, and movement patterns. My program applies kinesiology principles through a yoga lens so educators can better support students dealing with pain and movement challenges, fostering a more nuanced and compassionate approach to therapy.
In this episode, I explore the "core" as an integrated system involving muscles, fascia, breath, and the nervous system. I challenge the common directive to "engage your core" and instead focus on understanding its role in fluid, responsive movement rather than rigid bracing. I highlight the importance of core responsiveness for optimal movement, addressing the negative impacts of chronic bracing. I offer strategies for fostering core integration, promoting better movement, reduced pain, and a greater sense of ease and strength.
In this episode, I'm offering guidance on how to transition from a 200-hour teacher training to therapeutic practices. I emphasize a return to clarity and authenticity rather than chasing dramatic breakthroughs. I discuss the nervous system's protective patterns and advocate for compassionate, precise movements to foster safety and transformation. The episode blends biomechanics, neuroscience, and presence, offering tools for deeper understanding and application of therapeutic yoga.
In this episode, I outline the transformative journey that yoga teachers go through, from their basic training to mastering advanced therapeutic practices. I introduce what I call the "second arc" of development, where I break down five stages that help enhance skills in biomechanics, nervous system awareness, and therapeutic problem-solving. I emphasize the importance of moving beyond a rigid, rules-based approach to teaching and instead adopting a more intuitive, collaborative style. I encourage teachers to hone their observational skills, adapt their practices, and embrace the complexities of teaching to create a supportive and empowering environment for both teachers and students.
In this episode, I'm speaking to fellow yoga teachers who might feel a bit stuck after their initial 200-hour training. These feelings of limitation can be frustrating, but they can be important milestones on our journey to becoming therapeutic yoga teachers. I break down this growth into five stages: Awareness, Assessment, Adaptation, Attunement, and Application. Each is a blend of technical skills and emotional growth, all aimed at helping us support students dealing with pain or movement issues more effectively. I truly believe in the power of embracing vulnerability and committing to lifelong learning. So, if you're looking to deepen your practice and make a bigger impact, I'm here to offer guidance and encouragement.
In this episode, I outline some effective yoga teaching strategies for students dealing with osteoporosis. I emphasize creating a safe and supportive environment, moving away from traditional alignment-focused methods toward a more intuitive, presence-based approach. I also highlight the importance of compassionate communication and how creating a grounding connection can make a big difference. My goal with this episode is to empower yoga teachers to help their students reconnect with their bodies and enhance their well-being while managing osteoporosis.
In this episode, I go into how osteoporosis can really affect both our physical health and how confident we feel in our bodies. I talk about why it's so important to build movement confidence and reconnect with ourselves, especially through yoga, to help us trust our bodies again. I introduce the idea of an "internal GPS," or the sensory motor loop that's key for our brain and body to communicate well. I share some practical tips to boost proprioception and interoception, clear up some common myths about osteoporosis, and talk about my "Yoga and Osteoporosis" program. My goal is to help you feel empowered to improve your bone health and overall well-being through mindful movement.
In this episode, I explore the deeper meanings behind those nagging symptoms like back pain and shoulder tightness. I stress how important it is to recognize and name the symptoms, understanding them as survival strategies instead of malfunctions. By fostering awareness and patience, I guide you to transform your pain into opportunities for growth and self-discovery. This episode offers a compassionate approach to healing, urging you to shift your perspective to better connect with and support your body.
In this episode, I examine the complexities of the rotator cuff, challenging some common myths and stressing a holistic approach to shoulder health. Based on over 30 years' experience, I explain how shoulder pain often comes from compensatory patterns instead of just isolated muscle weakness. I touch upon the need to look at whole-body movement and how the nervous system plays a role in pain and coordination. Plus, I share details about an upcoming workshop designed to help both professionals and individuals enhance their movement patterns and ease shoulder pain
In this episode, I chat about how my programs empower yoga teachers, movement educators, and healthcare practitioners to effectively manage and reduce physical pain in their clients. I dive into the common challenges we face, like feeling stuck or unsure about helping clients with complex pain issues. I highlight the importance of understanding the nervous system and movement patterns, and share some amazing success stories from program graduates who have achieved remarkable results while inviting you to explore my transformative certification programs.
In this episode, I explore how our bodies talk to us through pain, fatigue, and other symptoms. I stress how crucial it is to pay attention to those subtle hints before they blow up into bigger problems. I introduce what I call the "cycle of endurance," where we often push through little discomforts, which can lead to more serious issues down the line. I encourage you to see these moments as chances for growth and to build a kind and understanding relationship with your body. By tuning into these signals, you can help your body heal and recover, turning pain into a journey of self-discovery and better health.
In this episode, I introduce the idea of "precision that lands" to help ease physical pain and how crucial it is to apply what we know in a way that our bodies can actually absorb, instead of just piling on more effort. I share stories from successful clients to show how getting a grip on body mechanics and clearing out interference can really make a difference. By zeroing in on spots like the glutes and shoulders, I encourage you to take a closer look and get to the root of the issues, promoting a more nuanced take on pain and movement.
In this episode, I advocate for a transformative approach to movement, focusing on the brain-body connection instead of just correcting techniques. I discuss how building awareness and connection can lead to lasting improvements in how we move and feel overall. I share some practical tips for teaching and practicing movement, emphasizing the importance of clear cues, hands-on guidance, and meaningful exercises. I encourage you to rethink how you approach movement, focusing on connection rather than perfection, to help reduce pain and improve your relationship with your body.
Link to this episode:
https://functionalsynergy.com/beyond-correcting-movement-307/
In this episode, I explain the many roles of the glutes beyond just strength and power and discuss how the glutes connect with the nervous system, highlighting why safety and stability are so crucial. I introduce ideas like "danger in me signals" (dims) and "safety in me signals" (sims) to show how our nervous system impacts glute activation. Finally, I talk about my upcoming program, "Power of the Glutes," along with my therapeutic yoga and yoga therapy certification programs.
Link to episode:
https://functionalsynergy.com/glutes-more-than-strength-306/
In this episode, I explore the idea of "unlearning versus retraining" to help manage and reduce physical pain. I talk about neuroplasticity and motor control, sharing my own journey of overcoming chronic pain by retraining my movement patterns. I explain how the nervous system replaces old habits instead of erasing them, and I advocate for making gradual, pain-free movement adjustments. I also offer practical steps to reinforce better movement patterns, helping to build an understanding of how to alleviate pain and improve functionality.
In this episode, I discuss how yoga rehab and functional movement can help ease physical pain, with a focus on understanding movement patterns rather than sticking to traditional alignment cues. I chat about the usual hurdles yoga teachers and therapists face and advocate a more dynamic approach to asana, shining a light on how important the nervous system is in movement. I’m all about boosting proprioceptive awareness and encouraging movement variability, and I share some practical tips to help reduce pain and improve functional movement.
Episode Link:
https://functionalsynergy.com/bridging-yoga-with-rehab-pt-functional-movement-304/
In this episode, I talk about my three-month series for private one-on-one clients, sharing how it's structured and the benefits it brings. After my maternity leave, I moved away from one-off sessions and realized how crucial it is for clients to commit and follow a structured plan for real healing. This episode is packed with insights on how dedicated, personalized care can lead to lasting pain relief and better overall well-being.
Link to episode:
https://functionalsynergy.com/the-3-month-series-303/
In this episode, I begin a new series where we'll explore various strategies to help both clients and practitioners address and overcome pain. I'm drawing from my own experiences and I want to inspire you to see that managing pain doesn't have to be complicated—it can actually be pretty straightforward and totally doable if you know what approach to take.
Episode Link:
https://functionalsynergy.com/everyday-wins-the-tangible-side-of-nervous-system-magic-302/
In this episode, I dive into the idea of "seeing the matrix," which is all about understanding the complex layers of how we move, experience pain, and heal. I focus on noticing how our bodies compensate when something isn't quite right. I use the biopsychosocial model to look at physical, emotional, and psychological health. I introduce three main tools: the Metric of Movement, the Client Commitment Blueprint, and the Body Sensing Mapping Tool. These tools are designed to help both professionals and patients on their healing paths. I encourage taking a holistic approach, building stronger connections with our bodies, and aiming for a future of better well-being.
Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here:
https://functionalsynergy.com/seeing-the-matrix-why-pain-isnt-the-problem-its-the-clue-301/
In this episode, I explore the journey to becoming a certified yoga therapist, focusing on alleviating physical pain. With over two decades of experience, I emphasize the importance of building a healing relationship with clients. I outline a structured, four-step approach to pain relief: establishing a supportive connection, addressing brain-body communication, refining movement, and strengthening functional capabilities. This episode is particularly valuable for yoga teachers, massage therapists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists interested in integrating therapeutic yoga techniques into their practices for more effective pain management and recovery.
Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here:
https://functionalsynergy.com/4-steps-to-becoming-a-certified-yoga-therapy-pain-relief-expert-300/
In this episode, I introduce the Functional Synergy Toolkit, a set of 16 concepts and tools designed to revolutionize pain management and healing. I emphasize the importance of a relational approach, where trust and understanding between the practitioner and client are paramount.
Key tools I discuss include the Healing Helix, Client Commitment Blueprint, and Body Signals Mapping. These tools help clients tune into their bodies and foster a compassionate, integrative healing journey. I invite listeners to explore these concepts further and join my Therapeutic Yoga Intensive for a deeper understanding.
Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://functionalsynergy.com/functional-synergy-toolkit-299/
Is healing pain really as complex as it's often made out to be? While the current drumbeat in the rehabilitation world is that pain is complex, that statement often leads to a lot of resignation for many professionals, which trickles down to clients. Yes, there are layers and work to do, but is it actually complex? I don't think so. When I help someone sense into themselves and into their own rhythm, remarkable change is possible. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/298
Have you ever felt stuck on your journey as a yoga therapist? Do you find yourself second-guessing your skills or looking for answers outside of yourself? In this episode, we explore the evolution of the yoga therapist and the key phases of growth from doubt to mastery. Join me as I share my insights from 30 years of experience in helping people reduce and eradicate pain. Discover the three key phases of growth that every yoga therapist goes through, and learn practical strategies to move from uncertainty to mastery. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/297
Do you believe that pain management is the only option for dealing with chronic pain? What if I told you that it's possible to reduce or even eliminate pain entirely? In this episode, I challenge the mainstream narrative around pain and offer a new perspective. Join me as I unpack why solely managing pain may be limiting, and how tuning into our bodies and nervous systems can create profound shifts. By the end of this episode, you'll have a new framework for understanding pain and practical tools to start exploring a pain-free life. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/296
It’s a pleasure to welcome back to the podcast Claire MacEachen, a graduate of my IAYT-accredited yoga therapy program and an accomplished yoga teacher. Today, she is sharing her journey to becoming a healer.
Tune in to learn how Claire evolved to become a confident health professional. She’s also sharing how she forms healing connections with her clients and the ways in which she provides them with movement awareness.
Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/295
As part of my mini-series, Safety in Selling, today’s episode features a Yoga Nidra practice designed to help you achieve self-regulation and reconnect with your body. But there’s a twist: this practice is business-focused.
Find a safe place to settle in as I guide you, step by step, through this 20-minute Yoga Nidra practice to help you relax and down-regulate your system. This includes setting an intention for your business and using the method of opposites to explore your thoughts and feelings about it.
Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/294
Today, I’m talking about imposter syndrome and the bundle of thoughts and beliefs that come with it, hindering your ability to sell yourself in a calm, steady manner. Fear and doubt are the biggest culprits—pushing you into a sympathetic fight-or-flight response when leaving your comfort zone.
Listen in as I share actions you can take outside of my program to support the sales process and move forward with a down-regulated nervous system. This includes simple steps, such as practicing non-sales conversations and engaging with others to build connections.
Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/293
In the next part of my mini-series, Safety in Selling, I’m speaking with two previous guests of the From Pain to Possibility podcast, Nona Jordan and Karin Rossi—current members of my certification final module. And you guessed it: we’re talking about getting comfortable with selling.
As both Nona and Karin share, increasing and refining your technical skills is always the first step in the sales process.
We’re also exploring how my concept of pain-free range of motion can be applied to selling. The idea is to start small and take incremental steps to offer your services to more patients.
Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/292
Today’s episode is especially powerful because it includes a special guest: Lory Newmyer. She’s here to share her experience in selling—and doing so by calming her nervous system.
We begin our conversation by discussing Lory’s unique background and her decision (and discomfort) in transitioning from a free yoga teacher to a paid yoga therapist. Lory shares how she shifted her mindset from selling a product to providing others an opportunity to invest in their well-being.
Tune in to hear Lory open up about her ability to calm her nervous system—a skill she learned as a teacher—and how she has used that state to sell herself comfortably.
Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/291
Welcome to part two of my mini-series, Safety in Selling, designed for health professionals who want to seamlessly integrate yoga into their practices while embracing a sales process that feels aligned and authentic.
Tune in and learn what it means to create a sales process that feels safe, empowering, and confident—not by “chasing the yes,” but by understanding and grounding yourself in the thoughts and emotions that arise. You'll discover how to embody safety while guiding clients to say yes naturally.
Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/290
Today, I’m tackling a different topic—one that many health professionals may find somewhat uncomfortable: selling. But here’s the thing: whether you like it or not, in order to garner clients, you have to go through a sales process.
To help, I’m launching a new mini-series designed to help you sell your service of supporting people in reducing and eradicating physical pain. Listen in to hear why, now more than ever, people need the ability to down-regulate their systems and how you can help them by effectively showcasing your professional abilities.
Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/289
In this episode, I’m welcoming back Austin Chason, a graduate of my IAYT-accredited yoga therapy program. Austin is sharing how he has continued using yoga to support his mental health and how we can all broaden our perspectives on healing.
Tune in to discover how we can help clients become more mindful of the stimuli they’re exposed to and explore the benefits of creating stability to avoid overwhelming the nervous system. This episode is packed with insights to help you and your clients build a stronger foundation of resilience and resources.
Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/288
This episode is short and simple, designed to connect you to your body and breath. Tune in to bring awareness to nearly every part of your body while simultaneously embracing a simple intention, or sankalpa. Even more than that, you’ll see how that intention resonates within you before enjoying the rest of your day feeling renewed and refreshed.
Find a safe and quiet place where you can sit or lie down as I guide you, step by step, through this 20-minute body scan and breath awareness practice to down-regulate your nervous system.
Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/287
Today’s episode is the second and final part of my Neck Relief Toolkit, where I share the two key compensatory patterns I most often see in clients with neck pain. Even if you’re not a health professional, I guarantee that understanding these will improve your rehab journey.
Listen in to hear how simply bringing awareness of these two patterns to your clients can help them change how their tissue functions, regardless of age. I’ll also provide detailed examples of how to do just that (even over video calls), along with ways to calmly and compassionately help clients cultivate their own curiosity.
Get full show notes, transcript and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/286
Welcome to part one of my two-part series on reducing and eradicating neck pain. In today’s episode, I explore two essential tools to add to your toolkit when treating clients with neck issues.
Listen in as I break these tools down to their foundational core so you can immediately implement them in your practice. I’ll also share why I don’t name muscles when asking a patient to display movement patterns and why I often start with leg movements when treating a patient’s neck pain.
Get full show notes, transcript and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/285
Today’s episode is extra special because I’m sharing yet another one of my trademark tools, which is especially effective in helping people reduce and eradicate physical pain. This tool is called the Success Matrix, and it’s essential for bringing awareness to your clients and treating the root cause of pain—rather than just the surface-level symptoms.
Tune in to learn how the Success Matrix helps patients understand their own anatomy and biomechanics so they can become active participants in their rehab while also empowering them to make incremental gains. It’s a nurturing process that will help you build a healing relationship with clients.
Get full show notes, transcript and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/284
Do you ever stop and really feel what's going on inside your body? Developing a deep, intimate connection with your inner physical experience is the essence of interoception, and it holds immense power for reducing and even eradicating pain.
Tune in this week as I dive deep into the concept of interoception and share practical examples of how I help my clients develop this crucial skill. You'll learn why interoception is the foundation for becoming your own body whisperer, and how it can lead to breakthroughs in pain relief and physical performance.
Get full show notes, transcript and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/283
Today, I’m excited to dig into three key questions I ask when working with clients and observing their movements. These questions are fundamental to how I help people reconnect with their bodies, reduce compensatory patterns, and embody the feeling of well-being.
Tune in to discover the power behind these simple yet effective questions, along with specific examples of how to use them to help clients enhance neuromuscular patterning and achieve significant progress.
Get full show notes, transcript and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/282
Today, I’m excited to address something that many teachers and health professionals tell me they struggle with: getting their clients to follow their rehabilitation programs. Since I haven’t had a noncompliant patient in more than 20 years, I’m proud to share my insights.
