170: Is this Movement Safe? with Shannon Crow

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

170: Is this Movement Safe? with Shannon Crow

Description:

A question that comes up time and time again, both from yoga students and teachers, especially those dealing with pelvic health issues such as lower back pain, urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, infertility etc. is "Is this movement safe?". 

The truth is, there isn't a list of movements that are safe or unsafe for a body, and it really varies depending on each person, and the movement itself. A lot of us teach yoga to women, and more specifically, women who have given birth at some point in their life. As such, the likelihood is high that we may have someone dealing with pelvic health issues in our class, but they may not be comfortable speaking about it, or may not be aware of it.

So how can we ensure that the movements and poses that we are offering in our classes are safe for each and every student? Shannon has four questions that can guide you in determining which movements are safe for your clients.

Key Takeaways:

[9:45] How can we check if a movement is "safe"? If you have other questions that you would like to add to this list, leave a comment!

[11:09] Question #1: Do I enjoy this movement and can I maintain it with ease? Shannon highlights the challenge of finding the balance between something you love but are afraid of doing, or something you hate but think is good for you.

[15:18] Question #2: Is my breath continuous?

[16:35] Shannon explains intra-abdominal pressure and how it relates to ensuring if a movement is "safe".

[18:56] Question #3: Is there doming or reverse doming (invagination) at the linea alba?

[22:53] Shannon brings up the example of her client who was struggling with plank pose.

[25:33] Question #4: Am I bearing down on the pelvic floor?

[29:24] Every body is different. Why is this so important to keep in mind?

[32:23] If you'd like to learn more about this topic, join the Pelvic Health Professionals membership. Doors are open till June 12, 2020.

Links:

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 121: Yoga for Pelvic Health with Shannon Crow
• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 069: Yoga with Pelvic Organ Prolapse with Dr. Sarah Duvall
• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 033: A New Perspective on Diastasis Recti with Dr. Sinead Dufour

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 129: Pelvic Floor 101 with Marie-Josée Forget

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 009: Kegels, Mula Bandha and Pelvic Health with Shelly Prosko
• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 008: Core Breath and Pelvic Health with Kim Vopni
• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 007: Breath and Pelvic Health with Trista Zinn
• Side Plank Pose
• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 116: 116: Pain Language with Shelly Prosko (Part 1)

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 162: Fill Your Yoga Workshop with Mado Hesselink

• Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training

Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Pelvic Health Professionals

Quotes from this episode:

"Find variations of movement that bring you joy." - Shannon

"What is happening if we are unable to keep a continuous and steady breath?" - Shannon

"It's not like there's this list of movements that are safe and unsafe for a body. There's this list of questions to ask." - Shannon