64: Yoga for Arthritis with Dr. Steffany Moonaz

Did you know that arthritis is not one single disease, but a category of over 100 medical conditions that is actually the leading cause of disability in the US?? Before talking to Dr. Steffany Moonaz (and reading her book) I didn’t either! 

Dr. Steffany Moonaz founded Yoga for Arthritis after 8 years at Johns Hopkins University where she studied the effects of yoga for people living with arthritis. She now serves as the Director of Clinical and Academic Research at the Maryland University of Integrative Health, which offers the nation’s only Masters of Science in Yoga Therapy. 

She continues to conduct research on the effects of yoga for chronic pain and joint conditions, and is joining us on The Mentor Sessions today to talk about making  yoga practices safe, welcoming, and appropriate for people with arthritis.

In this episode you’ll hear:

  • some of the biggest myths about arthritis 
  • why the multifaceted practices of yoga are so supportive for people living with arthritis
  • what is lost when yoga teachers and researchers focus only on asana
  • the difference between chronic pain and acute pain as it relates to the brain
  • how chronic pain impacts the anatomy and function of the brain circuitry and what yoga teachers can do about it
  • how to teach yoga classes that are safe, welcoming and inclusive for people living with arthritis

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Announcing the Cross-Fade Mentorship with Caitlin Casella
I’m so excited to tell you about an awesome opportunity to study with my friend Caitlin Casella. (If you don’t know her, check out the interview I did with her right here!) Caitlin Casella blends a decade of experience leading 200 + 300 hour yoga teacher trainings with strength training, Functional Range Conditioning, neuromuscular rehabilitation, motor learning, and somatic practices like Feldenkrais and Body-Mind Centering AND she is currently working toward her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. 

This 12 week live online mentorship will teach you a framework for remixing your personal movement practice and help you translate new concepts from modern movement science to your unique yoga student audience.

Cross-Fade 2020 runs from January 23rd – April 16th. The early bird pricing with payment plan is available through November 24th and the early bird pay in full deadline is January 8th. Use code “mentor50” for $50 off when you enroll at any price!

Subscribe to the Mentor Sessions Podcast

One Response to “64: Yoga for Arthritis with Dr. Steffany Moonaz”

  1. Robin

    Thank you for this informative and very useful interview with Dr. S. Moonaz. Very appreciated!!

    Reply

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