Tune in to this episode as I offer my keys to helping clients engage in their programs, including cultivating a "power with" relationship (as opposed to "power over") that empowers them to pursue their rehabilitation goals while making significant progress.
Get full show notes, transcript and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/281
Today, I’m joined by two inspiring soon-to-be graduates from my IAYT-accredited yoga therapy program: Lynda Spalding and Diane Stanton. Both chose to pursue their certifications later in life and are now successfully connecting with like-minded, similarly aged clients.
Join us for their uplifting stories, as they share the key elements they’re currently focused on in their practice—from the vocabulary of movement to healing dialogue, and even adding playful elements to keep sessions youthful. Their message is clear: it’s never too late to pursue what you love.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/280
Do you or someone you know struggle with migraines? Have you tried countless remedies, yet still find no lasting relief? Imagine being able to reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines without relying entirely on medication.
In this episode, I'm joined by Maria Hykin, a yoga therapist trainee with firsthand experience in battling migraines. Maria shares her transformative journey, discovering a unique approach rooted in therapeutic yoga that goes beyond simply addressing the pain.
Tune in as Maria provides practical tips and powerful insights for anyone seeking migraine relief and a better quality of life.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/279
Today, I’m excited to be joined by Lesley Ann Wernsdorfer, who graduated from my IAYT-accredited yoga therapy program in October 2022. Lesley Ann is sharing her incredible story, including the crossroads she faced during the pandemic and how my teachings resonated with her deeply from the beginning.
Listen in to our conversation as we discuss the distinction between pain management and eradication, guiding clients on their movements, uncovering their limitations, and coping mechanisms. We also talk about the relationship between skin and pure movement—a topic you won’t want to miss.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/278
Today is a very special episode as I welcome Laurie-Anne Lemothe back to the podcast. A current trainee and soon-to-be graduate of my yoga therapy accredited by IAYT program, she is here to share her experiences working with neurodivergent clientele.
Listen in to hear Laurie-Anne describe the role of environmental stimuli—including the health professional—when treating a neurodivergent client, the success she’s had with her most recent patient, and how she’s used teachings from the IAYT program in her practice.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/277
Continuing my mini-series on reducing and eradicating physical pain, today I’m talking about core stability. It’s a topic I’ve addressed in previous episodes, but I think you’ll be surprised to hear how I’m discussing it here.
In this episode, I’m sharing how, whether in your own healing journey or when helping clients, that wired alertness may be impeding rehabilitation. Find out why hypervigilance has this impact and how core stabilization can ease your mental and emotional state so you can heal.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/276
As I continue my mini-series on reducing and eradicating pain, today I’m exploring how stillness and quiet can be highly effective in our healing journeys. These quiet moments are deliberately restful pauses that we can strategically incorporate into our day or week, allowing us to connect with our bodies.
Tune in as I discuss the many benefits of these still moments, including reduced cortisol levels, improved brain function, lower blood pressure, and more. I’ll also share how to achieve these quiet states so you can access them whenever you need.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/275
A key component of Western medicine is standardization, and when trying to standardize the intangible—like a patient’s pain—it becomes much harder to navigate. That’s why I’ve developed the gradient scale, which bridges left- and right-brain function with body experience.
Listen in to learn why this tool is so successful at reducing and eradicating pain, as it allows people to make embodied connections. In this calm, connected state, clients are more able to recognize novel insights, which are important and significant for the healing process.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/274
In today's episode, we delve into the art of becoming comfortable with the intangible aspects of pain, which often lacks obvious physical causes. I'll be sharing my proven process for treating clients and guiding them on their journey to pain relief.
Tune in to learn about these four key concepts, including throwing out the traditional pain scale and instead honoring a person’s subjective experience through active listening. I’ll also be exploring the actual work of rehab, which isn’t about increasing sets and reps.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/273
Continuing my conversations with trainees and graduates from my Therapeutic Yoga Intensive, today I'm speaking with Lisa Workman, a kinesiologist and yoga therapist who, in just one year, has built a thriving business.
Listen in as Lisa discusses in-depth her pursuit of professional autonomy, including what is required to overcome the fear of “jumping ship,” how to build self-confidence, as well as the technical side of building a successful yoga therapy business.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/272
Today, I’m talking about a concept that is key to reducing and eradicating pain. It’s so powerful that it’s often one of the first ideas I teach health professionals who attend my programs and workshops. However, it truly needs to be experienced to understand how powerful it can be.
Listen in as I explain why this is so integral to the rehabilitation process, including how these movements address any gripping or bracing patterns that have become part of a client’s stabilizing force. I also share how mastering such movements improves results—both physically and mentally.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/271
Despite feeling productive, you may notice a sense of depletion creeping in. This is the perfect time to come back to your body and relax, which is exactly what this practice will do: bring you back into yourself and help reboot, reconnect, and re-inspire you by settling into a more nourished state.
Take a moment to settle into a safe and comfortable space as I walk you, step by step, through this 20-minute Yoga Nidra practice to settle your overworked brain.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/270
It’s such a privilege to bring Susan Morrison back to the podcast for another conversation about her experience in the recent Therapeutic Yoga Intensive, specifically how she has applied the concepts learned in that program to her own practice and clientele since graduating.
Listen to hear about concepts such as the healing helix, a client’s compelling reason, and meeting patients where they are. We’re also addressing a patient’s range of motion and how to expand that range to reduce tension and compensation patterns to promote healing.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/269
This practice will have you connecting to your breathing and to your sankalpa, or intention, which manifests as a single-sentence affirmation. In addition to bringing awareness to your body and its sensations, we will also be exploring emotional opposites.
So find a safe space to listen as I walk you through, step-by-step, the instructions of this 20-minute R&R Sleep Meditation. And stay tuned for more practices in the weeks to come.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/268
Today’s episode is the next in our mini-series on bone health and osteoporosis, and it’s a special one because returning to the podcast is our good friend Ruth Ann Penny, the veteran educator and teacher of therapeutic and functional yoga for older adults.
Listen in as we discuss the health professional-client relationship, how that relationship impacts the healing process, and ways in which professionals can treat such patients without relying on a script.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/267
This is a short yoga nidra practice designed to fit into those times when you really want to focus on your listening, feeling, or sense of self. It’s also perfect for settling your nervous system, quieting your brain, and becoming more alert—all when you don’t have a lot of time.
So, get yourself into a comfortable position, in a safe place, and listen in as I walk you through this short 10-minute practice step-by-step. Be sure to save this episode for whenever you need to clear and quiet your mind but only have a short amount of time.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/266
Welcome to the next episode in the mini-series on bone health and osteoporosis. Today I’m very excited for the return of Mona Warner, Ayurvedic practitioner, Ayurvedic yoga therapist, and yoga teacher trainer, who joins me to offer her perspective on osteoporosis. Tune in as Mona shares why the digestive system is so essential in Ayurveda, how patients can support their digestion to promote tissue development, and how Ayurvedic medicine seeks to address an individual holistically through three distinct pillars.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/265
As we continue our mini-series on bone health, and especially on osteoporosis, I’m speaking with a very special guest today: Melanie Metrow, a physical therapist and trainee in my IAYT program.
In this conversation we’re talking about the role fear can play when trying to live with osteoporosis and how that fear impacts our autonomic nervous system (ANS). Listen in as we discuss, in detail, how the ANS responds to our environment, the power of receiving an osteoporosis diagnosis in a compassionate manner, as well as some safety tips applicable for clients.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/264
As a special treat, today I’m sharing an extended body scan practice designed to help you settle into your body and create an embodied space with intentional breathing. It is just the trick for getting over a little post-trip jet lag, for times when you’re feeling like you're not quite in your body, or if you're feeling a little fried or wired. In those cases, a practice like this can really help you reconnect.
Find a safe, comfortable position where you can truly be with yourself—whether that’s on your back, lying on your side, or even sitting up—and tune in as I walk you through, step-by-step, this 30-minute extended body scan.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/263
Welcome to an all-new mini-series about bone health. In this episode, I will be introducing this topic with a very special guest, Laurie-Anne Lamothe, a yoga teacher and soon-to-be graduate of my yoga therapy accredited IAYT program.
Listen in as Laurie-Anne discusses why there’s so much fear present around osteoporosis and the current care gap that exists between treatment and information provided to patients. She’ll also be providing several client case studies to illustrate her experience helping others feel empowered in their movements.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/262
Welcome back to another episode of the podcast in which I’m sharing a breath and body scan—a technique inside of yoga nidra where we can really tune in and heighten the perception of our body while also enabling a level of relaxation. Find a safe and comfortable place to sit or lay down and tune in as I walk you through, step-by-step, this 20-minute body scan and be sure to keep an eye out for more practices on future episodes.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/261
Today’s episode of the podcast is special because it was recorded out of some real-life inspiration. It involves me exploring the magic of the healing process and how to achieve that with your clients on a consistent basis.
Listen in as I explain why, if we want to make a difference in healing, we need to move from technique and in the direction of transformation. Because there are no binary answers in healing—we must step back, utilize anatomy, use our knowledge, and allow for the magic to arise.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/260
It’s that time again—time to achieve rest, recuperation, and better breathing with another body scan practice. Only this exercise is meant to be performed while in a side bend as it can be a lovely place to settle through the body. All you need to do is grab a yoga mat, a couple pillows, or even a blanket, and I’ll walk you through, step-by-step, the instructions of this side bend body scan. And, if you benefited from this practice, be sure to explore previous episodes to find similar meditations.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/259
In the next part of my “Exploring Your Feet” mini-series, I’m talking with two trainees of my recent Yoga Intensive, Lisa Neukomm and Angelique Canonico. Both are here sharing their stories about feet-related issues and how they’ve benefited from my course to begin healing.
Listen in to our conversations as we open your eyes, your heart, and your mind to the healing possibilities in your own feet and body, and that of your clients. That includes becoming more aware of your movements, using your breath to relieve tension, and promoting strong, supple feet.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/258
When experiencing pain or discomfort, it’s easy to fixate on finding out the next exercise you need to do for your rehabilitation process. That logical processing is necessary but in order to support a transformative healing process, we must also use a different part of our brain.
This practice will allow you to enjoy the benefits of the relaxation response, which slows down brain wave frequency and provides optimal healing opportunities. So, whether it’s outside or on a treadmill, tune in for this walking practice for a more mindful approach to healing your feet.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/257
In part three of my mini-series, Exploring Your Feet, we’re taking a holistic view of healing the feet—a perspective that incorporates both the body and mind. To do so, we’ll be looking at our feet as our body’s foundation but also as a link in a connected chain. So tune in as I explore kinetic changes and several exercises that can be used to support your clients as they improve the function of their feet. I’ll also be examining how to better understand body mechanics and why it’s possible to make progress in how we feel without actually making changes to those mechanics.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/256
In the next part of my “Exploring Your Feet” mini-series, I’m providing you detailed instructions for a body scan practice—one designed to bring your attention to your feet. By doing so, you’ll be more equipped to listen to your body and address pain associated with your feet.
So find a safe, comfortable place to sit or lay down as I guide you, step-by-step, through this 15-minute body scan practice to put you more in touch with your feet, your movements, and what it is your body is communicating.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/255
On today’s episode—the second in my new mini-series, Exploring Your Feet—I’m investigating how our feet respond to flip flops as well as sharing my own experiences in managing this stimulus while also elevating my function. Listen in to learn the compensation patterns most associated with wearing flip flops, the ways to support foot function while doing so, and how my time bike riding has allowed me to become more connected to my movements—both my feet and up the chain.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/254
It’s a very special episode today as I’m beginning a brand new mini-series, “Exploring Your Feet,” where we will dive deep into our feet, the pain and soreness that can occur in our feet, and ways to use our feet to better understand our movements. Listen in as I help you understand the feet as the foundation of your movements (while also sharing how that interpretation can be limiting) as well as ways to tune into your feet such as by using a golf ball to relieve tension in various parts of your body.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/253
On today’s episode I'll be guiding you through another Rest & Revitalization Sleep Meditation—a practice created by Ann Douglas, a teacher and trainer of yoga, yoga nidra, and meditation.
So find a safe space to listen as I walk you through, step-by-step, the instructions of this R&R Sleep Meditation. And, if you benefited from this practice, you can check out previous episodes to find similar meditations.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/252
On today’s episode we’re exploring the concept of core stability from the lens of being an anatomy architect. More specifically, I’m discussing better ways to strengthen your core in a way that can effectively reduce or eradicate your pain. Tune in as I share the keys to strengthening your core and how that requires reducing the layers of tension over it, as well as the anatomy architect state of mind that allows patients and professionals alike to identify compensation patterns and improve neuromuscular habits.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/251
Suffering from a lack of sleep? Or maybe you’re getting the recommended amount of sleep but you still don’t feel well rested. Well, in today's episode, I’ll be guiding you through a 30-minute Rest & Revitalization Sleep Meditation, which is sure to help you recharge.
Find a safe and comfortable place to sit or lay down and tune in as I walk you step-by-step through this meditation, and be sure to keep an eye out for more meditations on future episodes.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/250
For many healing professionals, the old method of “one-size-fits-all solutions” simply isn’t working anymore. Instead, nowadays, clients (and teachers too) must tap into their own awareness to understand pain and the anatomy, biomechanics, and kinesiological principles associated with it.
Tune in this week to hear me the steps to strengthen the mind-body connection, how to teach from a place of confidence in your practice, as well as ways to have honest conversation about pain. Finally, I’ll also share some tips around bettering your practice by investing in your well-being.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/249
As we continue to explore more guided meditations on the podcast, today’s show is extra special because I’m walking you through a new kind of body scan practice—different from what we’ve done in previous episodes.
While the typical body scan focuses your attention to a single point in your body (your hands, your shoulders, your feet, etc.) this practice I’m walking you through today will guide your attention to two points, allowing you to explore the space in between and around them. So find a safe, comfortable place to sit or lay down as I guide you through this 15-minute body scan practice to hear what your body is communicating.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/248
On today’s episode we’re exploring back pain and, specifically, why I don’t use the Uttanasana yoga pose as a means of reducing that pain in my clients. In short, it’s because the results aren’t consistent enough. Join me in discussing back pain, how such pain is actually an expression of the actual problem, and the alternatives to Uttanasana—some of which aren’t mechanical and instead may be yoga nidra, breathing, and rest.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/247
Whether you’re a yoga therapist, a yoga teacher, or a client currently in the rehab process, the concept of cueing impacts everyone, which is why today I’m discussing how to engage in cueing in a way that is most beneficial for healing.
Listen in as I explore the fundamentals of cueing, the relationship formed between health professionals and patients through cueing, as well as how to use cueing to prevent injuries and strengthen the connection to our bodies.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/246
Get comfortable because today I’ll be walking you through a body scan and breath awareness meditation, a practice similar to the Rest & Revitalization Sleep Meditations covered in previous episodes. So find a safe and quiet place where you can sit or lay down as I guide you, step-by-step, through this 20-minute body scan and breath awareness practice in order to down-regulate your nervous system.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/245
As I continue my mini-series on Healing & Synergy, today we’re discussing what happens when a health professional or a client hits a wall during rehab and they decide to “retire this yoga pose”. Listen in to learn how a client’s embodied awareness can lead to better connection, less tension, and less gripping. And how, in those states, a patient can increase their capabilities and, as a result, progress their healing.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/244
Welcome to another special episode in the Healing & Synergy mini-series where we are discussing the three biggest myths associated with yoga therapy and the business of practicing it. There are so many great training programs out there that neglect to give participants the education they need to grow a thriving practice without sacrificing their well-being.
Tune in as I’m challenging the idea that you can’t actually make a living being a yoga therapist or that people are unwilling to pay your fee and, instead, allow me to provide marketing advice on how to deliver what it is you truly offer.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/243
In this next part of the Healing & Synergy mini-series, we’re discussing the concept of modifications and how, while they may be useful in yoga teaching, they can be counterproductive in yoga therapy.
Tune in as I explain how such modifications limit the healing process during rehabilitation as well as the thinking required to move away from those workarounds to actually resolve a patient’s core movement issues.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/242
Find a quiet, comfortable spot because today’s episode—the next part of my Healing & Synergy mini-series—is another Rest & Revitalization Sleep Meditation practice, this one focused on helping you navigate the highs and lows of the rehabilitation process.
Listen in as I explain the power behind the practice of opposites in yoga nidra, especially as it relates to the “fix it” cycle, and then guide you through this 40-minute R&R Sleep Meditation, step-by-step.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/241
Now and again as healing professionals, we encounter clients who simply want a fix for their pain and are uninterested in understanding the systems of healing. For many such clients, you may be the latest in a long line of health professionals they’ve sought out. Where you can differ though is in how you develop a healing relationship with these patients so they see rehab as an exploration.
