Tai Chi & Yoga as Rehabilitative Exercise

Course Description

Tai Chi is more than a martial art or a moving meditation and Yoga is more than twisting yourself into a pretzel; they are sophisticated movement systems that have great potential for application to a rehab setting. In this course we will break down and simplify common tai chi movements and yoga poses into stances, postures, steps and arm movements/positions, then put everything together in ways that integrate and optimize relationships between the upper and lower body. You will move and experience, as well as observe and analyze tai chi and yoga modifications, then discuss clinical relevance and application to a wide variety of rehab-related conditions. Topics range from lumbar stabilization to knee alignment and joint replacements; from balance improvement and gait facilitation to fall prevention; from pelvic balancing to thoracic mobilization and cervical stabilization; from gleno-humeral impingement to scapular dyskinesia; from ortho to neuro to geriatrics. We will also discuss and demonstrate the importance of Pattern Specificity, making exercise more informational by making it resemble the motor behavior we are trying to influence, and investigate the differences between Static and Dynamic Integrated Movement Principles. So come spend a weekend doing, feeling and thinking; you will never look at movement and exercise the same again!

Course Objectives: By the completion of this course, the participant will be able to:

• Define Global and Differentiated movement relationships and give one example of each relationship for: knee-hip, hip-lumbar, thorax-neck, scapular-humeral, humeral-forearm
• List the two main differences between Static and Dynamic Integration Principles
• Define the difference between “grounding” and “balancing” stances or poses and give two examples of each
• Demonstrate basic proficiency in three rotational/weight shifting movements and list benefits for: lumbar stabilization, hip/knee replacements, balance/fall prevention
• Explain the relevance of the phrase “proximal mobility and distal stability” in the lower extremity system and list benefits for foot, ankle or knee conditions
• Identify hip flexion-lumbar extension and hip extension/lumbar flexion themed differentiated yoga poses and explain applications to the 3 main lumbar instability types.
• Define the terms “high horizon” and “weight under-side” and list benefits for cervical, gleno-humeral and shoulder girdle health

Course Outline:Lab sessions involve movement observation, participation and analysis as well as discussion of clinical relevance, modifications and manual/verbal cueing.