Course Description:
Physiotherapists who integrate yoga techniques into their practice expand the biopsychosocial impact of their treatments and can help more patients - while remaining within their scope of practice. We all encounter patients with complex multi-faceted and difficult to change pain conditions. Many cannot access interdisciplinary care. This course provides research evidence and decades of clinical experience integrating these two evidence-informed systems. Yoga supports what we know as physiotherapists - that the body is an agent through which to change pain, and to help people move and live with more ease.
When we understand yoga and pain, we recognise that yoga techniques provide us more options as well as the potential for greater biopsychosocial impacts. Yoga, far more than physical exercise, has many techniques and practices focusing on interoceptive awareness, physiological regulation, and increasing evidence of safety; all of which are important aspects of effective pain care. Many of these same techniques have positive effects on cognitions, emotions and relationships.
Join us for two days that will change your clinical practice. Gain foundational understanding, experience key techniques, and learn a mindful movement approach to improving ease of movement and decreasing pain in patients with persisting pain. Whether you integrate yoga into your practice, or work with patients who are attend yoga classes as part of their pain care plan, this course is for you.
** Please bring your own clipboard and water bottle.
All participants are responsible for ensuring that they have a current license to practice from CPTBC. If participants are from out of BC, they must acquire a Temporary License from CPTBC. If you are unsure if you require this license, please contact registration@cptbc.org.
The instructor:
Neil Pearson, PT, MSc(RHBS), BA-BPHE, C-IAYT, ERYT500
Neil is a physical therapist, yoga therapist, author, researcher, Clinical Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia, faculty in three IAYT-accredited yoga therapy programs, board member for International Association of Yoga Therapists and pain care advocate. He conducts research into the effects of yoga on veterans with chronic pain and people with osteoarthritis. Neil is the recipient of awards honouring his work in pain care, patient education and physiotherapy by Queen’s University, the Canadian Pain Society and both provincial and national physiotherapy associations, including the Canadian 2021 Medal of Distinction.
Neil is a consultant to Partners in Canadian Veterans Rehabilitation Services, and to Lifemark’s 300+ clinics in Canada. Neil is a past board member for Pain BC, Canada’s premier non-profit transforming the way pain is understood and treated. He co-authored – Yoga and Science in Pain Care 2019, authored the patient education ebook, Understand Pain Live Well Again in 2008, and is lead contributor to many free patient resources offer by Pain BC.