In this twenty hour training, we will delve deeper into how to teach students with pelvic floor issues and applying Pelvic Floor YogaTM.
Topics will include:
- Cultural, medical and historical contexts of women and the pelvis
- Current understanding of the pelvis, sexuality, misconceptions and modern medical care
- In depth anatomy of the pelvis, hip flexors and rotators and connective musculature and how they translate into pelvic health
- How posture affects the pelvic floor
- Identifying hypertonic vs. hypotonic muscles and the difference between a strong muscle and a tense muscle and a loose muscle
- The role of emotion on the breath and how this impacts the pelvic floor
- How to teach breath and asana to women who need tone in their pelvis and as well as those who have too much tone
- How to hold a safe environment for women
- What to do with the pelvic floor during all stages of pre- and post-natal
- Restorative yoga for the pelvic floor
Recommended Readings
- The Female Pelvis by Blandine Calais-Germain.
- The first six chapters of Woman by Natalie Angier
Suitable for
This training is suited for experienced yoga teachers, health care professionals, midwives, doulas, fitness trainers, massage therapists and just plain curious practitioners of yoga that want to deepen their practice.
*Women only
Daily Schedule
12:00 – 17:30 (including 0.5 hr break)
CE Credit
20 hours of CEU credits for Yoga Alliance.
Pelvic Floor YogaTM (PFY) Teacher Certification Program
After completing the twenty hour training, there is an optional project with an additional fee of $275 for certification after the program. Certification offers you a chance to apply what you have learned and get feedback and guidance from Leslie along the way. Certification involves a written exam, a project of self-study and working with two different students with pelvic floor issues, documenting, submitting video and more. Plan on about 12 – 15 hours of time commitment to complete certification. Leslie makes herself available throughout the process for questions and guidance, gives written feedback on video and photos.
For those interested in the certification following the training, an application process will be required. Leslie will select a maximum of 8 individuals to join the certification process, with no more than 4 individuals who will require translation support during the process. Priority for acceptance to the post-training certification program will be given to those with the greatest experience in the study and teaching of related topics and practices.
As a yoga practitioner and teacher, I specialize in the use of yoga for many issues but specifically for pelvic floor problems. After suffering from hypertonic pelvic syndrome, I found relief from my symptoms by a careful application of Iyengar-style/influenced yoga and breath work and since then I have continued to refine and develop the application of yoga for the pelvic floor for myself and others. To this end, for the past twelve years, I have taught women of all ages to practice yoga to alleviate pelvic floor conditions, including urinary incontinence and pelvic pain, through a combination of small group teaching, public workshops, and national conferences.
A few times a year I teach a twenty hour teacher training for therapeutic application of yoga and pranayama to help alleviate symptoms for pelvic floor issues. There is an optional certification process available after the training. I am currently the director of the Piedmont Yoga 200 Hour Teacher Training program and part of the core faculty for their 300 Hour program.
Certifications and Studies
I have over 3500 hours of yoga study and 20 years of yoga teaching. Unlike the western medical academy, there does not exist an analogous institution of higher learning in yoga. Instead there exist various schools of yoga and students who learn through close apprenticeship with a teacher. The school that I am most closely affiliated with, Iyengar, is known for its focus on anatomy including proper alignment of the body, precision of asanas, sensitivity to injury, and keen attention to asana sequencing. I have studied intensively with top-tier teachers in the Iyengar school: Manouso Manos, Ramanand Patel, Tony Briggs, Patricia Walden, and others. I hold a 320-hour Advanced Studies Certificate from Piedmont Yoga Studio, a 300-hour Tony Briggs teacher training certificate, and a 500 hour Yoga Alliance certification.
- Designed yoga study for pelvic pain at University of California, San Francisco (42% success rate)
- Designed yoga study for incontinence at University of California, San Francisco (70% success rate)
- Yoga Alliance Certified 500 hour E-RYT
- Member of the International Pelvic Pain Society
- The Abode of Iyengar Yoga, San Francisco, CA Iyengar studies with Manouso Manos from 2000 to present (1,000+ hours)
- Ramanand Patel, San Francisco, CA Iyengar studies from 1998 to present (1000+ hours)
Quote
In my workshop I'm really truly introducing a lot of women to their pelvises whether they have a problem, don't have a problem, whether they think they're too loose in their pelvic floor or too tight in their pelvic floor. You need to know what's there, you know, you need to know how to move it. You need to know how to stretch it and strengthen it.
Positive Benefits
Each year I give presentations to hundreds of women on anatomy, physiology, posture, proper breathing techniques, and asanas (poses). As a result many women have reported significant alleviation of symptoms including a decrease in pelvic floor issues thus lessening or eliminating the need for surgery and/or medication.