Tune in this week as I describe how to cultivate trust with a client by starting a dialogue with them about their pain, as well as the best ways to grow a patient’s awareness of their body so they can reclaim their healing experience.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/240
As part of the mini-series on Healing & Synergy, today we’re talking with Lisa Neukomm, personal trainer and current participant in the Yoga Therapy Certification, about integrating the concepts she’s learned in the program into her practice. Listen in as we discuss how to become an integrative personal trainer by abandoning a healing process that is just goal oriented—lifting heavier weighting, increasing reps, etc.—and, instead, advocating a mind-body connection to achieve true healing with therapeutic movements.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/239
Many struggle to balance being a yogi and running a profitable business because, sadly, no one taught them how. But there is a way to nurture and nourish yourself and your clients as a yoga instructor. In today’s episode, I'm speaking specifically to yoga professionals interested in learning how to grow a sustainable practice without burning out.
Listen in as I share how to grow your business in alignment with the healing approach, as well as how to identify a niche by recognizing the kinds of yoga and healing techniques you’re already promoting.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/238
Today I'm talking about a very specific kind of client that may frequent your practice: the “hard driver." This is one of those clients who is deeply ambitious, strong-willed, and has a hard time slowing down.
There are some really smart ways you can help these clients reduce pain while working with their natural energetic tendencies and I'm sharing them in this week's episode. Tune in to learn how to channel a client’s innate internal energies to support their rehabilitation and the three key concepts I use to treat "hard-driving" patients.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/237
Many of us in Western culture have a rigid understanding of the student-teacher relationship—one that places teachers in positions of authority to which students are taught to defer. But helping our clients to heal requires a relationship of exchange. In this episode, I’m speaking with Ruth Ann Penny, veteran educator and yoga teacher, about the role of teachers in helping clients out of pain.
Listen in as Ruth Ann and I share an in-depth discussion on our role as effective teachers, empowering our clientele to develop an inner locus of control, and forming a healing relationship with our patients.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/236
I'm continuing my mini-series on reducing and eradicating physical pain for your clientele and today’s episode focuses on the glutes—specifically what people may refer to as “lazy glutes” or “dead butt”. In addition to addressing why such terminology can be detrimental to patients, we’ll walk through some of the core glutes exercises that are recommended in the rehabilitation process and the ways in which we, as health professionals, can help clients gain awareness so that they can properly execute these exercises and successfully gain strength.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/235
As a health professional, it’s crucial to understand that your job is not to heal your clients but rather to provide them with the physical and mental tools required to reduce pain. In part two of my Healing & Synergy mini-series, I’m discussing the five key components to help reduce and eradicate your clients’ pain.
Listen in as I outline all five of these key components, including “compelling reason” and “strengthening for real,” as well as provide insights on how to implement these principles with your clients so that they can begin their healing journey.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/234
If you're a health professional or yoga teacher who wants to hone your ability to help clients reduce and eradicate pain, I recorded this episode and the upcoming mini-series for you!
Tune in to hear me discuss the connection between having fun while working with clients and growing your business, and strategies for cultivating a client base that is committed to your healing techniques. You'll learn what kinds of questions you should be asking yourself to effectively grow your healing skill set and, as a result, your practice.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/233
For many of my clients, the concept of becoming stronger is a challenge, especially after rehab. This is because their rehabilitation likely failed to instill a feeling of connection to their body and the movements required for strengthening. On today’s episode, I'm discussing the process you and your clients can use to make gains after rehab and why, despite common belief, strength can be easy.
Listen in as I explore how to gain better bodily awareness during rehab so that afterwards you can apply the necessary load/resistance increases to more easily become stronger—all without risking injury.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/232
Achieving strength—the kind of real strength that supports a pain-free life—requires a solid connection between mind and body. This is the type of strength that we rely on in the rehabilitation process, and I'm outlining how to build this strength in today's episode.
Tune in to hear me outline the eight principles of movement that will help you become more attuned to your body’s functions, foster a greater connection between your mind and your body, and start down the path toward alleviating and even eradicating pain.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/231
On this very special episode, I’m speaking with Anne Douglas, a teacher and trainer of yoga and meditation, about the incredible benefits of the Rest and Revitalization Sleep Meditation certification that she created. If you've been curious about adding this technique to your toolbox as an instructor, this episode is for you.
Anne and I discuss how different healing practices such as hypnotherapy and non-sleep deep rest teaching (NSDR) fold into sleep meditation, and the ways in which these approaches can help clients identify bodily sensations and engage in a healing dialogue.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/230
I'm so excited to again be talking to two recent graduates of my Therapeutic Yoga Intensive in what is becoming a recurring series where we explore the real, tangible impacts that teachers are having using what they learned in the program.
Today's episode features Charlotte Van Bassan and Susan Morrison who are joining me to discuss how the Therapeutic Yoga Intensive has given them the tools to help others become more aware of their movements and compensation patterns, as well as how an open dialogue has provided their clients the power of reassurance in their practice.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/229
While some styles of yoga consider downward facing dog to be a resting pose, many can attest to their difficulty in achieving this position. In this episode of my shoulder mini-series, I’ll unpack downward dog and the compensation patterns connected to it so you can turn your grumpy dog into a pain-free puppy!
Tune in to learn how you can perform your own dog pose, and understand both the mindset and the actual movements required to improve shoulder awareness in this pose and use it to make progress in your shoulder rehabilitation journey.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/228
Oftentimes, an issue you’re suffering from in one part of your body actually has roots elsewhere. Such is the case with the shoulders, where the problem may be a result of a poor connection between the shoulders and hips.
In this episode of my shoulder mini-series, I’ll guide you through two movements – a bridge pose and a supine twist – to help you become more aware of the relationship between shoulders and hips en route to achieving gains in the rehabilitation process.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/227
If you've dealt with shoulder issues personally or supported your clients through them, you may have heard of "setting the shoulder blades." In this second part of my shoulder mini-series, I'm addressing this concept, and explaining why I recommend alternatives.
First we’ll discuss what it actually means to set the shoulder blades or the scapula and how that process—which is intended to put the shoulders and the shoulder girdle in the correct position—can be misguided and potentially harmful. I'll also share my alternative methods to stabilize and strengthen your shoulder blades.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/226
This episode begins a new mini-series focusing on the shoulder and shoulder girdle, in which we'll explore the reasons shoulder injuries occur, and how to support the girdle in becoming stable, strong, and mobile.
The shoulder girdle acts as a bridge between the arms, spine, torso, and more, and we're going to explore its role in transmitting and transforming energy. Tune in to learn the principles of movement that inform shoulder function so you can support your clients (or yourself) in settling shoulder tissue and reducing or eradicating pain.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/225
This is the second and final episode of my two-part series on a return to pain-free walking. Today we’re talking about what happens after your first two "reconnaissance" walks — how to stay on track and continue making progress.
I’ll outline four helpful concepts, like remembering the gains you've made and staying in your body while walking. Plus, we’ll discuss some simple and effective movements to take advantage of during your walk if you start to feel any warning sensations.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/224
Today’s episode kicks off the first part of my two-part series on pain-free walking, which is a common desire from my patients as they begin to enjoy extended periods without pain.
So, how exactly can you go from zero to 30 minutes? This is a big step and not one to take lightly. Listen in as I share how exactly you can gauge your baseline, what movements and patterns you should be aware of while walking, as well as ways to avoid significant setbacks on your road to 30 minutes.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/223
We’ve discussed how sleep apnea is on an upward trend, but that doesn’t mean we need to normalize it. As part of my mini-series on the Mechanics of Breathing, today’s episode will focus on several full-body breathing exercises to bring intention to your breathing and counteract airway issues.
Listen in as I guide you through various exercises, including a three-part breathing technique that incorporates the upper and lower belly, the chest, the rib cage and even different parts of the back.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/222
Get comfortable because today’s episode—part seven of my Mechanics of Breathing mini-series—is another Rest & Revitalization Sleep Meditation practice, this one specifically focused on TMJ and sleep apnea.
As I share at the beginning of this episode, meditation grants us the opportunity to change our thoughts and beliefs, which, as a result, can change how we act. Find a safe, contained space to settle in as I walk you through this powerful, 30-minute R&R Sleep Meditation designed to bring your awareness to your breath and your thoughts of TMJ and sleep apnea.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/221
In part six of my Mechanics of Breathing mini-series, we’re discussing TMJ, airway, and sleep apnea with my dentist, Dr. Larry Stanleigh. We dive into sleep-disordered breathing or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which Dr. Larry calls “the most common non-communicable disease in the world.”
Listen in as Dr. Larry breaks down the cause of this disorder and how it actually manifests during our sleep cycles. We’ll discuss breathing exercises to improve our responses, as well as different ways to improve sleep hygiene, including weight loss, exercise, and which position you should sleep in.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/220
We’re discussing an Ayurvedic approach to tongue, sleep, and sleep apnea in part five of my Mechanics of Breathing mini-series. I'm joined by Mona Warner, Ayurvedic practitioner, Ayurvedic yoga therapist, and yoga teacher trainer, to dive into the role of the tongue as a barometer in issues related to breathing and sleep.
Mona shares with me the Ayurvedic perspective of viewing our body as a series of channels, and explains why if the respiratory channel is weakened, our breathing, and consequently our sleep, suffers.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/219
In part four of my Mechanics of Breathing series, I'm exploring a part of the body you might not normally associate with your breath: the feet. Rarely do we consider the role of tissue in the way that breath comes in, but when we can improve the suppleness of our bodily tissue – yes, even in the feet – our breathing can change in a powerful way.
Listen in to discover the link between your feet and your breath, and be guided through an exercise to help you better understand “breathing with your feet.”
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/218
This is the third installment of my Mechanics of Breathing mini-series. In it, we’ll explore the rib cage, both through intellectual theory and a guided breathing practice.
When we’re not breathing well—as a result of asthma, TMJ, obstructive airway issues, etc.—the body relies upon the secondary muscles around the rib cage to get air in. Listen in as I discuss the role of core stability in proper breathing, and how the rib cage can act as a bracing mechanism. I’ll also walk you through a guided practice meant to help you bring attention to your rib cage and its movements during breathing.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/217
In the second part of my Mechanics of Breathing mini-series, we’re diving into the myofascial connections and relationships between TMJ issues, sleep apnea, airway, breathing, and how I use my signature systematic approach of reducing pain to improve them holistically.
You'll hear me outline the main principles of TMJ, airway issues, sleep apnea, and tissue unwinding, and share how to approach therapeutic exercises to address these problems yourself.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/216
My new mini-series on the mechanics of breathing starts today! It will feature embodied practices and intellectual interviews geared toward clients (and professionals) suffering from sleep apnea. In this episode, we’ll cover how the fields of dentistry and ayurveda are approaching issues that often precede sleep apnea. I’ll also discuss hypermobility, a somewhat new diagnosis, and how it impacts us physiologically.
Listen as I explain the three core aspects of breath—phase, pace, and feel—and help you tune into your own breathing with a brief exploratory practice. Be sure you’re in a safe, comfortable position!
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/215
Two more graduates from my Therapeutic Yoga Intensive, Nona Jordan and Karin Rossi, join me in this episode to share their experiences, expectations, and learnings from this latest training. We discuss their unique backgrounds—working with business clients and clients suffering from trauma—and explore how the training has informed their understanding of what it means to best serve their clients.
Listen in as we discuss specific teachings from the intensive such as the crucial role compassion plays in reducing pain, as well as the importance of an instructor’s self-knowledge to their work with others.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/214
My guest, Neill Williams, is a life and productivity coach who specializes in the link between our physiology and our ability to get things done. While many of us are plenty productive, Neill is here to help us understand how to align our to-do lists with our bodies' natural rhythms so we can be productive without feeling depleted.
Listen as she describes how to break the day into buckets based on your brain chemistry's daily fluctuations, and hear tips for maneuvering your schedule to make your periods of productivity more easeful.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/213
I'm super excited to be welcoming the one and only Corinne Crabtree to the show today, CEO of No BS Weightloss and a powerful voice in the women's health space. She's joining me to discuss the surprising similarities between the work she does around losing weight, and the work I do in pain reduction.
Listen in as Corinne shares her personal story of losing weight and outlines some foundational elements of her well-loved program, such as recognizing hunger cues, “eating to enough,” and breaking the habit of thinking hunger is some kind of painful punishment.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/212
Claire MacEachen and Michelle Deschenes are experienced yoga teachers who wanted to deepen their practices and address some of their physical pain points at the same time. They enrolled in my Therapeutic Yoga Intensive in October 2023 and had some pretty exciting takeaways, which they're sharing with me on this episode.
We discuss how the training has helped Claire and Michelle understand the difference between cueing, and actually teaching clients about their bodies' movement. We also explore the need for instructors to recognize that you can't help eradicate others' pain until you've experienced healing yourself.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/211
Today’s episode is an opportunity to pause, breathe, and rest. I'm sharing a guided Rest & Revitalization Sleep Meditation with step-by-step instructions for soothing your system both physiologically and psychologically.
Find a safe, comfortable space and listen in as I offer you a taste of this nourishing, rejuvenating experience. Think of this as a chance to explore your emotions and thoughts in a healing manner. And, if you like this practice, tune in to future episodes as we do more guided meditations over the next several months.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/210
Golf is one of the most common activities that my clients seek to return to after their surgery. Despite the differences in the hip and knee joints (and the differences in their surgeries), both are instrumental in swing dynamics and effectively addressing the ball.
This week, I'm exploring the fundamental movements required for a fluid golf swing as well as the state of mind needed to make that motion after a hip or knee surgery. I also share why getting your clients back to the driving range is equally as important as returning to the course.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/209
Following a hip or knee surgery, it is critical that clients build core strength and stability. Listen in this week as I breakdown the healing relationship required between client and care professional, the importance of quality movements, and the process of improving a client’s outcomes after the first three months after hip or knee surgery. Together, we can create a solid foundation upon which our clients can achieve a responsive and stable core.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/208
Are you or your client limping due to knee or hip surgery? Are you interested in working on a smoother gait? This week, I'm exploring the process of retraining your body after surgery to help you or your clients transition from limping to smoother walking patterns. Discover effective techniques for recognizing and addressing compensatory patterns, along with movement practices to pinpoint neuromuscular patterning.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/207
In this episode, I'm exploring the role yoga therapy plays in improving your range of motion and building strength, and how you can use it to help guide your clients to establish stronger connections with their bodies post knee and hip surgery. Learn why belief plays a crucial role in post-surgery recovery, and gain insights on how to cultivate increased motion, stability, and strength through the practice of yoga therapy.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/206
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's always an opportunity to modify tissue and habits for the better.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/205
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 strength and full range of motion.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/204
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 and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/203
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 their healing journey. I'm sharing why their ‘compelling reason’ progresses throughout our time together, and how to cultivate trust in your working relationships.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/202
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. Discover the power of being a lifelong learner, why growing old can open new possibilities in business and life, and how the Yoga Therapy Certification may benefit you at any age.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/201
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 better breathing and awareness. You'll learn how to feel your way through pain with more clarity and greater trust.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/200
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'm exploring some of the common obstacles people face when they have pain and how to turn them into opportunities for healing.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/199
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 her offerings, methods of working with her clients, and why learning within the Certification program is so unique.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/198
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 connectedness that foster healing and pain reduction.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/197
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 different for everyone, and how the Therapeutic Yoga Certification is designed to meet you in multiple layers of your life.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/196
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.functionalsynergy.com/195
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 or helping others to do so.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/194
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 full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/193
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 feelings to find less tension and more ease.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/191
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.functionalsynergy.com/190
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 encouraging my clients to connect easefully with their bodies allows for quicker, deeper, structural shifts.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/189
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 successful, and the results you can expect. I'm giving you all the details on this intensive so you decide if it's right for you.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/188
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 challenge my trainees to usher a pain-free life to others.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/187
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, with confidence.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/186
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 and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/185
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 for you. Discover the biomechanical happenings that can occur when you wear flip flops and how to remedy them.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/184
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 body’s subtle movement.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/183
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 helping folks heal and eliminate pain as they truly go from Pain to Possibility, and how you can do the same.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/182
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 and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/181
Join me in unpacking the relationship between breath and the psoas. Breath directly affects tissue tension, and I have found again and again that breathing issues are linked to psoas pain. Discover methods for moving your breath, releasing the psoas, and finding more sensitivity within your body. I look closely at the anatomy of the psoas and the diaphragm, and share an analogy to help you identify the tension found within the psoas (and other areas).
