Why become a specialist in Yoga as corrective exercise?
When it comes to corrective exercise training vs 200 and even 300 hour yoga teacher training, all yoga teachers have varying levels of training in anatomy and bio kinesiology, but not all yoga teachers are qualified to do corrective exercise training through the use of yoga postures and techniques.
In your general yoga teacher training, you might have learned how to do some postural or corrective exercise assessments and sequences using yoga postures. This, however, is only a limited exposure to the capacities of a yoga asana practice to help improve mobility and decrease pain. (Ward, Stebbings, Cherkin, & Baxter, 2014)
FitYogaTherapy’s Yoga Corrective Exercise Specialist training goes over movement assessments to be able to assess mobility and stability capacities for a yoga asana practice through the Yoga Asana Practice Screen (YAPS). This screening allows the yoga teacher to efficiently and quickly (in a 15-minute screening) identify challenges the student might face when asked to move into certain yoga postures. This might be a limitation in joint mobility or a lack of stability leading to perceived tightness in a muscular area. Once the teacher is aware of these limitations, they are more easily able to offer adaptations to allow the student to participate in the yoga practice safely. Through more in depth assessments which may be performed in a private yoga session, the yoga teacher informed on corrective exercise can then begin to identify which yoga techniques may be more beneficial and effective in allowing the practitioner to improve mobility and stability in a progressive manner, resulting in less musculoskeletal limitation and more ease of movement.
You will learn the concepts of MoSility (Mobility combined with Stability ) as well as how to impact flexibility in an evidenced based way using the RollEaseana Yoga Flexibility Method. This ease of movement is the benefit of a yoga practice which many people are seeking when they seek out yoga. (Monson, Chismark, Cooper, & Krenik-Matejcek, 2017) (McCaffrey & Park, 2012) (Lorenc, et al., 2018)
If you don’t believe so, go ahead and ask your students.
At this moment in time, the yoga teacher has a great opportunity, and frankly a responsibility, to serve the practitioner who is suffering from musculoskeletal dysfunction. The World Health Organization states the following: (Organization, 2019) ·
Musculoskeletal conditions are the leading contributor to disability worldwide, with low back pain being the single leading cause of disability globally.
Musculoskeletal conditions significantly limit mobility and dexterity, leading to early retirement from work, reduced accumulated wealth and reduced ability to participate in social roles.
Musculoskeletal conditions are commonly linked with depression and increase the risk of developing other chronic health conditions.
·A recent report from the United States of America suggests that one in two adult Americans live with a musculoskeletal condition – the same number as those with cardiovascular or chronic respiratory diseases combined!!!
In addition, the World Health Organization has recommended guidelines for Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) .
This program specifically identifies as one of the components that we incorporate programs to improve musculoskeletal function, mobility and vitality in the aging population. This includes multi modal exercise with progressive strength resistance training, balance, flexibility and aerobic training. As we all know, yoga as exercise addresses low level strength training, and certainly balance and flexibility components.
Our challenge as yoga teachers, is to be able to make yoga accessible to this older population, many of whom have limitations and challenges in their musculoskeletal system. Being able to identify, adapt for and improve these conditions will be one of the roles of the Yoga Corrective Exercise Specialist.
Therefore, corrective exercise training has become in demand. Personal trainers and the fitness industry have already embraced this need by providing continuing education and certification in corrective exercise. Unfortunately, the yoga community has not yet taken up this task. While there has been a movement towards the practice of yoga therapy as a specific discipline of health care, the training of yoga teachers to fill the gap between the 200 hour/500 hour yoga teacher and the yoga therapist has not yet been addressed. It is evident that there is a need to provide more accessible movement education and guidance for those with musculoskeletal pain and the aging population, and yoga has been identified as an effective and viable option for those with such challenges. (Monson, Chismark, Cooper, & Krenik-Matejcek, 2017) (McCaffrey & Park, 2012) (Lorenc, et al., 2018) Many physicians will refer their patients to go to a yoga class to help them move more easefully. Unfortunately, many yoga teachers do not have the training to help these students, especially to help them in a group yoga class.
As someone with more training in corrective exercise using yoga asana as a modality, the yoga instructor can give the student some options in their practice to customize the movement to fit their needs and help them learn to move more easefully. These yoga practitioners are not currently suffering from a specific injury or diagnosis that would be require the skills of a health care practitioner or yoga therapist, however they do deserve to access a yoga practice provided by an instructor that is qualified to help them practice within the limitations of their challenges as well as provide guidance to improve their ease of movement. This niche is exactly why as a yoga teacher who seeks to provide a more informed practice, should seek continuing education in yoga as corrective exercise. In addition, by completing a certification in Yoga Corrective Exercise, this instructor can now be confident in their interactions with prospective students and physicians who are seeking just these services.
So, the question remains: should you seek a corrective exercise certification specializing in yoga as the modality of choice?
Ask yourself the same questions one would ask a personal trainer:
1) Have you ever taught yoga to an older individual, and overweight individual or an out of shape individual? (Read, n.d.)
2) Have you ever had a yoga student come up to you and ask how to adapt or modify their yoga practice due to pain or difficulty with certain movements?
