discover remarkable parallels between Yoga and Osteopathy, and learn how yoga instructors may expand the therapeutic aspect of their practice by integrating osteopathic principles and modalities into their daily work

1. Yoga & Osteopathy Working Together

2. ❏ The future of health care
lies in the integration of
holistic and allopathic
medicine.
❏ Health care practitioners
from different healing
philosophies will be
working together for the
benefit of their
communities.
Integrative Healthcare
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3. ❏ The osteopathic philosophy
focuses on the interrelationship
and unity of the individual’s
structure (anatomy) and function
(physiology).
❏ It posits that the body has self-
healing properties, drawing
healing power from its physical
and spiritual resources.
Everything is interconnected

4. Osteopathy defined
Osteopathy is drug-free, gentle
manual therapy that focuses on the
body’s health by treating and
strengthening the musculoskeletal
framework, which includes the joints,
muscles and spine.
Specifically, osteopaths use manual
techniques to assess and treat
movement restrictions in the body.
Osteopaths focus on the cause of
pain and dysfunction rather than
concentrating solely on the
symptoms.

5. Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, founder
❏ Osteopathic medicine as a profession came
into being in the mid-19th century United
States through the revelatory teachings of Dr.
Andrew Taylor Still.
❏ Having lost four children to meningitis, he
became deeply disappointed with the model
of western medicine, particularly with the
rising use of drugs and medications.
❏ Dr. Still was one of the first in his time to
promote habits leading to good health (i.e.
postural alignment, hygiene, adequate
nutrition),and insisted that the lack of those
may lead to disease.

6. “The human body is a
machine run by the
unseen force called
life, and that it may be
run harmoniously it is
necessary that there
be liberty of blood,
nerves, and arteries
from their generating
point to their
destination.”
– Dr. A. Taylor Still
Having been born into a family of American pioneers and settlers,
Dr. Still enjoyed tinkering with tools and machines. He came up with an
analogy between the workings of the human body and a man-made
machine...

7. Tenet 1.
Balance between Structure and Function
❏ One of the fundamental laws in osteopathy posits that the
integrity of the structure (anatomy) will govern the
function (physiology) of that structure.
❏ Impeded integrity leads to impeded function.
The opposite is also true.
A loss of function results in a loss of structure.
Example: A car that has lost a wheel (loss of structure) won’t be
able to drive well (loss of function). A car that has not been driven
for many years (loss of function) rusts and breaks down (loss of
structure).
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8. Tenet 2.
The body is capable of healing itself.
❏ Health is the natural state of the body: our body possesses homeostatic,
self-regulatory mechanisms that it uses to heal itself from injury.
❏ In times of disease, other parts of the body come out of their natural state
of health in order to compensate for the dysfunction.
❏ The compensation may lead to imbalance and chronic dysfunction.
Osteopathic therapy is aimed to adjust the body so as to realign its parts
back to normal.
❏ Osteopathic manipulative medicine aims to restore the body’s self-healing
capacity by decreasing the physiological effects of chronic bodily stresses,
and enhancing the immune system.

9. ❏ Osteopathic manipulative medicine aims
to restore the body’s self-healing capacity
by decreasing the physiological effects of
chronic bodily stresses, and enhancing
the immune system.

10. Tenet 3. Unimpeded flow of bodily fluids, blood and
lymph, is essential to maintenance of good health.
❏ As a result of physical or emotional
trauma tissues contract, twist and
compress. The flow of body fluids
becomes obstructed.
❏ Micro-climates of underperfusion result,
and are considered to be a significant
contributor to the onset of disease.
❏ Osteopathic manipulation restores
freedom in the tissues, normalizes fluid
flow triggering inherent physiological
healing.