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/180
It is much easier to heal the psoas when my clients are working toward being able to do an activity they love without pain. This week, I share two recovery journeys to demonstrate why it is essential for us to take our time and create movement plans for our desired activities ahead. Discover how to design motivating movement therapies with the 7-R’s along with methods of reverse engineering body movements toward a desired activity.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/179
I dive deep into five strategies for healing your psoas and achieving release. I share various methods along with a guided practice of cued movements to establish a connection to your body (and your psoas). We will concentrate on the “5 R’s” to foster awareness of subtle body movements. These practices cultivate ease, allowing you to attune to your inner world, experience release, and naturally settle.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/178
Have you noticed that the cues to release your persistent QL pain just don’t hit the spot? Have no fear because this week, I share how strain in one area can resolve itself by working with Pure Movement. By breaking down and easing tensions outside of the pain point, my clients often find the area of trouble has space to right itself. Discover more about Pure Movement and how it can help you reduce Quadratus Lumborum pain in a way that traditional methods can't.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/177
One of the top five reasons people come to me is to seek relief from QL pain. However, upon closer examination, we realize that the QL itself is not the sole issue, but rather a symptom of an underlying problem. This week, I share the stories of two clients who successfully eliminated their QL pain. Through digging deep, we uncovered a deeper issue—a disconnection with their own bodies. Tune in and discover how these clients resolved their pain through pure movement and the other principles I teach.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/176
Amy Yapp is a yoga teacher and a client of mine. She has Hypermobility Disorder and an acute understanding of building skills to connect with her form. In this conversation, we discuss the difference between reactivity and responsiveness, and how to take action by knowing your body well. We dive into finding language for reconnecting with the body and honoring sensations through somatic and yoga therapies. Learn more about advocating for yourself, uncovering sensory language, and feeling more expansive.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/175
Join me in learning about alternative movement techniques when working with hypermobile folks. Jeannie Di Bon is an advocate for those with hypermobility, a movement therapist, and she has hypermobile EDS, POTS, and MCAS. After struggling most of her life without a diagnosis, she shares how she was filled with relief when she identified her diagnosis at 48 and the possibility for change. In this conversation, Jeannie shares her experience and expertise as a therapist with an acute understanding of hypermobility.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/174
Regardless of hypermobility, anyone can cultivate their interoceptive and proprioceptive abilities. This week, I share the basics of these sensing skills along with a breathing exercise to expand your practice. By actively noticing and acknowledging our sensations, we embark on a transformative journey. I invite you to explore your unique sensory experiences today.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/hypermobility-interoception-proprioception/
This episode is part one of my Rethinking Hypermobility mini-series where I'll be exploring effective ways to support individuals facing the challenges of pain and hypermobility. I'll be unpacking the techniques I employ to guide my clients on a journey of self-discovery and body awareness.
It's important to recognize that people with hypermobility have distinct tissue functioning, which requires a tailored approach for their care. Discover how to help others move in a range that does not increase their pain.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/hypermobility-reducing-pain/
This week, I share two stories of clients with structural limitations. Whether it's pain, strain, or something more ambiguous, both clients were able to make changes by learning how to identify patterns of movement while looking deeper. The anatomical location of your pain is not the problem. Tune in to find out what healing is all about.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/171
I am pleased to invite OBGYN and a breast cancer survivor, Dr. Corinne Menn, to the show to educate us about the possibility of hormone therapy for cancer survivors. Dr. Menn shares the struggles of survivorship, some basic information on hormones, and how the whole body is impacted by cancer and cancer treatment. Join us as we unpack misinformation, traversing the medical field, and re-claiming trust in our bodies.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/170
Breast cancer can be extremely overwhelming. The initial shock, scheduling, and procedures are traumatic and they can cause us to step away from our body. Helen Pomerony is a yoga teacher, yoga therapist, and breast cancer survivor. She is here to share how reaching out to work with me has helped her connect back to her body, find feeling in her form, and encourage healing. Helen now has better movement than before her diagnosis, and more tools for understanding her body and implementing movements when signals of tension appear.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/169
I have a lot of experience helping clients go from “now what” to redefining their relationship with movement so they can quickly get back to moving with ease, comfort, and connection with their body, especially when they are recovering and recuperating from breast cancer and breast cancer treatments.
I break down load and how to improve structural integrity to move with less pain and more ease, and I dig into specific examples of how to make adjustments for the greatest comfort and relief of tension in the body.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/168
This week, I am pleased to sit down with my private 1:1 client, Trudy Johnson, who has experienced various forms of pain over the years, from knee pain and pain from injury to pelvic floor surgery and Morton's neuroma. Initially, when I introduced the idea that “the pain is not the problem” to Trudy, she did not believe me. Today, Trudy shares how learning to listen to her body changed everything, empowered her to work with her body, and begin to eradicate her pain.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/167
Our relation to our body changes from day to day, from experience to experience. When using the 8 Principles of Movement that I share this week, we can tune in to our present experience, understanding that our ability can shift from one moment to the next. Listen in as I unveil the importance of integrating this work into any practice, along with deep details of each principle. I dig into how the principles work as a group, building one atop the other.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/166
When the pain goes down, what is there now? Arriving at a new state within your body is a learning experience. To discuss this with me I invited my private 1:1 client, Ros Tobe, onto the podcast. Ros is training for runDisney, and to run her race, structural integrity is essential.
In this episode, we discuss tuning in to the body and how when we have found some relief from pain, there is more ability to notice, read, and address compensatory patterns. We also look at Ros’s experience with pain and how she has changed since working with me.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/165
Have you worked with a client that is numb or cannot feel? How do we work with those who have difficulty expressing themselves?
This week, I'm joined by two educators and therapists, Ruth Ann Penney and Kim Marion, to talk about openness, trust, and relationship building. This enlightening conversation touches on the nuance of sensory perception, the essential nature of trust in our ability to communicate, and so much more.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/164
Are you getting lost in the numbers, the repetitions, or the specifics of a technique? The desire to complete a practice “correctly” or as a “to-do” sometimes distracts my clients from the actual work wanting to take place within their bodies.
This week, I discuss the four most common questions I receive when beginning to work with a client. I unveil how I encourage my clients to tune in to their inner knowing and feel into a healing process that works for them.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/163
Bracing patterns are a key factor in a person’s recovery process. You can make many gains related to your movement, but if your bracing patterns don’t resolve or reduce significantly, the pain won’t stay away or go away sustainably. This week I dig into the role bracing patterns play in recovery, some of my clients’ comments about their bracing patterns, and how I help my clients resolve them.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/162
This week, I share the key difference maker for my clients getting out of pain and how, without this, there won’t be the significant, lasting change that people are seeking. I show you how to acknowledge how you are feeling regarding your symptoms, why this can be so revealing, and the true fuel you need for recovery and the healing process.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/161
There are some key phases of recovery that I have seen over time when working with clientele. There is the initial helping them get out of pain, then there’s a transition, and then a period of strengthening.
Join me this week as I dive deeper into each of these phases to show you how I teach clients to hear the whispers and recognize the yellow lights. Discover what I find gets in the way of these phases for people and how to be successful in each one.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/160
When it comes to reducing and eradicating persistent symptoms of pain, managing symptoms of an autoimmune condition, or recovering from surgery of any kind, there are three concepts that I think about from a bigger picture.
Hear what these concepts are and how they help my clients with their recovery. Find out why they are the opposite of what is often taught in the rehabilitative world, and the quiet power of these concepts.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/159
Those sexy boots you have in your closet were made for walking, and you do not have to put them away. Our joints enable us to move in a variety of different positions, so why not allow for it? That’s exactly what I’m talking about in the last episode of the Exploring Your Feet miniseries this week. I share 5 key things I think about when helping people get into sexy boots, and the considerations I utilize when working with people who want to wear them.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/158
The idea of this miniseries is to highlight something that I find tends to be missing out there in the world of rehabilitation, corrective exercise, and yoga therapy. There is a lot of great information on the foot itself and the lower part of the limb, but this starts to fizzle off when we look at the whole kinetic chain. So in this episode, I’m digging deeper into the tibia and fibula relationship and their relationship with the foot before walking you through a practice to bring this to life.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/157
Just because overpronation is present doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. The body and mind are consistently seeking balance, and the foot does need to pronate when you walk or there is a weight shift. So this week, learn what overpronation is, how to look at it from a structural standpoint, and how to understand what that exploration reveals to you.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/156
In this episode, I’m sharing why it is so easy to assume that the foot is solely responsible for bearing our load and why this isn’t truly the case. Discover the importance of learning how to adequately transfer load, the impact this has on the way your foot functions, and some ways to find stability to enable you to transfer and absorb load.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/155
The feet are incredible compensators and often key strategists for when we have hip instability or other functional limitations. If we don’t absorb and dissipate load well throughout the body, the feet can take the brunt. So this week, I’m digging in to the feet and hip connection and why, as we resolve that patterning, the feet will start to shift.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/154
I work a lot with clients who have been given corrective exercise techniques as part of their rehabilitation program, and I train health professionals who have professional training in the application of these corrective exercises. So this week, I’m digging into corrective exercise techniques and how they can be amplified by adding yoga therapy. Discover what corrective exercises are and three things I see present when these techniques are not working.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/153
In this episode, I’m walking you through a multi-step practice to help you explore your ribcage and collarbones and their relationship with breathing. Learn the different impacts this practice can have for different people based on the way that their tissue is and the number one thing that influences my clients’ healing process and the pace at which they get better.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/152
This week, I’m sharing a fascinating, nuanced view of the psoas. You’ll learn some interesting facts about the psoas, and I’m walking you through a reflective practice to help you tune into your awareness and ability to feel.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/151
Join me this week as I talk about the anatomy of the QL, some of what the anatomists say about the relationship between the QL and breathing, and how there are some conflictual ideas about it. I’m also leading you through a somatic experience to help you tune in to your own QL and breath.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/150
This week I'm talking with my dentist, Dr. Larry Stanleigh, all about the benefits of retraining how you breathe and how breathing better can help you move better. Hear the relationship between sleep apnea, grinding, clenching, and issues with other parts of your body and why understanding how it all weaves together can help you assist yourself and your clientele more effectively.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/149
In this episode, I’m continuing on our biomechanical, anatomical exploration and mindful awareness journey and bringing you another guided practice to help you tune in to your breath and body. I’m taking you through two side bends to help you connect with your ribcage and feel what happens, and showing you how to breathe into it and acknowledge what occurs elsewhere in your body.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/148
Tune in this week for another gentle practice to help you explore movement and breath. With this practice, we’re focusing on the feet, hips, and abdomen. I’m guiding you through this practice and showing you how to notice what your body does and how to tune in to the information your body gives you.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/147
In this episode, I’m taking you through a gentle practice to help you tune in to your ribcage, your breath, and how that breath moves the ribcage. I’m going over the connection to your neck, head, and feet and helping you tune in to awareness about your breath and what’s going on within your body and mind.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/146
I have had great success working with people with migraines and I have seen some amazing results from my clients. So this week for the next installment of the Exploring Your Breath miniseries I’m diving into migraines. Learn how I teach people to tune in to their body, mind, and system to recognize correlations to the migraine and the power of becoming more aware of conditions and triggers that lead to migraines.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/145
In the second episode of the Exploring Your Breath series, I’m sharing my definition of the core, how I view it and what I see as the relationship between core and breathing. I’m also guiding you through a simple exercise to help you explore the relationship you currently have with your core and make it stronger.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/144
In the first episode of this series all about exploring your breath, I’m diving deeper into the phases of breath, the functional anatomy of the thorax and abdomen, and what I see as a pattern that can negatively impact exhalation. I’m sharing what I do specifically to help support people to improve the way they exhale and two exercises to try associated with your exhalation patterns.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/143
Many people believe that they have back pain because of their hamstrings. In this episode, I’m explaining why I don’t necessarily agree with this, what I tend to do when working with people who complain about the hamstrings, and why I think what I do is so helpful. I’m digging deeper into the anatomy and function of the hamstrings and sharing some perspective on them to help you start thinking about them differently.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/142
There is a specific part of my private sessions that can, in many ways, change the trajectory of someone’s healing process. In this episode, I’m digging deeper into this part of my private sessions and showing you why it is so significant for my clients. I’m sharing some key points that you can utilize for yourself if you are a client or professional working with clients, and some key things I am and am not doing with my clients in terms of their recovery.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/141
Join us this week to hear from Sue and Carolyn about their experiences of learning to listen to their bodies and tuning into the messages that arose from their pain. Hear what brought Sue and Carolyn to utilizing yoga to reduce and eradicate pain, and what they want you to know about what’s possible in your 60s and 70s.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/140
Tune in this week as I’m explaining the anatomy of the rotator cuff and digging deeper into its relationship to the neck to help you think about it in terms of your own body. I’m walking you through an awareness exercise to ponder the rotator cuff relationship and giving you some suggestions to implement when you are doing rotator cuff exercises.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/139
In this episode, I’m sharing some biomechanical principles I utilize when I look at the relationship between the pelvis and the neck, and some ideas for you to explore in your own practice. Discover what contributes to your neck starting to settle out, the anatomy of the pelvis, and how to bring this awareness into your practice so you can establish whether you have a relationship with your pelvis that could be improved.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/138
I’m talking about the anatomy and function of the shoulder girdle, some downsides to knowing the anatomy, and what it can sometimes do to mess up the recovery process. I’m taking you through your own exploration of the shoulder girdle function, and showing you why tuning into this area can change so much in your neck.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/137
Utilizing the power of touch to explore the tissue around your neck will help you gain a deeper understanding of the areas that are contributing to what you’re feeling in the neck itself, and I’m showing you how to get started understanding your sensations and symptoms in this episode. Tune in for my process of using your fingers to tune into the tissue of your body, and what everything you discover is there to tell you.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/136
Over the next few episodes, I’m going to be speaking about the neck: its anatomy, its function, the movement, and how different parts of the body relate and correlate to what is felt in the neck. This week, I’m taking you through some movements to help you experience your neck and learn how it impacts and influences other parts of the body.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/135
So often, the issues in the way of our getting better are not the issues we’re actually aware of. We think where we feel pain is the problem, but it isn’t. The problem is actually beneath it. So join me this week as I take you on a journey inward to yourself. I’m guiding you to a place of connection with yourself and helping you tune in to your body to see what’s beneath the surface for you.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/134
This week, I'm sharing two versions of Nadi Shodana that you can use and continue to practice to reduce stress and develop a calm, clear, quiet mind. Hear how these two practices can help you reduce stress and anxiety, as well as improve your breathing. Learn how to utilize this practice to focus your mind and how to quiet and lengthen your breath for downregulation.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/133
In this episode, discover some key insights I have learned and noticed among my clientele who are going through perimenopause and menopause and the way they view the sensations associated with them. I’m sharing some of the interesting patterns that have been acknowledged through this transition of life, and the benefits that come with listening closely and tuning in to your own experiences.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/132
In this episode, I’m sharing all about the private sessions I teach, the changes I have made over the years, and how I settled on the structure I currently have in my business. And if you run your own practice, I’m sharing some ideas that you can take and integrate into what you’re already doing.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/131
In this episode, Ayurvedic practitioner, yoga therapist, and yoga teacher trainer Mona Warner and I talk about menopause and share some tips to help you approach this process with increased awareness. Hear some of the problems people tend to face as they go through this transition, some of the reasons for this, and some resources you can make use of to support yourself.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/130
A lot of people out there are using the massage ball as a release. They utilize the ball between yoga or training sessions to free up some tissue and provide some relief so that they can keep going.
But what if I told you that you could have more sustainable change and not have to use the massage tool at all?