As Read indicates to his personal trainer audience, if you answered yes to the above questions, knowing corrective exercise will be one of the best ways to help your clients to wellness and functional mobility, and keep them coming to attend yoga practice. This in turn may lead them to experience the other well documented benefits of yoga such as decreased stress, decreased anxiety, decreased inflammation, improved heart health, improved quality of life, ability to fight depression, reduction of chronic pain, improved sleep quality, and improved breathing. (Rachel Link, 2017) These wonderful benefits may never be realized if the yoga practitioner leaves the practice due to the inability of the yoga teacher to identify and assist with musculoskeletal challenges in a corrective manner.
So, the next question arises, is it worth the investment?Currently as a yoga teacher, you are limited in what you can earn as revenue. In most cases, you are only able to earn revenue from teaching group yoga classes. Unfortunately, due to the saturation of the yoga teacher market, this compensation can be quite limited. Now, some can become Instagram Influencers and lead workshops worldwide based on their asana practice, but as we all know, this is a small fragment of the yoga teacher population.
What can you do to set yourself apart?
How can you confidently market yourself to the consumer as an expert in movement utilizing the yoga practice?
With a Yoga Exercise Specialist Certification, you can stand apart from the general yoga teacher population as a specialist in your field, without spending thousands of dollars on an unnecessary degree as a physical therapist or yoga therapist. That is not to say these are not valid and valuable professions, after all, I have a degree in physical therapy and bio kinesiology and a certification in yoga therapy from the International Association of Yoga Therapists. But honestly, in my practice as a yoga teacher, I have found that a good foundation in the practices of yoga specifically with advanced study in yoga asana and movement serves the yoga teacher well. Certainly, for your own evolution and growth as a yoga practitioner, one should continue their study into the more in-depth practices and philosophies of yoga. A greater understanding of these practices on an experiential level will only serve you to become a better overall yoga teacher.
But without reservation, I can state that this in depth study is NOT a requirement for you to be of service to your clients seeking physical benefits of yoga AND will allow them to continue their personal practice so they also have the opportunity to move deeper into their personal practice. Once you are able to increase your income by offering specialty small group practices emphasizing helping practitioners with specific biomechanical challenges, and the ability to confidently offer one on one private yoga training to assist your students to advance their asana practice; then you will be able to afford the $6000.00 average cost of an in depth 300 hour yoga teacher training. In fact, you could even be motivated to further study yoga and become a yoga therapist to the tune of 3 years of study and an average cost of $10,000. Or, if so, inclined further your study to become a licensed physical therapist, at an average cost of $75,000 in tuition alone.
So, in answer to the question at the beginning of the paragraph…it depends.
What is your ultimate passion and goal as a provider of yoga as a modality? Where are your talents and to what degree would you like to pursue this profession? That is a question only you can answer. My purpose here is to inform you of all your options and allow you to make a clear and informed decision.
If you are interested in finding out more about Yoga Corrective Exercise Specialist Certification, please feel free to contact me via email at fityogatherapy@gmail.com. I saw a great need for this type of education and decided to compile my many years of yoga teacher training, physical therapy and yoga therapy expertise to give yoga teachers a more accessible and viable access to serving our population through the practices of yoga asana. I would love to help you on your journey. My new program will launch in early 2020. Check out the preliminary module curriculum on my website at FitYogaTherapy.com Be the first in the yoga industry to receive this unique certification. Then YOU can help your clients sooner rather than later.
Chrys Kub, PT is a licensed physical therapist of over 30 years clinical practice, she is a certified yoga therapist through IAYT and a certified personal trainer. She has taught continuing education courses for health care practitioners, fitness professionals, yoga therapists and yoga teachers throughout the US, Canada and internationally since 1992.
Lorenc, A., Feder, G., MacPherson, H., Little, P., Mercer, S. W., & Sharp, D. (2018). Scoping review of systematic reviews of complementary medicine for musculoskeletal and mental health conditions. BMJ Open, 8(10). Retrieved 12 7, 2019, from https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/8/10/e020222
McCaffrey, R., & Park, J. (2012). The Benefits of Yoga for Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Journal of Yoga & Physical Therapy, 2(5), 1-12. Retrieved 12 7, 2019, from https://longdom.org/open-access/the-benefits-of-yoga-for-musculoskeletal-disorders-a-systematic-review-of-the-literature-2157-7595.1000122.pdf
Monson, A. L., Chismark, A. M., Cooper, B. R., & Krenik-Matejcek, T. M. (2017). Effects of Yoga on Musculoskeletal Pain. American Dental Hygienists Association, 91(2), 15-22. Retrieved 12 7, 2019, from https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29118252
Organization, W. H. (2019, 11 26). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/musculoskeletal-conditions
Rachel Link, M. (2017, August 7). Healthlink. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/13-benefits-of-yoga
Read, T. (n.d.). Personal Trainer Pioneer . Retrieved from https://www.ptpioneer.com/corrective-exercise-specialist-certifications/
Ward, L., Stebbings, S., Cherkin, D. C., & Baxter, G. D. (2014). Components and reporting of yoga interventions for musculoskeletal conditions: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 22(5), 909-919. Retrieved 12 7, 2019, from https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25440383
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