VIRTUAL TRAINING CLASS
Strength Training & Yoga for Osteoporosis
If you've recently been diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia, or are simply taking smart preemptive action of protect your bone health... you've come to the right place, and we're happy to have you here!
Osteoporosis affects 55% of people aged 50 and older in the US. Osteoporosis is more prevalent in menopausal women due to hormonal changes from reduced estrogen and progesterone production. So, if you've recently found yourself in this group, you're not alone!
With expert guidance and support, you can take charge of your own wellness, stay active, move safely, increase your bone density, and live your life to its fullest.
Understanding some key facts about osteoporosis will help make sense of how strength training and yoga can be helpful.
Over time, bones become porous and fragile due to an imbalance in the activity of cells that absorb bone and cells that form bone. This causes an increased rate of resorption of bone, leading to porous bones. The most common sites include the low back and hips, leading to a higher risk for fractures in these areas.
However, this effect is reversible! Here are some key factors to consider:
Bones respond to loading. Our bones specifically strengthen in response to being compressed- exactly what happens when we challenge them with external loads like dumbbells or kettlebells!
Posture is crucial, as good posture helps decrease the risk of compression fractures. Yoga can be an excellent tool for improving posture, and strengthening the muscles that help to maintain better posture.
Balance is key! Strength training and yoga both improve overall musculoskeletal function and proprioception (our awareness of how the body is positioned in space), helping to reduce the risk of falls.
Improving bone density requires a multi-pronged approach, which is why this was designed to give you the most well-rounded and holistic approach possible.
Want to learn more? Enjoy this FREE Seminar about Osteoporosis, hosted by the instructors of this course!
Meet Your Instructors
Sarah Avery is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Professional Yoga Therapist, and a 200-hour Yoga Alliance Certified Teacher. She received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Clarkson University in 2016. She created the first in-person osteoporosis program of its kind in 2019, and has successfully helped over 100 patients maintain or improve bone density at her clinic.
Michaela Smith is a Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist, a Yoga Alliance registered teacher at the 500hr level, and a NASM-certified personal trainer. She has Bachelors of Science and Nutrition Didactic Program in Dietetics from Bastyr University.
Michaela teaches movement and nutrition full-time both in person and virtually. Using a combination of yoga, strength training principles, meditation, self massage and functional movement, she's passionate about offering a safe and sustainable practice, built around her clients' individual needs.