In this episode, hear how I use massage balls in a slightly different way, why I think it’s effective, and an example of how I use them with my clients.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/129
In this episode, I’m sharing how I help clientele improve their range of motion. Discover the problem with forcing yourself to do something when trying to improve your range of motion, and some things you can try if you are struggling in this area.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/128
In this episode, I’m sharing what I have found to be super helpful in terms of helping people climb and descend stairs with less or no pain. I’m helping you understand the mechanics of going up and down and making this more of a global view of what we’re looking at so you can think about how this might relate to your own body or the clients you are seeing.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/127
In this episode, we’re having a high-level conversation about reducing and eradicating back pain. I’m giving you some questions to ask yourself if you are experiencing back pain and sharing four high-level key factors I utilize when helping people reduce and eradicate back pain.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/126
Listen in this week and hear from massage therapists Carissa, Deanna, and Lesley Ann about how they’re integrating yoga therapy into their practices, why they’re doing it and how it might be meaningful for you. You’ll get some great ideas about integrating concepts around therapeutic yoga application and supporting people with movement, breath, and stillness, and what it can do for your practice.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/125
There is this notion that when you improve posture, the pain will go down. This week, I’m explaining why I disagree with that and what will actually help with your pain. I’m giving you some aspects to consider around posture and showing you how to see the relationship between your parts, what’s working, and what needs to change.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/124
There is a belief in the yoga industry that it is not possible to earn a living solely from being a yoga teacher or therapist, but I love proving that wrong. This week, I have one of my grads from the Yoga Therapy Certification Program, Pat Parsons, with me to share her journey as a yoga therapist. Pat is talking about her journey towards $100K and why it is absolutely possible to earn a decent living in the profession.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/123
Join me this week as I share some key points about clamshells that can make a significant shift in how you’re doing them. Find out how to get the clamshell to a place where it’s doing the job it’s meant to so you can start noticing the gains, and why I personally don’t love this exercise.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/122
In this episode, I’m showing you how to use active meditation to connect with your physical realm. I’m sharing the differences between mindful and active meditation, the practice of the 5 rhythms, and how doing this practice can have amazing benefits for you.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/121
In this episode, Kat Kelly, a graduate of my Yoga Therapy Certification Program, and I are diving deeper into meditation and talking about Zen Disease: what it is and how it may show up in people’s lives. Find out how people can sometimes utilize meditation in a way that doesn’t serve them, some of the things that meditation can open up for you, and Kat's advice to anybody who says they can’t meditate.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/120
This episode is the first in a series where I’m supporting you in making the meditation process simpler. This week, I’m digging into understanding the process of meditation – what it is and what it isn’t – and giving you some ideas to help you explore it further.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/119
Join me this week as I show you how to listen to your body and allow it to guide you to whatever your next step is. I’m covering the biomechanics of the QL, a key function of it that nobody ever talks about, and some step-by-step things to consider when working with your body.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/118
In this episode, I’m sharing the three key things I teach my clientele to optimize and make their therapeutic movement practices more effective. I’m helping you grow awareness both in your breath and movement and sharing how these three things can transform all the exercise programs I’ve seen out there.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/117
In this episode, I’m sharing the background of Nadi Shodana in yoga, the reason for the practice, and some of the ways my clients have used this technique. Hear my preferences for how to do this practice, and why this technique could be a gamechanger for you.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/116
In this episode, I’m walking you through a Yoga Nidra-esque practice to help bring you into a state of curiosity about what’s going on in your body. Your body has been giving you indications all along, so I’m showing you how to listen and tune into these sensations to enhance your healing and recovery.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/115
In this episode, I’m sharing three steps to help you rebuild trust with your body and start tuning into your inner wisdom. I’m addressing my thoughts, opinions, and bias around supporting the body and showing you how to create a different outcome for yourself.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/114
In this episode, I’m sharing my stream of consciousness, my steps on the ground, in the hope that it soothes, supports, and opens a door for you to take your next step toward recovery and healing. I’m showing you how to tune into your thoughts and feelings and assess how your thoughts are impacting your recovery journey.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/113
Tune in this week to discover what your pain momentarily being gone really means. I’m sharing why this is so easily misunderstood, and I’m giving you some tips for observing your brain and body, understanding the indications and communicators, and intervening in a way that opens up your life.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/112
Tune in this week to get real clarity on your level of awareness, and how a lack of awareness is showing up as pain in your body. I’m showing you how to become aware of what you’re currently unaware of, so you can intervene in a way that really supports you and allows you to move forward.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/111
Tune in this week as I walk you through a 3-part breathing exercise and show you how to develop awareness, clarity, and calmness using it. Discover how to get a greater understanding of the sensations in your body, and how they correlate to your symptoms, state of mind, and fluidity of breathing.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/110
Dr. Kelly Casperson discusses how women are underserved in the area of their sexuality and the fear and resistance many women feel in terms of painful sex. We talk about menopause therapy, the effect of low estrogen on our bodies, and some questions to ask yourself around these topics. If you are having pain with sex and in an age category where menopause is likely, you don’t want to miss this episode.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/109
Find out why reconnecting to your body post-cancer treatment is a vital part of the process of recovery and healing. Discover how to recognize the signs and signals that lymphedema is on the increase, what we know for sure about the link between exercise and post-cancer experiences, and how I support people to tune into their bodies and recognize when they are overdoing things during their recovery.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/108
This week, hear from two of my past graduates about how they have implemented what they’ve learned in the program into their rigorous schedules. They share the changes they’ve made in their businesses since the pandemic, their advice for anybody considering the program who has a full life already, and the results they are seeing in their lives and their clients’ lives.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/107
In this episode, I’m exploring the biomechanics of healing from knee replacements and showing you why the knee isn’t really the knee. Discover why if you want to improve what’s going on at the knee you need to look at what’s going on at the hip and ankle, and why progress can happen quicker if you improve the connections between your knee, hip, and other body parts.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/106
Join me this week as I walk you through an exercise to help you pay more attention to the connection between your head, your breath, and your state of being. I’m showing you how to establish the relationship with other parts of your body and how to use the information that arises from this exercise to your advantage.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/105
In this episode, I’m sharing more about the power of observation and what can happen when you are able to tune in to parts of your body and mind, what they’re doing and not doing, and observe what is going on. I’m sharing four key ideas to help improve the art of observation and showing you the benefits of growing your capacity to observe.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/104
In this episode, I’m providing some considerations for you to ponder to help you get to a place where you can trust your inner wisdom and what it is telling you. Hear why arthritis and pain are not synonymous, why you don’t have to experience pain, and how to discern more clearly what your body is asking you for.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/103
In this episode, I’m sharing the reasons that feeling is necessary for healing and the power that comes with naming what’s going on in your body. Hear why feeling your feelings is such an important concept, and some tips to help you name, acknowledge, and feel your own feelings.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/102
What does it actually mean to listen to your body? In this episode, I’m sharing some steps you can take to listen to your body, and explaining what you’re listening for and what to do with that information. Discover why it’s so important to do something with the information you perceive and how to use it to get to where you want to go.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/101
In this episode, I’m sharing a Facebook Live where I explain why your age does not matter. You have to be careful at every age. But if you can learn how to move your body better, breathe better, and become still and curious, you too can reduce your pain, and I’m showing you how this week.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/100
Tune in this week to hear about Bobbi’s experience of living with a concussion and her perspective of her recovery journey. She shares how her life has changed since then compared to now, and her advice for anybody who has had a concussion or multiple concussions.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/99
The anatomical relationship between the ribcage and other parts of the body is a fascinating one. This week, I’m teaching you two different breathing exercises you can use when you want to focus on the ribcage specifically, or when you want to see whether what is going on in the ribcage is affecting somewhere else in your body.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/98
Listen in this week as I share why yoga therapy can be a huge collaborator with the rehabilitation process and how it can help eliminate obstacles on the way to better healing and recovery. I’m sharing some specific examples around moving, breathing, and compensation patterns and showing you how to use them to help the whole rehabilitative process.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/97
Tune in this week as I discuss the anatomy and mechanics of the wrist, the connection between the wrists and the shoulder girdle, as well as some ways to observe how you feel with your wrists. I’m sharing some key principles to consider when it comes to exploring what’s going on with your wrists and showing you how to tune into your mechanics and improve your situation.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/96
Can you imagine not having to endure plank? What would you say if I told you that it could be easier? This week, I’m sharing 3 ways to improve your plank so you can stop having to endure it. Learn how to make your alignment feel easier and how to feel more agile, taller, and lighter in your body.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/95
I have something very special for you this week, as I’m sharing a sample out of Healing and Revealing Human Potential. I’m here to help you into a space of peace, stillness, and ease. So settle in for this relaxation and body-breathing exercise, do what is most nourishing for you, and get ready to settle out your nervous system.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/94
In this episode, I’m digging into the different types of muscle groups and the importance of the lower glute fibers. These fibers make up a very significant area of our body, so I’m sharing an exercise to help you develop an awareness of them and explore this further.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/93
What I have found over almost 30 years of helping people reduce and eradicate pain is that rules don’t apply to a lot of people. There are two really important words that matter more: it depends. When my students let these two words seep into them and marinate through them, they achieve extraordinary results, and I’m showing you how to do the same this week.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/92
Tune in this week to hear a remarkable description of my client’s journey of listening to her body and seeing the possibilities instead of problems. Discover how she has become a friend of her body and hear why she is a great example of the power of curiosity and listening.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/91
In this episode, I’m sharing the three phases of the evolution of a yoga therapist that I have witnessed and what each of these phases entails. Hear the experiences trainees have in each phase and some of the insights I have learned from observing this evolution.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/90
In this episode, I’m sharing what I know about the process of helping people kneel again post-total knee replacement and what is interesting about regaining the ability to kneel. Hear why there is no evidence for why people shouldn’t kneel post-knee replacement, and why there is so much fear around it.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/89
In this episode, I’m sharing some questions to help you think about what core is and how many people view the relationship between pain and core. Discover how I work with these two entities, how I train my trainees on them, and what I view the relationship to be.
Get full show notes and more information here: ttps://www.functionalsynergy.com/88
There are four key areas that I find to be super useful in helping someone reduce their limp and improve their walking mechanics. In this episode, I’m sharing these four key areas and explaining how knowledge and understanding of these areas can have a huge impact on somebody’s ability to walk.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/87
This week, I’m giving you something to work with if you have multiple diagnoses or no diagnosis at all. I’m walking you through why it’s not a good or a bad thing to receive multiple diagnoses or a scan that’s clean, and sharing an exercise to help you connect with your symptoms and grow your sense of understanding about the direction your body and mind are asking you to go.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/86
This week, Mona Warner and I discuss the relationship between the brain, body, and bowels. I’m sharing why constipation is a sign of how your digestion is going and how the whole system is integrating together, and how I dealt with mild constipation for most of my life until I discovered Ayurveda.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/85
This week, I’m sharing a client case study and some great ideas about how to work with clients who have knee issues and are carrying compensatory patterning up in their shoulder girdle. Hear the results of working with this particular client, the progress she made, and a behind-the-scenes look at the way I approach working with clients.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/84
This week, I am heading in a direction that some listeners may find surprising. I’m delving deeper into the realm of inclusivity. I have experienced fascinating exploration into my unconscious biases, and there have been three people who have been integral in opening my eyes to this work, so I’m bringing them on to the show to discuss the experience further.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/83
The last thing anybody with depression needs is another list of things they should be doing. But this week's conversation is less about fixing you and more about looking at how you are thinking about your depression, and we’re showing you how to turn the way you think about it on its head and some coping mechanisms to do so.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/82
Heather and Stacey are here to share what they have learned over the process of certification and where they have evolved in their practices. Hear what has changed, what things they thought might change but didn’t, and where they’re at in terms of comfort level in their own evolution as massage therapists that also practice yoga.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/81
This week, I’m showing you how to tune into your inhale and exhale with 3 exercises to help you downregulate and learn to free your breath versus control it. I’m sharing a mantra to help you with these exercises and showing you how to use these exercises to reconnect with yourself, clear out the mental clutter and tune into the wisdom of your body.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/80
I’m sharing some exercises to help you prepare for the holiday season and supporting you in this experience. Learn what you can do for yourself to help you reconnect and feel your feelings, and how doing so will help you make better choices that truly serve you.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/79
I’m digging into this question and showing you how to help your client understand pain as a signal and use it as a guide. Pain goes up or down depending on how we interpret it, so I’m showing you how to become a partner in the process, support and guide your clients through their pain, and show them that they have the power to overcome and recover.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/78
This week, learn some breathwork and self-massage techniques to help your digestive tract move through some of that overindulgence you might be experiencing. I’m sharing three exercises to work with in these areas and showing you how powerful they are when you implement them.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/77
Join me this week as I guide you through a breathing and movement practice to help you settle and calm yourself. I’m helping you tune into where you are and what you feel right now so that you can use this to settle and calm whenever you need to.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/76
This week, learn how to nourish yourself through the winter months and why our bodies need a little more in terms of resources around this time of year. Discover why sometimes what we think is nourishing us actually isn’t, and how reflecting on last year’s winter season filled with restrictions can help you establish what you need this year.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/75
This week, I’m doing something a little bit different and taking you on a journey of meditation for your run. Whether you are a runner or a walker, you can utilize this 20 minute practice and enjoy the process. So put your shoes on, and let’s head out.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/74
This week, I'm sharing 4 key areas to support you in connecting with your feelings more effectively. When we can get clear on emotion, we can start to see how emotion and physical sensation fuel the actions we take, so I’m showing you how to take that discernment into your recovery process this week.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/73
I’m discussing what it is to recover and heal and explaining why some people recover more quickly than others. I’m sharing the importance of feeling your body’s sensations, emotions, and vibrations, and how doing so will enable you to heal more quickly.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/72
I’m covering what I like to call solutions for sciatica and sharing a few things that may be helpful with sciatic symptoms. I’m teaching you how to discover what contributes to the experience of sciatica, how to step back and question where your symptoms are coming from, and where you can go next in terms of support.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/71
I’m sharing some important things to know about Plantar Fasciitis, and what you can do to ease the symptoms if you have it. I’m showing you the importance of recognizing that the pain isn’t where the problem is, and a key piece of information to know about absorbing the body’s load more effectively and improving your symptoms.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/70
Listen in this week as Mona Warner and I discuss the transition of seasons and what’s going on in our bodies as the seasons change. Discover how our environment has a strong impact on our experience of ourselves, one of the primary goals of a digestive reset, and the perfect time to do one.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/69
This week, I'm teaching you how to bring your brain and body together to decode your symptoms. Discover how to regain your power and reduce your symptoms and pain, and tune into the sense of knowing that your body provides you with.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/68
Join me this week as I dig into some key components of biomechanics and why these components can make balance naturally happen. I’m sharing how to take these concepts and bring them into practice and showing you how to improve control, coordination, and alignment in your life.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/67
I’m sharing the fundamental key to improving balance, particularly as we get into our 60s, 70s, and 80s, and the differences I see in people in their second half of life. Learn where I begin when I teach about balance, and the benefits that working on your balance can bring as you get older.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/66
This week, I’m sharing three key things that helped my client and that will support you wherever you are in your healing process. I’m sharing the importance of being able to tap into your body as a barometer, and how to change the habitual patterning in your body so that you can change the way you experience pain.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/65
This week I'm sharing some exercises to help you reclaim your power around money, and help you connect to your higher power and inner world more clearly. We have decades and decades of unconscious beliefs that have moved through our cultural awareness and I’m showing you how to understand these beliefs and use them to embody yourself.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/64
I’m showing you how to come back into yourself, and how doing so will enable you to increase clients and money and reduce pain. Discover the importance of tuning into your inner authority, why money is a result of your state of being, and how to use this knowledge to help more people while making more money.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/63
Many people have issues with the psoas, and these are usually longstanding, providing only short bouts of relief. This week, I'm showing you what the psoas is and how to have longer and more sustainable gains, relief, and freedom. Discover how I support my clientele to help their psoas regain and maintain its suppleness, and the missing element to help you get longer-term gains.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/62
Discover the equal importance between physical sensations and mental state. I’m sharing why our brains tend towards mind over matter, and how to readdress this balance so you can tune into what your system as a whole is telling you, your brain and body can work in synergy, and you can perform and generate the results you want without pushing yourself too far.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/61
Learn all about the Yoga Therapy Certification program: how it works, what it’s about, and how it could fit with your life. Hear the skills that both Rachel and Lory have developed over the course of the program, what they have gotten from it, and how this program could serve you.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/60
