Spine Care Yoga
Lower back and neck pain affects 1 billion people worldwide! The World Health Organization (WHO) names low back pain as the leading cause of disability across the globe (Murray et al., 2012, Vos et al., 2012). As more and more people work, study and play in hunched/slumped/repetitive postures, the result is a pandemic of chronic spinal conditions that negatively affect health, productivity and quality of life.
Program Purpose:
The Spine Care Yoga program is designed to facilitate the rehabilitation of spinal conditions through a yoga-based practice of therapeutic exercise. The opportunity to perform active exercises (disguised in the form of yoga) between physiotherapy/chiropractic/massage therapy sessions is beneficial in maximizing treatment outcomes. Spine Care Yoga provides the space and professional guidance to safely and effectively integrate therapeutic exercise into your treatment plan. This evidence-based program also aims to help prevent future injury/disability and promote optimal mobility, health and wellness.
The Spine Care Yoga program consists of education and yoga-based exercise for re-training:
– breathing patterns
– posture/alignment
– activation of deep stabilizer muscles to support the spine
– flexibility and strength of superficial “mover” muscles that facilitate functional movement
Program Features:
- 60 minute functional assessment with a registered physiotherapist
- 8 one-hour yoga-based exercise and education sessions at OC3, led by a registered physiotherapist and certified yoga instructor
- evidence-based
- physiotherapy extended health coverage may apply
Session Specifics:
Spine Care Yoga is open to anyone with a spinal condition or spinal pain wishing to incorporate yoga-based exercise into their rehabilitation program.
Here are some of the many spinal conditions that Spine Care Yoga may help with:
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Scoliosis
- Whiplash
- Neck pain
- Thoracic pain
- Low back pain
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
- Osteoarthritis of the spine
- Spinal stenosis
- Cervicogenic headaches
- Sciatica
In a small group setting, Spine Care Yoga is designed to guide you through gentle movements that promote blood flow to facilitate healing, and to foster a balance between strength (or stability) and flexibility (or mobility), to re-align the spine. A typical class will incorporate a variety of standing strength and balance poses, core stability, seated stretches, and self-myofascial release techniques with the aim of supporting healing, and restoring function. No previous yoga experience is required.
Date/Time:
- The next session of Spine Care Yoga is TBD – stay tuned for dates
How to Register:
You must complete an individual functional physiotherapy assessment prior to starting the yoga sessions. Your physiotherapist may then recommend Spine Care Yoga as part of your treatment or maintenance plan to rehabilitate a current injury and/or prevent re-occurrence. If you are currently an OC3 client (ie. you have already completed an assessment), please let your treating therapist know that you are interested in Spine Care Yoga.
If you would like to become an OC3 client, please call 613-230-7891 to schedule your assessment and register for the program.
Fees:
Initial Assessment $140
8 Yoga Sessions $240
Physiotherapy extended health coverage may apply to these fees.
* If after completing one 8-week session, you would like to continue with the subsequent 8-week session, you may be eligible to do so at the discretion of your physiotherapist.
Resources/Evidence for Yoga as Therapy