11. Rational treatment
These basic osteopathic tenets
permeate all aspects of health
maintenance, disease
prevention, and treatment.
These tenets embrace the
concept of unity of body structure
and function in health and
disease.
When the body’s motion is in
balance, a state of health exists.
When this motion is disturbed,
health is affected and a state of
disease can arise.
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12. Osteopathy treats:
❏ Mechanical and nervous system problems - pain, discomfort and
impaired function of muscles and joints.
❏ Falls, injuries and strains.
❏ The effects of poor posture, tension, emotional stress and
headache.
❏ Impaired function of body systems - digestive problems, circulatory
disturbances, respiratory conditions, ear, nose or throat problems
especially in the young, stress-related conditions and infective
diseases.
❏ Sports-related problems at all levels, including elite athletes.

13. Assessment and Treatment
❏Diagnosed by palpation - an
area that is either painful,
asymmetric, red, swollen, or
edematous.
❏Once diagnosed, the
somatic dysfunction is
treated with manual therapy
and exercise to re-establish
health.

14. What is Somatic Dysfunction?
“An altered or impaired function of the components of the somatic (body
framework) system: skeletal, arthrodial, and myofascial structures and
related vascular, lymphatic and neural elements.”
Glossary of Osteopathic Terminology
❏ Somatic dysfunction is used by
osteopath as a marker of a disease in
a specific area.
❏ It is an area where changes in tissues
have occurred: skin, muscles, ligaments,
fascia, tendons, nerves, blood vessels,
with or without radiation to a more
remote site.

15. T.A.R.T. = 4 criteria of somatic dysfunction
TART is used in diagnosing
somatic dysfunction. The
following signs will be assessed
during osteopathic examination:
Tenderness
Asymmetry
Restriction of motion
Tissue texture changes

16. Somatic dysfunction can be caused by:
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❏ Acute or chronic postural deviations
❏ Sudden movements during a slip or fall
❏ Biomechanical deviations
❏ Postural abnormalities.
Somatic dysfunction may
involve multiple anatomic regions
for each patient.

17. Yoga and Osteopathy
The healing principles of osteopathic
manual medicine have remarkable
parallels with Yoga.
Both disciplines determine health by
one’s emotional well being and
physical balance.
Postural alignment, joint mobility, and
diaphragmatic flexibility are essential
components of good health.
The human body, given the right
support, has an inherent capacity to
heal itself.

18. Osteopathy and Yoga working together
A fundamental component of osteopathic
treatment is the use of soft tissues
techniques intended to achieve:
general and specific mobilization
of the spine and the joints
detoxification
relaxation
strengthening of immune system
The treatment may be spaced weeks apart.
During that time, patients actively contribute to
their recovery by following a yoga routine
focused on specific therapeutic goals.
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19. The benefits of osteopathic therapy may be
maximized through the use of:
Pranayama breathing
techniques, stimulating
detoxification process
in the body

20. Yoga inversions
Inverse postures open
the thorax, which
particularly activates the
Immune System.

21. Dynamic sequences
Yoga exercises
reduce the activity of
the Sympathetic
Nervous system,
thus reducing the
stress reaction in the
body.

22. Specifically targeted poses
Asanas and Stretches
strengthen the
musculoskeletal
framework and increase
flexibility in the Spine and
Joints.

23. Dear Yoga professional,
Have you considered learning Osteopathy and expanding the
therapeutic aspect of your practice?
London College of Osteopathy and Health Sciences offers Yoga
and Pilates professionals an opportunity to earn an Associate
Certificate in Osteopathy through an online study designed for
wellness and fitness industry practitioners.
Course curriculum include:
● Philosophy and History of Osteopathy
● Applied Anatomy & Physiology
● Biomechanics,
● Pathology
● Osteopathic Models of Health and Disease
● Osteopathic Modalities and Techniques.
to learn more about the Associate Certificate in Osteopathy click here

24. for more information about
ONLINE COURSES IN OSTEOPATHY AND HEALTH SCIENCES
for health and fitness industry professionals
please visit:
www.lcocanada.com
or email at
info@lcocanada.com
THANK YOU!