This week, I am guiding you through a Yoga Nidra practice and sharing a process for you to access some conscious relaxation. Get ready to settle, become curious, and enjoy a space to tap into your subconscious, because this practice will enable you to cultivate a deep connection with your body, mind, and innate wisdom and authority.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/59
I’m sharing why inner authority is a significant, meaningful concept in the process of healing and recovery and how you can tap into your own. When you listen to your inner authority, incredible things happen, so I’m sharing some indicators that you have deferred your inner authority and how to reclaim your inner sense of self.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/58
I'm sharing why I came up with the yellow light analogy and how I’ve used this for a long time with my clients. I don’t know anything more powerful than really tuning into ourselves, so I’m showing you how to better use your energy to tune into your body and develop your awareness so you can operate in a completely different way.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/57
The concept of DIMs and SIMs comes from the work of David Butler and Lorimer Moseley from the NOI institute and is a remarkable concept for understanding pain and other symptoms. I’m digging into what DIMs and SIMs are and exploring why this concept is so powerful. Discover how I use this concept with my clients and how it supports them on their journey of recovery and healing.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/56
I’m sharing the concept of Kintsugi and how it relates to the process of recovery, healing and revealing human potential. So often, I see people seeking a fix and wanting to remove the damage, but this process will show you how embracing the damage will enable growth into something beautiful and help you reconnect and reengage with your body.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/55
I’m sharing the benefits of listening to the whispers in your body and showing you how to start understanding what your body is telling you. As you gain the skill of listening, you will gain more than you could ever have imagined, and I’m walking you through a way of tuning into your body and connecting with your symptoms so you can help yourself from the inside out.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/54
I’m showing you how to view pain as an opportunity for possibility and why our feelings are excellent guides for what we need to do. So many people push aside negative feelings, yet if we limit our ability to feel, we limit our ability for recovery. Learn why feeling is so important in this process and how to become more aware of your feelings.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/53
Tune in for an in-depth understanding of how I work with my clients, opening the gate to reveal their human potential and truly reclaim their freedom, ease, and their inner sense of power. I’m sharing how this work is often misunderstood, the sacredness and safety of the work we do even when old wounds are addressed, and why everything changes when we understand the synergy between our mind and our body.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/52
Discover the reasons behind the pain and how acknowledging them will enable you to see where the obstacles are, and what’s getting in the way of your recovery process. Pain and symptoms are messengers, not the problem, and I’m showing you how to use them to diffuse the conflict and follow through the process however it goes.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/51
Why is pain so often viewed as a bad thing? I’m exploring this question and sharing how I see pain showing up in my clients. I’m giving you a different approach to viewing pain and explaining why pain is not a sign that something is wrong or broken.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/50
I’m digging into feeling and states of being and showing you how to notice when you are in what I refer to as the three main states. I’m walking you through an exercise to help you connect into and honor these states and showing you how to have your own back no matter which state you are in.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/49
I'm digging into both yoga teaching and yoga therapy today and sharing what I feel is the distinction between the two. Discover the importance of meeting your client where they’re at and how to provide the space for someone to live in their process of recovery and healing. If you’re a professional and never quite felt at ease with being a yoga teacher, this episode will show you why.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/48
Learn how to start feeling more consistently, and a key step towards becoming more congruent between your body and brain. Discover how feeling can bring together the cognitive aspects of your brain, life, and the workings of your body, and how to re-channel your intelligence so that your brain and body engage in a more effective, efficient, and meaningful way.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/47
I’m delighted to introduce you to a long-time friend and trainer within the IAYT Yoga Therapy program this week, Mona Warner. We’re talking about another Ayurvedic concept that I’ve developed an incredible fondness for, the concept of the digestive reset. Tune in this week to hear what a digestive reset involves and how it helps boost your immunity and overall health.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/46
Join me this week as I discuss what abhyanga reportedly does and how this process became a ritual for me in my life. Even my kids come to me asking for warm oiling on a regular basis, and I’m showing you how something so simple can have such a profound, nourishing impact, and help keep you connected to your inner world.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/45
Listening is such a powerful tool, and in many ways, it’s so simple. Yet, it’s something that many people in the healthcare world overdo. In this episode, I’m digging into the art of listening and exploring why so many people make it an overdone process. I’m sharing the key to true listening and how you can use this work to get the best out of your clients’ healing journey.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/44
In this episode, I’m digging into the idea of evidence as it relates to healing and human potential. I’m sharing some questions to ask yourself to reconnect with your inner compass and showing you how to understand your body as a barometer to develop an awareness of what works for you.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/43
Today, I’m sharing why my results are better now than they've ever been before, the conditions that affect my clients, and how everyone expresses these conditions differently. I'm also talking about inhibiting perspectives and how to create a steady change in them so that your clients can begin to see injury and illness as an opportunity to grow.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/42
In this episode, I’m sharing how paying attention to your inner world will enable you to be present and show up for your clients more effectively. I’m showing you how to create a bigger impact on your clients' results, and how to show up from an internal space as the authentic light that you are.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/41
In this episode, we share Stew’s remarkable experience with Psoriasis and discuss how taking notice of the whispers of his condition in his body enabled him to heal and recover. We share why the mind combined with the body can become a powerful healing tool and how to uncover and become aware of our ability to recover and heal.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/40
Tune in this week as I share a personal experience of healing and why it is an opportunity that requires stepping into human potential. I’m discussing the distinction between recovery, management of symptoms, and healing, and sharing why healing promotes growth, wellness, and transformation.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/39
Join me this week as I discuss the importance of getting clear on a deeper level about how your body is being affected by your practice. I’m sharing why having an awareness and understanding of our movement patterns can help us in the long run, and how you can use this awareness to gain progress, return to normal functioning and reduce pain in the body.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/38
Join me this week as I show you how to question the relationship between your body and brain. Discover a guidance system that you didn’t even know was there and learn how to use the process of dialoging with your symptom as a mechanism to reconnect with your body.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/37
Join MD Linda Bluestein and me this week as we discuss the link between hypermobility and mental health, and learn how to take a non-judgmental approach to hypermobility as a yoga practitioner. We talk at length about Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS), the mind-body connection, and how we, as yoga teachers, can work more effectively with hypermobile students.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/36
In this episode, I’m digging into human potential and explaining how we can use injury and illness as tools for transformation. I’m sharing why many people don’t realize they have a choice in how they live with an illness, and why tremendous change is always possible, even if you don’t yet know how it will happen.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/35
Join Amy and I this week to learn what Hypermobility Disorder is and why the common misconception of pushing our bodies to get better results can be harmful. We discuss better ways to strengthen your body than bracing and gripping and show you why you should think in terms of feelingversus fixing.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/34
Join me this week as I show you how to cultivate a trusting relationship with your client and how you can work together to get the best results for them. Discover why it’s important for the client to understand their own purpose and how you can weave this into your teaching practice.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/33
In this episode, I’m talking about the importance of integrating yoga and medicine and explaining why doing so can help patients get better faster. I’m discussing why slowing down and becoming present makes our medicine so much more effective, and why as practitioners, we must utilize our own evidence and scientific processes to better care for our clients.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/32
Join me this week as I’m showing you why improving your posture through the hips can improve so many other issues in your body. I’m sharing just how much of our practice is hip-dominant and why learning to grow your mobility, stability, and stamina will enable you to do more, feel better, and have way more fun with your body.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/31
Tune in this week as I share some tips and recommendations for teaching online and what I recommend for your teaching practice. I’m discussing the importance of community and collaboration in a virtual world and showing you why what initially might seem to be an obstacle is actually an opportunity for incredible growth!
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/30
Join me this week as I dig into the art of solving your problems, and share the three components which form the triad of problem solving. I’m sharing how to reach more supportive and sustainable solutions for yourself, and why it’s so important to hear your body’s whispers so you don’t have to hear its screams.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/29
Join me this week as I share what goals mean to me and why setting them can be fun and exciting! I’m sharing a goal setting exercise you can use to help you realize your own goals, and showing you how to take the necessary steps toward achieving them this year! I encourage you to think about what you really want and what you’d be thrilled with realizing this year – allow yourself to dream, and then make it happen!
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/28
This week, it’s time to get comfortable and begin to connect with your body. I’m walking you through a relaxing breathing exercise and body scan that you can enjoy when you have a moment over the festive period. You’ll feel relaxed and rejuvenated after this week’s episode, so sit back, or lie down, and let the world stop for a little while.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/27
Join me this week to learn some breathing exercises to help you relax, connect with your breath, and observe the mind, body, and breath connection. These exercises can be done anytime, anywhere that you want, not just when you're feeling wired! Make sure you’re comfortable and get ready to relax and see the benefits that breathing can have on your state of being.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/26
In today’s episode, I’ll be sharing some techniques you can use to help hone your own presence, and as a result, the presence of your clients. I’m explaining the power of being present and how you can tune into your awareness, take ownership of your health, and become your own greatest teacher.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/25
In this episode, we discuss the necessary skills required to go further in your yoga business and how to get clear and confident on your offer. We discuss the common misconceptions about earning as a yoga teacher and share some tips and advice to help you reach 100K in your business. Remember, if you’re good at what you do, you can make a living out of it!
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/24
Join us on the podcast this week as we discuss the effects that the combination of yoga and physiotherapy treatment can have on clients. We discuss why mental and emotional health is part of the physical experience and why psychosocial aspects play a huge role in a person’s progress and healing.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/23
Join me this week as I talk about the relationship between your body, breath, and state of being. I’m sharing why reaching a fundamental state of awareness about your breath will help you change so much in your life, and how learning about the breath can impact your ability to digest food, emotion and gain restful sleep. Don’t miss this powerful episode!
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/22
Join me this week as I share the essential skills a yoga professional needs to run a business and create a life of vitality and freedom. I’m sharing some general principles to apply to your business and some activities that I do personally in my own business. Building a business is like a puzzle, and I’m giving you the pieces you need to complete it.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/21
Tune in this week to learn more about how I pivoted my teaching and business through lockdown and how Facebook Lives, private sessions, and Zoom workshops have been such an effective way to support people through such chaotic, uncertain times. I’m sharing why my private sessions have been equal to my previous in-person sessions in terms of support, and why when the day finally comes, my in-person training will be even better as a result.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/20
This episode of From Pain to Possibility consists of some exploration of the pelvic floor, with a specific focus on a technique called Pelvic Floor Breathing or Orifice Breathing. Today, Susi explores this sacred, powerful exercise, teaching you why it’s beneficial while walking you through the exercise.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.functionalsynergy.com/breathing-pelvic-floor
“I’ve found that when I can effectively teach my clients about their movements first, before getting into muscle conversation, the faster they get better.” In this episode of From Pain to Possibility. Susi discusses the idea of movement and understanding movement as an approach to helping a client reduce their pain.
Susi has recently been asked a lot of questions from yoga instructors about muscles. Susi has found in her years of training yoga teachers that the ones who understood muscles least were the ones who got results the most. Susi has also found that when she can effectively teach her clients about their movements first, before getting into muscle conversation, the faster they get better.
Listen, as Susi discusses how, when a client experiences a reduction in pain, they are more aware of what is working and what is not. She believes that when a client has communication and connection with their bodies, their bodies become a barometer, their symptoms become a language, and as they spend time listening to it, they can decode it for themselves.
Suppose you want to dig into these concepts further on utilizing movement, yoga, breath, stillness as it relates to helping people out of pain? In that case, there are two upcoming opportunities for you. The first one is Solving Your Pain Puzzle at www.functionalsynergy.com/solving-the-pain-puzzle-2020, or the second one is Therapeutic Yoga Intensive at www.therapeuticyogaintensive.com.
In This Episode
- [00:25] Welcome to the show!
- [02:27] Susi shares the four things that need to happen for someone to reduce pain.
- [04:44] The better you get, the better you need to get.
- [06:13] When a client starts to experience a reduction in issues, they have a better awareness of what is working and what is not working.
- [07:31] When clients communicate and connect with their bodies, they can understand how to keep the pain away. Their bodies become a barometer.
- [10:06] Susi speaks about looking at a skeleton, seeing the movement, and seeing how that correlates to a person.
- [12:26] When you can come at the experience from what is actually happening from a movement perspective, you and your client can agree about what is going on.
- [14:19] Stay tuned because there will be an upcoming episode on understanding muscles.
- [15:35] Have a great time exploring!
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Why is the triangle pose blamed for issues in the spine, SI joints, and knees? Listen, as Susi explores why it's blamed and why on the flip side that the triangle is an exceptional position, especially when someone has recovered from SI joint issues, plus more in this episode of From Pain to Possibility.
Susi explores the triangle pose and describes what she has seen when people do a traditional way of moving into the pose versus how she prefers to see it done. Susi has found that her students are very surprised at how limited their hip movement is when teaching her way.
Do you know how to move correctly? Listen, as Susi discusses why most people don't have the foundation capacity or capability to do the triangle pose and what we can do about it. Susi believes that when you use smaller movements and learn how your joints move, you can quiet the compensation and move the way your body is designed to move.
The bottom line is that triangle can be horrible if you don't do it correctly. Do you want to learn how Susi does it? She is leading a two-hour course on triangle pose specifically. She will dig into some more of the pose's mechanics and dynamics, and she will walk you through some foundational movements, breathing, and awareness exercises to really explore your own self and movement. If you would like to register, go to www.functionalsynergy.com/trianglepose.
In This Episode
- [00:24] Welcome to the show!
- [02:04] Listen as Susi explores the triangle position.
- [04:25] Susi describes what she has seen over time when people do a traditional way of moving into triangle.
- [05:13] Susi shares how she likes to move into triangle.
- [07:43] Listen as Susi shares a story on how she developed the way she teaches.
- [09:21] Most humans doing yoga don't have the foundation capacity or capability to do the triangle pose.
- [11:21] Susi discusses building up component parts and why triangle can be tremendous for people.
- [14:37] The bottom line is that triangle can be horrible, it can be terrible, it's all in how you do it.
- [15:54] Susi finishes the episode with a thought and a challenge with a lot of love.
- [17:49] Thank you for listening and have a great time exploring.
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"My job isn't to heal people; it's to support and help people see and feel how they move in a new way." In this episode of From Pain to Possibility, Susi and her guest Kirsten Richardson discuss what is possible when you integrate yoga therapy concepts with physio or physical therapy, the results she has found, and her transition to doing physiotherapy by video.
Kirsten is a registered physiotherapist and a yoga therapist and has served and assisted people from all walks of life to decrease pain and increase function in her fifteen-year career. She has worked with people with orthopedic and neurological impairments from sprained ankles to complete spinal cord injuries. With the addition of yoga therapy principles in her practice, she has noticed a dramatically improved positive response from her clients.
Listen, as Kirsten shares how the addition of yoga therapy widened the lens of her ability, why she believes that a lot of clinicians have a skewed view of patients they feel are pain focused and what she believes presence means in a therapeutic relationship.
Kirsten also discusses how important having fun around client-centered care is.
"An indicator in and of itself isn't back; it's just an indicator," Susi speaks about how fun it is to work with a client to figure out what the indicators mean, and how having the client explore the various messages and signals from their bodies and minds enables them to be part of the solution.
If you want to take this a step further with Susi, check out the series of therapeutic yoga intensives she has coming up. Read more about this at Functional Synergy.
In This Episode
- [01:28] Welcome to the show, Kirsten!
- [03:03] Kirsten shares her background in physiotherapy and why she integrated yoga into her practice.
- [04:54] Kirsten says that her job isn't to fix people; it's helping people see and feel how they move in a new way.
- [07:12] Kirsten believes that the addition of yoga therapy widened the lens of her ability.
- [09:49] Do you believe that people use a person's uniqueness as a reason for some types of therapy not working?
- [12:50] Listen as Kirsten shares what she would like to say to clinicians about the idea of people being pain focused.
- [15:50] Kirsten speaks about clinicians just wanting to get to the physical parts because it's safe and comfortable.
- [17:49] Susi discusses more and more physio and physical therapists coming to her, asking for help with clients being pain focused.
- [19:37] Listen, as Kirsten shares why she has been able to help people who might have fallen into the category of pain focus.
- [22:29] Kirsten speaks about what presence means within a therapeutic relationship.
- [24:09] Susi discusses recognizing thought patterns and their impact.
- [27:01] Susi shares that indicator in and of itself isn't bad; it's just an indicator and figuring out what the indicator means is where it gets fun.
- [29:44] Having the client exploring the various inputs, messages, and signals from their bodies and minds enables them to come to the table as part of the solution.
- [30:29] Kirsten speaks about client-centered care and the need for clients to be able to communicate with the therapist.
- [33:51] Listen as Kirsten shares some words of wisdom around client-centered care and pain focus.
- [35:40] The clearer we can become on who we are and what we value, the clearer we can be through practices of presence to up our game.
- [38:01] Thank you for listening.
Find Susi
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"I believe the Psoas to be a sacred, powerful, and subtle muscle." In this episode of From Pain to Possibility, join Susi as she explores the Psoas muscle.
So often the psoas gets blamed for issues, but really, it isn’t the psoas’ fault. The psoas is responding to the forces in the body and how they are being absorbed and dissipated.
Consider this idea of being grounded and light simultaneously, solid and stable, the ability to be agile. All of these characteristics apply to a psoas that is responsive, alive, and turned on. There is a whole new level of quiet power that can be experienced.
If this has gotten your interest and you want to dig in more and explore more about the psoas, Susi has an online course coming up on the psoas specifically. She would love for you to join her and learn more at https://www.functionalsynergy.com/product/power-of-pure-movement-the-psoas/.
In This Episode
- [00:25] Welcome to the show!
- [00:58] Susi speaks about the orientation of the psoas muscle.
- [02:21] Susi shares that the psoas crosses three chakras points.
- [03:25] The psoas didn't wake up one day to cause issues; it responds to the forces that are at play.
- [05:36] Susi explains why the psoas can be so curious.
