Yoga & Osteopathy Working Together

❏ The future of health care lies in the integration of holistic and allopathic medicine.

❏ Health care practitioners from different healing philosophies will be working together for the benefit of their communities.

Integrative Healthcare

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❏ The osteopathic philosophy focuses on the interrelationship and unity of the individual’s structure (anatomy) and function (physiology).

❏ It posits that the body has self-healing properties, drawing healing power from its physical and spiritual resources.

Everything is interconnected

Osteopathy defined

Osteopathy is drug-free, gentle manual therapy that focuses on the

body’s health by treating and strengthening the musculoskeletal

framework, which includes the joints, muscles and spine.

Specifically, osteopaths use manual techniques to assess and treat

movement restrictions in the body.

Osteopaths focus on the cause of pain and dysfunction rather than

concentrating solely on the symptoms.

Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, founder

❏ Osteopathic medicine as a profession came into being in the mid-19th century United States through the revelatory teachings of Dr. Andrew Taylor Still.

❏ Having lost four children to meningitis, he became deeply disappointed with the model of western medicine, particularly with the rising use of drugs and medications.

❏ Dr. Still was one of the first in his time to promote habits leading to good health (i.e. postural alignment, hygiene, adequate nutrition),and insisted that the lack of those may lead to disease.

“The human body is a machine run by the unseen force called life, and that it may be run harmoniously it is necessary that there be liberty of blood, nerves, and arteries from their generating point to their destination.”

– Dr. A. Taylor Still

Having been born into a family of American pioneers and settlers, Dr. Still enjoyed tinkering with tools and machines. He came up with an analogy between the workings of the human body and a man-made machine...

Tenet 1. Balance between Structure and Function

❏ One of the fundamental laws in osteopathy posits that the integrity of the structure (anatomy) will govern the

function (physiology) of that structure.

❏ Impeded integrity leads to impeded function. The opposite is also true. A loss of function results in a loss of structure.

Example: A car that has lost a wheel (loss of structure) won’t be able to drive well (loss of function). A car that has not been driven for many years (loss of function) rusts and breaks down (loss of structure).

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Tenet 2. The body is capable of healing itself.

❏ Health is the natural state of the body: our body possesses homeostatic, self-regulatory mechanisms that it uses to heal itself from injury.

❏ In times of disease, other parts of the body come out of their natural state of health in order to compensate for the dysfunction.

❏ The compensation may lead to imbalance and chronic dysfunction. Osteopathic therapy is aimed to adjust the body so as to realign its parts back to normal.

❏ Osteopathic manipulative medicine aims to restore the body’s self-healing capacity by decreasing the physiological effects of chronic bodily stresses, and enhancing the immune system.

❏ Osteopathic manipulative medicine aims to restore the body’s self-healing capacity by decreasing the physiological effects of chronic bodily stresses, and enhancing the immune system.

Tenet 3. Unimpeded flow of bodily fluids, blood and lymph, is essential to maintenance of good health.

❏ As a result of physical or emotional trauma tissues contract, twist and compress. The flow of body fluids becomes obstructed.

❏ Micro-climates of underperfusion result, and are considered to be a significant contributor to the onset of disease.

❏ Osteopathic manipulation restores freedom in the tissues, normalizes fluid flow triggering inherent physiological healing.

Rational treatment

These basic osteopathic tenets permeate all aspects of health maintenance, disease prevention, and treatment.

These tenets embrace the concept of unity of body structure and function in health and disease.

When the body’s motion is in balance, a state of health exists. When this motion is disturbed, health is affected and a state of disease can arise.

© LONDON COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHY www.lcocanada.com

Osteopathy treats:

❏ Mechanical and nervous system problems - pain, discomfort and impaired function of muscles and joints.

❏ Falls, injuries and strains.

❏ The effects of poor posture, tension, emotional stress and headache.

❏ Impaired function of body systems - digestive problems, circulatory disturbances, respiratory conditions, ear, nose or throat problems especially in the young, stress-related conditions and infective diseases.

❏ Sports-related problems at all levels, including elite athletes.

Assessment and Treatment

❏ Diagnosed by palpation - an area that is either painful, asymmetric, red, swollen, or edematous.

❏ Once diagnosed, the somatic dysfunction is treated with manual therapy and exercise to re-establish health.

What is Somatic Dysfunction?“An altered or impaired function of the components of the somatic (body framework) system: skeletal, arthrodial, and myofascial structures and related vascular, lymphatic and neural elements.” Glossary of Osteopathic Terminology

❏ Somatic dysfunction is used by osteopath as a marker of a disease in a specific area.

❏ It is an area where changes in tissueshave occurred: skin, muscles, ligaments, fascia, tendons, nerves, blood vessels, with or without radiation to a more remote site.

T.A.R.T. = 4 criteria of somatic dysfunction

TART is used in diagnosing somatic dysfunction. The following signs will be assessed during osteopathic examination:

Tenderness Asymmetry Restriction of motion Tissue texture changes

Somatic dysfunction can be caused by:

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❏ Acute or chronic postural deviations

❏ Sudden movements during a slip or fall

❏ Biomechanical deviations

❏ Postural abnormalities.

Somatic dysfunction may involve multiple anatomic regions for each patient.

Yoga and Osteopathy

The healing principles of osteopathic manual medicine have remarkable parallels with Yoga.

Both disciplines determine health by one’s emotional well being and physical balance.

Postural alignment, joint mobility, and diaphragmatic flexibility are essential components of good health.

The human body, given the right support, has an inherent capacity to heal itself.

Osteopathy and Yoga working together

A fundamental component of osteopathic treatment is the use of soft tissues techniques intended to achieve:

general and specific mobilization of the spine and the joints

detoxificationrelaxationstrengthening of immune system

The treatment may be spaced weeks apart. During that time, patients actively contribute to their recovery by following a yoga routine focused on specific therapeutic goals.

© LONDON COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHY www.lcocanada.com

The benefits of osteopathic therapy may be maximized through the use of:

Pranayama breathing techniques, stimulating detoxification process in the body

Yoga inversions

Inverse postures open the thorax, which particularly activates the Immune System.

Dynamic sequences

Yoga exercises reduce the activity of the Sympathetic Nervous system, thus reducing the stress reaction in the body.

Specifically targeted poses

Asanas and Stretches strengthen the musculoskeletal framework and increase flexibility in the Spine and Joints.

Dear Yoga professional,Have you considered learning Osteopathy and expanding the therapeutic aspect of your practice?

London College of Osteopathy and Health Sciences offers Yoga and Pilates professionals an opportunity to earn an Associate Certificate in Osteopathy through an online study designed for wellness and fitness industry practitioners.

Course curriculum include:● Philosophy and History of Osteopathy● Applied Anatomy & Physiology● Biomechanics, ● Pathology ● Osteopathic Models of Health and Disease● Osteopathic Modalities and Techniques.

to learn more about the Associate Certificate in Osteopathy click here

for more information about ONLINE COURSES IN OSTEOPATHY AND HEALTH SCIENCES

for health and fitness industry professionals please visit:

www.lcocanada.com or email at

info@lcocanada.com

THANK YOU!