- [06:08] Susi discusses how to help the client resolve the symptoms they are experiencing.
- [07:46] When teaching people how to move again, they realize how well they have compensated.
- [09:17] Susi says that when the tissue around the chakras start to function better, a lot of ourselves become online and function better.
- [10:31] Susi discusses how the retraining moves into refinement to do the activity they want to do.
- [12:22] Susi believes that it is interesting to teach people about the psoas and how it works and moves forces through our bodies.
- [14:05] Thank you for listening and happy exploring.
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Are you having trouble doing it all, running a business, taking care of your family, dealing with the pandemic, and all the other things that come your way? In this episode of From Pain to Possibility, listen as Susi discusses some key principles that have worked for her over the past three and a half years and some that didn't. Listen and see if there is a takeaway you can use to make your life run a little smoother.
Susi shares the five principles that worked for her, clarity, conversations, support, calendar, and commitment. Clarity leads to conversation; the conversation opens the door to understanding; understanding support helps us get clearer on our calendar. Underline, it all is a commitment to do what we want. Susi discusses how each of these led to her and her husband's ability to handle anything that has been thrown at them, even COVID-19.
Susi also speaks about two books that she used to get her clarity from a perspective of what's important, how each book helped her, and what we can learn from them. She believes that you need to carve out time each day to focus on the one thing that is important and will keep things moving forward and keep the wheels on the bus.
Susi wishes for the listeners to have the courage to get clear, have conversations, seek the support you need for the outcome you want, and experiment with your calendar to see what works for you. She believes that when you do, some great things can happen.
If you want to dig into this process a little further, there are two ways we can connect. One is through the Yogi Business Program, where we place the planning, the Yogi in front of the business because we know that the idea of calm busyness of clarity is way more important than chaotic busyness. There is also my private three-month program. If you realize that some of what I've talked about may solve the symptoms you're experiencing, please reach out to us at health@functionalsynergy.com.
In This Episode:
- [00:25] Welcome to the show!
- [00:43] Susi shares what she wants you to learn from this episode.
- [02:16] Susi believes there is no such thing as a work-life balance.
- [02:55] Susi details the five principles that worked for her.
- [03:25] She begins with a story about when she was pregnant with the twins.
- [04:49] Listen as Susi speaks about finding reliable childcare.
- [06:31] Susi discusses their cobbled-together solution to childcare.
- [07:48] Susi shares two books that have helped her get a clear perspective.
- [09:10] Susi speaks about what she needed to do to keep the wheels on the bus.
- [10:22] "What is the one thing that when done makes all else easier or unnecessary."
- [11:25] Susi discusses taking time each day to focus on the one thing that needed to be done that day.
- [13:55] She speaks about having one full day with her children, and so Friday became her executive board day.
- [14:48] Susi shares that even with COVID, they were able to transition well because of what they already had in place.
- [17:11] Susi discusses the key thing about their commitment to each other: they both wanted to support the other to have success.
- [18:16] It is absolutely possible, is the key thing that Susi wants the listeners to take away.
- [19:29] Susi shares ways that you can connect with her, plus you can always reach them at health@functionalsynergy.com
- [20:12] Thank you for listening to the show!
Books Mentioned:
- Essentialism by Greg McCowan
- The One Thing by Gary Keller
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Do you think it is possible to heal from a rotator cuff injury without paying attention to the shoulder girdle? Listen as Susi digs into the rotator cuff and the shoulder girdle. A lot of times, when you think about the rotator cuff and healing from rotator cuff injuries plus much more on this episode of From Pain to Possibility.
"The shoulder girdle is an amazing part of our body" Listen, as Susi discusses the relationship between the rotator cuff and the shoulder girdle, how the shoulder girdle is used in the practice of yoga and how it blends energetic flow between the center of the body to our hands.
Susi shares the six ranges of the scapula and shoulder blade on the rib cage. She says that the humerus is where you get into the rotator cuff, that the rotator cuff attaches to both the shoulder blade and the arm bone, and why she likes people to pay attention to the exercises they are given and instead of power through them. Explore your rotator cuff from a place of presence and awareness to really allow for the transmutation of energy.
If this way of thinking resonates with you, and you are a teacher or a healthcare professional, and you want to integrate yoga into your practice, send me a note. You might be interested in the Susi Resource Library, where she has two hundred hours of video and lots of extra courses for you to explore.
In This Episode
- [00:28] Welcome to the show!
- [01:13] Susi speaks about the relationship between the rotator cuff and the shoulder girdle.
- [02:19] In the practice of yoga, the shoulder girdle transmits and transforms energy by impacting your ability to raise our arms overhead and side to side.
- [03:39] Susi shares that the shoulder girdle blends energetic flow between the center of our body to our hands.
- [06:22] Susi discusses the shoulder blade on the rib cage.
- [07:15] Susi talks about the humerus because this is where the rotator cuff starts.
- [09:20] When Susi patients are recovering from rotator cuff issues, she wants them to pay attention to the exercises they have been given.
- [11:25] Susi speaks about the way she likes to work with people new to the process.
- [13:33] Susi's takeaway from this episode is to explore your rotator cuff from a place of presence and awareness.
- [14:51] Thank you for listening to the show and have a great time exploring!
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"When I can clear up those extraneous patterns, I can help someone become more efficient in their movements." Today Susi discusses compensation patterns because either the body moves or it doesn't, it's actually doing the thing we want it to do, or it's not, it provides a very clear understanding of what's working and what isn't, so we are looking at what compensation is on this episode of From Pain to Possibility.
Listen, as Susi discusses when compensation happens and how, when she can clear up those extraneous patterns, she can help them become more optimal in their movements. They have much more efficient biomechanical patterns, which also correlates to a reduction in pain.
Susi shares that breath-holding when you are doing movements, and hiking a hip instead of swinging the leg are common compensation patterns. When you can refine those patterns, you can become aware of how you are moving and then integrate it into your moving patterns. It's powerful to resolve a problem that exists rather than a problem you think exists.
If any of this resonates with you and you feel that your pain experience is related to compensatory patterning, you might not be aware of it, or maybe you are aware of it but aren't sure what to do. There are two options for you to explore. One is Susi's Resource Library, a membership site where Susi helps people improve their movement patterns and trains teachers and health professionals to recognize them and improve them in their own clientele. If you want more personal attention, you can reach Susi through her website and go to the contact us page to inquire about a private plan session.
In This Episode
- [00:28] Welcome to the show!
- [01:07] Susi discusses what compensation is and why it's important to clear up the extraneous patterns.
- [02:46] Is compensation always bad? Susi says no, it is not always bad; all of us compensate.
- [03:46] Susi shares some examples of common compensation patterns.
- [06:19] Susi believes its powerful for someone first to become aware of how they are moving.
- [09:15] Susi speaks about another piece of compensation that is fascinating, which is where we blend the biomedical view with the whole person.
- [11:49] Where the pain is, isn't the problem, the problem lies under the level of awareness.
- [13:18] Susi shares the key pieces of this compensation conversation.
- [14:15] Susi gives some takeaways for the listener.
- [15:22] Thank you for listening and have a great time exploring.
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"I like to look at anatomy like a map." Today Susi introduces a topic she is passionate about anatomy, biomechanics, and kinesiology. She shares how they relate to Yoga, how they relate to the reduction of pain, and overall recovery and healing. She outlines this in three segments, defining these concepts and then sharing a little bit about why she's so passionate about them on this episode of From Pain to Possibility.
Susi speaks about anatomy being the mapping of muscles, other tissues, lymphatic system, nervous system, and blood vessels. Biomechanics is how we see these forces move through those systems and Kinesiology being the studio of how a movement happens. She also shares that posture is how we embody our structure.
Listen as Susi talks about the range of motion and how if we have limitations, our brain and body will find a way to compensate, it will get the thing done. She wants to emphasize that just because you compensate doesn't mean it's wrong; it means that you are highly adaptable and flexible and can find a gazillion different ways to get a job done.
Susi says that if we can bring better movement patterns and better awareness of those movement patterns into the mix, we can become more aware and connected to our internal feedback mechanisms. We can see when that movement pattern is starting not to work anymore and make an intervention.
If you find yourself feeling a spark of wow that is so cool, how she is using awareness and integrating that into the western method of anatomy, biomechanics, and kinesiology and how these two worlds meet, then reach out to Susi and have a conversation about how this can fuel you in a personal or professional way at www.functionalsynergy.com.
In This Episode
- [00:30] Welcome to the show!
- [01:11] Susi discusses anatomy as a mapping of muscles, tissue, lymphatic system, nervous system, and blood vessels.
- [01:27] When we look at biomechanics, we see how these forces move through those systems.
- [01:41] Kinesiology is the study of how a movement happens.
- [02:33] The physical plane is the human body.
- [03:03] Posture is how we embody our structure.
- [04:55] Posture is a result, it's not the process, but out of helping them move better, their posture improves.
- [05:42] Listen as Susi explains what she means by move better.
- [07:13] Susi shares a story about someone she knew with neck pain.
- [09:35] Susi speaks about what many of her clients come to see her for and what she sees.
- [12:29] Susi has people move in a range that doesn't have compensation.
- [14:18] We are blending Yoga's concepts with the movement piece of how someone is actually moving their body.
- [16:30] Rather than looking at movement as an exercise that you need to get done, pay attention to how you are doing it.
- [19:19] Thank you for listening, have a great time exploring.
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"Where the pain is, is not actually the problem." Listen, as Susi discusses the questions she often hears: Why am I not through this already? Why am I not out of pain? Why have I tried these things and seen these professionals, and I am still in pain? Susi will give her best ideas on how to reduce or even eradicate pain and how to listen to your body on this episode of From Pain to Possibility.
Susi speaks about what happens when a person tries to fix a problem. Typically, you are trying to fix where it hurts, but that usually isn't where the pain originated, and so the issue never gets resolved. When you have pain, it is a signal that something is wrong, and that is when the investigation begins.
Listen, as Susi shares the wonky relationship we have between expectation and reality. We expect our yoga teacher or health professional to figure out what is happening, but in reality, that's not what occurs. This is when awareness becomes vital.
Discovering patterns is essential. When you feel better, you need to be aware of what you are doing, so you will know when you start not to feel better. Once we can define the patterns, we see we can refine the patterns. Susi believes that once you improve, you have new expectations about what's possible for your life. The key is awareness and being able to articulate that awareness back to your practitioner.
If you would like my help uncovering some things you're not aware of so, you can grow your own attentiveness and awareness of what's going on through your system; please reach out to us health@functionalsynergy.com If you a medical professional or a yoga teacher who wants to integrate these concepts into your own practice, send us a note as well.
In This Episode
- [00:30] Welcome to the show!
- [00:49] Susi speaks about what happens when a person tries to fix a problem.
- [03:03] Where the pain is, is a signal or sign that something is wrong.
- [03:38] When you are getting better, there is a piece of awareness that's vital.
- [04:17] Susi shares the wonky relationship we have between expectation and reality.
- [06:59] Susi speaks about the fix-it space where we look internally to ourselves or someone else to fix the problem.
- [08:08] Discovering the patterns is the next phase because power is in the pattern.
- [10:26] As we see some of these patterns, we can refine the patterns.
- [13:10] Susi believes that when you start to improve, you have new expectations about what's possible for your life.
- [15:04] Susi speaks about a third concept around getting better, which is that the process is linear.
- [18:20] Susi discusses the distinction between rehabilitation and getting on with the rest of your life.
- [20:30] You have to be aware of how your body moves so you know how fast you can push yourself when and when you need to recuperate.
- [22:45] The key is your awareness, and you're articulating that awareness back to the practitioner.
- [23:37] Thank you for listening to the show and have a great time exploring.
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"When we lose awareness, we lose the connection." Listen as Susi and her guest Megan Jenkinson discuss Pilates, movement, physiotherapy, and biopsychosocial models and what we can look at in terms of movement and how this can be helpful for a variety of healthcare professionals, including physiotherapists.
Megan is a physiotherapist, kinesiologist, and Pilates instructor with a specialty in women's health and movement. She draws on these practices when working with her clients to provide a comprehensive whole-body approach to rehabilitation. Megan has developed her own system for pelvic floor and core recovery over her years of experience working with postnatal women.
Listen as Megan shares when she started using the reformer from a teaching perspective, and why she works mostly with women and women's health. They speak about Susi's body condition once she gave birth through C-Section to her twins and how Megan helped Susi get her movement pattern back.
Susi and Megan discuss awareness and how important it is because once you lose awareness, you lose connection. They also speak about qualitative versus quantitative and some tools you can use to support someone to notice what they are experiencing, and Megan shares how she determines which part of a patient's body she works on first.
When two people who have been doing yoga this long get together, you know it will be a fascinating conversation, and these two did not disappoint. Kick back, relax, and hit play.
In This Episode
- [01:12] Welcome to the show, Megan!
- [01:45] Susi shares how she met Megan.
- [04:09] Megan discusses her journey to where she is now.
- [05:37] Megan speaks about when she started using the reformer from a teaching perspective.
- [06:51] Is there a distinction between how you're using exercise versus when you were working as a physio?
- [09:30] Susi discusses how most physiotherapists, OT, and even nurses that she's trained all wanted out of the profession, but they usually come back once they leave.
- [12:24] Megan shares why she mostly works with women and women's health.
- [13:06] Susi speaks about compensation patterns and how her patterns had to be rebuilt after giving birth to twins by c-section.
- [15:54] Megan discusses diastasis and the tension created in the abdominal wall.
- [18:18] Susi chats about a movement on the reformer that mimics a downward dog in Pilates and how her abdomen stopped engaging.
- [22:21] The awareness piece is so important, when we lose awareness, we lose the connection.
- [24:06] Susi speaks about some conversations she has been having with other physiotherapists.
- [26:55] Susi speaks about some physio's telling her that something is missing, but not sure what it is until they work with her.
- [28:13] What would you suggest to physiotherapists who are curious and want to move into this direction?
- [30:46] Susi talks about qualitative versus quantitative.
- [33:05] Listen as Megan gives us some tools you used to support someone to realize what it is experiencing?
- [35:07] Megan chooses what seems to be the most important thing to make progress required to do the next thing when working with clients.
- [37:39] Susi shares something she learned a long time ago from a mentor.
- [39:51] Megan discusses the story of a woman she is working with and what she is doing to help her knee pain.
- [43:24] After working with Megan, she felt her symptoms subside.
- [45:38] Have you ever been exasperated trying to find the person who was the right fit for you?
- [48:27] Megan has launched an online program for postpartum women, and it can be done online.
- [49:11] Megan speaks about her program catering to women, teaching them how to restore balance and connection around the pelvic floor.
- [51:48] Thank you for being on the show!
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Find Megan
- Megan Jenkinson
Compassion is the foundation of health care and overall well-being. Listen as Susi and her guest Shelly Prosko discuss why Shelly believes this, her journey to where she is today, how she learned about compassion fatigue, and much more on this episode of From Pain to Possibility.
Shelly is a physiotherapist, yoga therapist, educator, author, and pioneer of physical yoga with over 20 year's experience integrating yoga into physiotherapy and working with people in pain. Shelly teaches in physiotherapy and yoga therapy programs and is the author of the book 'Yoga and Science in Pain Care.'
Listen, as Shelly speaks about yoga being a compassionate practice, she teaches health care providers and other professionals on burnout. She also shares how, when she adopted self-compassion, it transferred over to her clients positively. Increased trust and therapeutic alliances lead to better outcomes.
Did you know that people with a higher trait self-compassion are more likely to try new things even when they fail or make mistakes? Shelly shares some practices that have served her and the clients she thinks we might find useful around self-compassion and self-appreciation. This has been a very enlightening episode that we all can learn from.
In This Episode
- [01:17] Welcome to the show, Shelly!
- [01:46] Shelly shares that she started her journey after discovering yoga in the early 90s.
- [03:54] Shelly speaks about how yoga is inherently a compassionate practice.
- [04:29] She teaches a course for health care providers and other professionals on burnout.
- [05:59] When you adopted self-compassion, how did that manifest itself to your clients or patients?
- [08:40] When you practice self-compassion, it means that it's ok not to be perfect.
- [11:14] Shelly finds that with self-compassion practices, she has become more present and clear.
- [11:40] Susi shares what she sees in the training she runs around health professionals being present when you are engaging with them.
- [14:01] Shelly speaks about science that suggests increased trust and therapeutic alliances lead to better outcomes.
- [15:45] Susi discusses the chaos that the COVID pandemic has created in her life with her kids and family.
- [18:00] People who have a higher trait self-compassion are more likely to try new things after they have failed or made a mistake.
- [19:48] Shelly likes the idea that when we are self-critical, that can be a huge motivator to create change.
- [22:08] Shelly speaks about the research she did for one chapter of her book.
- [26:17] What would it be like if the process of getting out of pain could be fun?
- [29:25] Shelly shares some practices that have served her and her clients that might be useful for listeners to practice.
- [32:02] Common humanity just means that we are not alone.
- [33:44] Shelly speaks about how you can show yourself self-kindness.
- [35:54] Shelly takes Susi and the listeners through the self-appreciation practice.
- [39:25] To serve self is to serve others and to serve others is to serve self.
- [42:01] Susi says that on some level if we are experiencing compassion fatigue, there may be something else going on.
- [43:20] Thank you for being on the show, Shelly!
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Find Shelly
- Shelly Prosko
- Blog
Did you know that your body isn't a passive thing that follows at the whim of your emotions or desires? Listen, as Susi discusses the body being a barometer and the importance of the concept in the work that she does with her private clients when she is training yoga teachers and other professionals on this episode of From Pain to Possibility.
Susi says that your symptoms are there to tell you to pay attention, and the concept of the body as a barometer plays into her concept of her yellow light model, she talks about how these two relate and how you can move forward to support yourself, your clients or patients.
Listen as Susi speaks about what can happen if you don't pay attention to the whispers and let the symptoms go into the red light phase, that's when life has become constricted enough that something needs to change. Once you can recognize the pattern in your experiences, you can intervene at a level that allows you to make changes.
Susi discusses what happens most commonly with people who experience burnout. She also talks about a line in the book The ONE Thing by Gary Keller, which says, 'what is the one thing, when done, that makes all else easier or unnecessary?' she can offer this line or this book to a client. They can sit back and think about the one thing they can do to support themselves moving forward.
If this is something you want to dig into more and you are a professional seeking professional training, please reach out to us health@functionalsynergy.com
If you want more personalized training and you'd like to connect with me for a one on one private series of sessions, please connect with us.
In This Episode
- [00:26] Welcome to the show!
- [01:29] Susi shares a story about one of her private clients that listened to his yellow light.
- [03:20] Susi says that your symptoms are there to tell you to pay attention.
- [04:11] A red light phase is when life has become constricted enough that something has to change.
- [06:01] Susi discusses how movement patterns might correlate to what is going on where you are hurting.
- [08:09] The symptoms are merely expressing some issues that are going on.
- [10:51] Susi says that when you can start seeing the patterns and intervene at the level of a pattern, you can make a lot more change.
- [12:08] Susi discusses how commercials suggest that pain is a normal physiological process, and it will not get better.
- [14:42] Have you ever believed that because the pain is gone that it will not return?
- [16:14] Susi shares that when something stressful happens, it can affect how you feel.
- [18:02] Susi speaks about improving the integrity of your mechanical patterns.
- [19:33] Listen as Susi speaks about the healing model where awareness leads to clarity.
- [20:37] Susi discusses where and how to start with this process of the body being a barometer.
- [21:56] Susi speaks about noticing the progression of symptoms from yellow to red and adding intervention.
- [24:01] Susi shares what happens a lot with people who experience burnout.
- [25:41] Susi speaks about a passage in the book The ONE Thing by Gary Keller.
- [27:33] Let's have a conversation about how I can help reach us at Functional Synergy.
- [27:42] Have a great day!
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Susi is digging into four obstacles, particularly obstacles to smooth progress in this episode of From Pain to Possibility. Listen, and by the end of this episode, you'll see that obstacles aren't actually bad. They are a part of the learning process, and once you see them for what they are, you can see them as opportunities for growth and development.
Listen as Susi shares and explains the four obstacles: Line in the sand, being afraid of crossing the line, B as the new A, and blowing by the yellow lights. Susi speaks about how to get around these obstacles while still maintaining the healthy patterns you have learned along the way. If you want to do something, tell your body, 'I know I probably shouldn't be putting you through this, and I promise I'm going to take care of you later.
If this episode resonates with you, Susi would love to work with you to help you improve your movement, improve your overall capacity and bandwidth, help you recover, help you heal, and help you do the activities you want to do. Scoot over to Functional Synergy and click on contact us.
In This Episode
- [00:28] Welcome to the show!
- [00:38] Susi is digging into four obstacles we all face.
- [01:06] Listen as Susi speaks about the first obstacle she calls Line in the sand.
- [03:19] Symptoms of pain and strain are an imprint of that neuromuscular patterning within us.
- [05:01] Susi speaks about working with people who have less pain for some time, and then they want to uplevel.
- [07:01] If a person's symptoms come back, what do you do?
- [08:05] The second obstacle is when a person becomes afraid of crossing the line.
- [10:36] "If you weren't afraid, what might you do?" Susi asks clients to see what arises out of that question.
- [11:50] B as the new A is the third obstacle Susi is breaking down.
- [13:42] Susi explains how she gets her clients from point A to point B.
- [16:16] The fourth obstacle is called blowing by the yellow lights, ignoring and pushing through.
- [18:21] Susi shares what she says to people who have a compelling desire to do something.
- [19:32] Do you work within your bandwidth?
- [20:54] Susi speaks about these four obstacles that can get in the way.
- [22:26] Thank you so much for listening and have a great day!
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Are you ever too old to practice yoga? Listen, as Susi and her guest Ruth Ann Penny discuss older adults, yoga and the older adult, and what yoga can do for an older person on this episode of From Pain to Possibility. Ruth Ann has been an educator for forty years with a master's degree in adult education, focusing on leaders and the elders in our midst.
Ruth Ann became a yoga practitioner almost 25 years ago, as an active and ambitious person in her mid-forties she had a feeling of coming home. Over time, she saw that her body, with its own unique history, would dictate the yoga practice she would cultivate. As she has aged, she has confronted the reality that no yoga practice suits everybody. There is no guru that knows what you know about yourself.
"There are realities to getting older, but it's not nearly as horrible as one might perceive." Listen, as Ruth Ann shares why older adults come to her yoga studio and their genuine interest in making their lives more productive and filled with functional movement opportunities. Susi discusses the realities of aging that challenge older adults. Balance, breathing capacity, general body awareness, and endurance are some of them.
Ruth Ann shares her insights on why stiffness and loss of range are very common, and how to focus on and improve those large joint movements. When you have stiffness in the big joints, people start immediately talking about pain, so be clear when your body whispers, so you don't have to hear it scream.
If you have enjoyed this discussion and are interested in learning more, Ruth Ann and Susi are running Teaching Yoga For The Older Adult. We are optimizing this program specifically for people for whom daily life is limited by conditions and that are reducing general movement capacity.
In This Episode
- [03:53] Welcome to the show, Ruth Ann!
- [04:28] Ruth Ann shares her love of working with older adults and the realities of aging.
- [07:19] Ruth Ann sees in her population of students a genuine interest in making their lives rich and filled with good opportunities for easy, enjoyable, and functional movement.
- [09:18] Listen as Ruth Ann speaks about developmental markers that children reach are predictable, but by age 50, your life will affect your body.
- [10:47] When people come into the yoga studios or therapeutic settings, we look at the body in front of us and the experiences that the body has had.
- [13:26] Susi speaks about the five realities that she outlines in a pdf document.
- [14:55] Ruth Ann discusses the psychological reality of aging.
- [17:38] Susi shares why older adults may come to a yoga studio.
- [18:52] Ruth Ann describes the issues that people come to her yoga studio for, but the energetic response is a bonus.
- [21:16] Susi shares a story about her father and how fast he declined once he moved to a place where he didn't need to move as much.
- [23:29] There are realities to getting older, but it's not nearly as horrible as one might perceive.
- [25:59] Susi speaks about balance being a challenge because it can lead to fear of falling so they don't walk as much.
- [27:09] Ruth Ann shares her insights into the balance issue and animating the feet.
- [30:00] Susi shares about when she was a young yoga instructor teaching older adults and being stunned by the impact of yoga on their movement.
- [30:51] Breathing capacity is another challenge and how posture can affect breathing.
- [32:20] Ruth Ann says that when you teach people who have a pulmonary disease, there are simple exercises that turn the attention to exhalation instead of inhalation.
- [34:45] Susi speaks about the first yoga class she took her dad to.
- [36:03] When the body and mind get the stimulus it needs, it unravels rather quickly.
- [38:32] Susi says that stiffness and loss of range are very common, and when we focus on and improve those large joint movements, things can change.
- [39:33] Ruth Ann believes that when you have stiffness in the big joints, she says that's when people start immediately talking about pain.
- [41:33] General body awareness is another challenge that older adults face. Being clear on what is a whisper and what is a scream.
- [44:23] Susi shares that when we can integrate strength gains and mobility, awareness, and balance, a lot can be maintained and improved upon.
- [47:09] Ruth Ann says that the ability to be by yourself and know how to lift yourself off the toilet is huge, and strength building is critical.
- [50:11] Another challenge older adults face is endurance.
- [50:41] Endurance requires both the act of being able to mobilize force and as well as our ability to rest and recover.
- [53:01] Things can change, and things can feel better. Yoga is adding more life to the years you have left.
- [54:28] Older adults are coming to yoga to help themselves feel better.
- [56:07] Thank you for being on the show, Ruth Ann!
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Find Ruth Ann:
- Ruth Ann Penny
- Ruth Ann on LinkedIn
Problems will always exist. You don't want to have the same problems this year as you had last year. Listen as your host Susi Hately shares some issues she has had and the lessons she has learned from them so that maybe we can learn from her mistakes and the opportunities they have provided for her to rethink, reframe, refine and refresh and move forward in this episode of From Pain to Possibility.
Do you believe that healing is possible? Susi does and is sharing some examples of people who listened to the whispers and could manage their conditions or by finding what was causing the flare-ups. Susi shares that she is not making the condition go away, but she helps them recognize the symptoms and the communication going through their body. None of us know what is actually possible.
Have you ever felt yourself caring so much that you cared more about the clients' health than they did? Listen, as Susi shares how she has learned to control the characteristic of caring too much when it becomes destructive by looking at the situations that caused it to go sideways and becoming more transparent of her tendencies and how better to channel it without getting jaded.
Susi wants you to allow yourself to step into the commitment to excellence and mastery of your craft, to become a better and more refined version of yourself so that you can contribute to your community and your world. Susi shares an exciting view on how caring can turn destructive; if any of this resonates with you, don't miss this episode.
In This Episode
- [01:12] Welcome to my first edition of Lessons Learned.
- [03:06] Susi shares one of her most significant skills as a teacher.
- [05:09] "I believe that healing is possible."
- [06:02] Do you know anyone who has been accurately diagnosed but can manage their illness well?
- [08:12] Susi helps people recognize the whispers and realize the causes of the flairs associated with their conditions they can manage and or heal the illness.
- [09:56] Susi speaks about what she has learned from teaching professionally.
- [11:40] Susi shares some stories about some teachers she has taught over the years.
- [14:40] Susi discusses what she has done over the years when she felt herself giving in to her characteristic to care more than she should.
- [17:08] Susi wants people to experience the possibility of having a grand life.
- [17:48] Susi shares why she is open with her trainees.
- [19:27] "The bottom line is that we each have these innate characteristics that are incredibly powerful in whatever job we have."
- [21:07] If you want to get to work on honing this characteristic, please join us at Functional Synergy, go to the comment page and send us an email.
- [21:45] Have a great practice and happy exploring.
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Have you heard of the polyvagal theory? Listen as your host Susi Hately and her guest Marlysa Sullivan discuss this theory, the roles of our sympathetic and parasympathetic systems and relaxation, gunas, and much more in this episode of From Pain to Possibility.
Marlysa is an assistant professor at the Maryland University of Integrative Health, where she teaches in the integrative health sciences and yoga therapy departments. She’s developed courses in the yoga therapy curriculum and is the founding clinical director for the Master of Science in Yoga Therapy program at Maryland University.
Listen, as Marlysa describes the polyvagal theory, how the autonomic nervous system works, and the three qualities of gunas. Marlysa shares how with the two models of polyvagal theory and gunas, it shows how to work with clients from a yogic perspective. She also discusses how she starts a conversation about gunas with some clients she will speak to them in the language of gunas.
Marlysa speaks about the use of yamas and niyamas in her sessions, and how all of this circles back to polyvagal theory. Even though all of this sounds so complex, it becomes simple as you practice it, pure in terms of the result you are seeking and as you develop it into an art of how you start and how you continue.
This is a great topic, and the way Marlysa describes it integrates it so nicely with the biomedical and the biopsychosocial model. Susi has such a great conversation with Marlysa that you will want to sit in a comfy chair, prop your feet up, and relax because you don’t want to miss this episode.
In This Episode
- [01:22] Welcome, Marlysa!
- [02:09] Marlysa shares her background and her journey to where she is now.
- [05:05] How would you describe polyvagal theory?
- [07:24] Marlysa shares how the autonomic nervous system can either have a relaxed response or life-threat response.
- [10:19] If we are in a shutdown dissociative state, can we get stuck there?
- [11:52] Marlysa discusses the three qualities of gunas.
- [13:16] Marlysa shares how gunas are similar to this idea of the autonomic nervous system.
- [15:17] What is nice about these two models of polyvagal theory and gunas is that they show that we can work with clients from a yogic perspective.
- [16:45] How would you start the conversation with clients around gunas?
- [17:38] Marlysa shares that she speaks to clients in the language of the gunas.
- [20:45] Marlysa speaks about how yoga is supportive, and this qualitative measure can bring more detail or direction to support someone’s process.
- [23:04] What are some ideas of ways they can start integrating these ideas or just thoughts to think about as they move towards integration?
- [26:47] Marlysa shares about yamas and niyamas and what they are.
- [29:19] Marlysa speaks about knowing when you are centered in your expression of compassion that supports you and those around you.
- [30:22] How does this all circle back to polyvagal theory?
- [34:31] Thank you so much for being on the show!
Find Susi
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Find Marlysa
- Marlysa Sullivan
- Understanding Yoga Therapy
- The Anatomy of Yoga
Did you know that if you integrate yoga, medicine, and rehabilitation, you can get better results? Welcome to the very first episode of From Pain to Possibility, with your host Susi Hately. Susi is giving us some useful information that can be implemented today, and along the way, she is sharing bits and pieces of her life so we can get to know her better.
Susi is the owner and director of Functional Synergy Yoga Therapy, where she trains healthcare professionals and yoga teachers on how to integrate yoga therapeutically into their practices. Susie also runs a private one-to-one session series for people who have pain, long-standing pain, and those who want to get rid of the pain.
Listen as Susi shares her background and what she means by a biopsychosocial model. She speaks about being creative after her twins were born and condensing several concepts into one model, which she calls the integrative healing journey or integrative healing process. Susi also discusses blue and purple ribbons. How the ability to assess effectively helps grow the client's clarity to understand what is and isn't working.
Are you curious about what is going on in your body? Susi discusses how sometimes when moving our bodies, we think we are moving our hips when in fact; we are moving our pelvis. This can be a neuromechanical miss between our brain and the tissue of what we are supposed to be moving. Susi says that sometimes improvement requires a change of belief.
Hopefully, you have found some usable techniques in this episode that you can play with for yourself, your students, or clients that will take you up into this next level of understanding and the application of both a biomedical and a biopsychosocial model.
In This Episode
- [00:22] Welcome, everyone!
- [01:01] Susi shares how the pandemic allowed her to do the podcast she has wanted to do finally.
- [01:39] She hopes that this podcast will give you some information you need on your journey of being able to integrate yoga, medicine, and rehabilitation for better results.
- [02:34] Susi shares her kinesiology background and her focus on exercise physiology, motor control, and biomechanics.
- [03:37] Susi explains what she means by the biopsychosocial model.
- [06:07] She shares that when she was on maternity leave after having twins, she got creative and brought all the concepts together into one model.
- [06:58] Susi explains what you see when you look at this model.
- [08:49] Our ability to assess effectively helps grow the clarity for the client to understand what is working or not working.
- [11:05] If you listen to the whispers, you will grow your own internal locus of control.
- [12:30] Susi gives an example of what she has been talking about.
- [15:30] Growing someone's awareness through a biomechanical model is a fascinating process.
- [17:01] Are you curious about what is going on in your body? Why is my body breaking down?
- [18:08] Susi shares that sometimes improvement requires a change of belief.
- [19:42] An aha is a glimpse of what could be whether it is less pain or more movement.l
- [23:13] Susi is speaking about another concept, where you have pain isn't the problem.
- [25:42] How is your neuromuscular communication?
- [27:58] The takeaway for this first episode is that there is an intersection between the biomedical and the biopsychosocial model.
- [29:55] We will connect with you in the next episode; thank you for listening.
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- Functional Synergy Training
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