Therapeutic Yoga Instruction with Melissa Patrick, PT, DPT, RYT
For those recovering from a wide variety of pelvic health conditions, including pregnancy related pain, our 1-on-1 virtual therapeutic yoga sessions are designed to complement your physical therapy appointments and help you get back to moving with confidence, all from the comfort of your own home.
Therapeutic yoga is appropriate for all ages, body types, and fitness levels. If you do not have pelvic health concerns but are interested in simply optimizing your pelvic health across the lifespan, including perimenopause/menopause, therapeutic yoga offers a multitude of benefits.
Therapeutic yoga takes traditional yoga postures and tailors them to address specific physical limitations or medical conditions so that the benefit of the physical pose can still be felt and enjoyed. Therapeutic yoga is gentle, slow moving, and encourages relaxation, rest, and ease within the nervous system by supporting the mind-body connection.
Melissa Patrick is a pelvic health physical therapist and registered yoga teacher. She combines her knowledge of movement science with her intuitive understanding of the body to guide patients towards developing a compassionate relationship with their body.
Melissa combines knowledge, creativity, and her love for props (blankets, bolsters, blocks, etc.) to help folks find new ways to move while meeting their body’s unique needs. She works with you to understand your symptoms and recommend targeted stretches and relaxation techniques, including meditation and breathwork, to help you manage your symptoms, build strength and flexibility, and develop awareness in your pelvic girdle.
Evidence demonstrates that yoga is an effective adjunct to traditional medical care, including physical therapy. Therapeutic yoga is not a substitute for medical treatment and care. If you are experiencing pain, please begin with a physical therapy evaluation or be under the care of another licensed medical professional. Please see below for the benefits of yoga for a variety of pelvic health conditions.
Yoga provides the following benefits for folks working with pelvic pain:
- Certain postures (asana) relieve tension in the myofascial planes that impact the muscles of the pelvic floor and internal organ systems.
- Breathwork (pranayama) improves coordination of the respiratory diaphragm and the pelvic floor.
- Emphasis on the mind-body connection addresses the neuroscience of pain and empowers folks with tools that induce physiological quieting.
- Improved self-awareness allows patients to manage flare ups with increased success and confidence.
- Yoga improves comorbidities associated with pelvic pain such as sleep impairments, hip and back pain, anxiety, depression, IBS, and constipation.
- Yoga used in conjunction with physical therapy allows folks to use gentle postures at home to work into, and maintain, their newly gained range of motion after myofascial release in the clinic.
Yoga provides the following benefits for folks working with pelvic pain:
- Certain postures (asana) relieve tension in the myofascial planes that impact the muscles of the pelvic floor and internal organ systems.
- Breathwork (pranayama) improves coordination of the respiratory diaphragm and the pelvic floor.
- Emphasis on the mind-body connection addresses the neuroscience of pain and empowers folks with tools that induce physiological quieting.
- Improved self-awareness allows patients to manage flare ups with increased success and confidence.
- Yoga improves comorbidities associated with pelvic pain such as sleep impairments, hip and back pain, anxiety, depression, IBS, and constipation.
- Yoga used in conjunction with physical therapy allows folks to use gentle postures at home to work into, and maintain, their newly gained range of motion after myofascial release in the clinic.
Current evidence demonstrates yoga as being effective and supportive as an adjunct treatment for the following conditions:
- Urinary incontinence
- Neurogenic bladder
- Low back pain
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Menstrual irregularities
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse
- Dysmenorrhea
- Endometriosis
- Persistent pelvic pain
- Pregnancy related pain
Current evidence demonstrates yoga as being effective and supportive as an adjunct treatment for the following conditions:
- Urinary incontinence
- Neurogenic bladder
- Low back pain
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Menstrual irregularities
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse
- Dysmenorrhea
- Endometriosis
- Chronic Pelvic Pain
FAQ
What if I have never tried yoga before?
Even if you have never tried yoga or believe that you may not be flexible enough to give it a go, fear not! The purpose of a one-on-one session is to help you gain confidence in your abilities, explore your body without judgement, and find appropriate modifications to postures that may seem inaccessible to you.
How do I know if therapeutic yoga is right for me?
If you have struggled to find comfort in your stretching routine or your yoga practice, therapeutic yoga may be right for you. Therapeutic yoga is specifically tailored to your unique body. As a medical professional, Melissa takes a thorough medical history and aims to create a safe environment for experimenting together to find a set of poses and techniques designed to help you find ease in your body and facilitate healing.
How is this different from a traditional yoga class?
In addition to being specific and tailored to your individual needs, therapeutic yoga tends to be more gentle and slow than traditional vinyasa, or flow, yoga classes. Props such as a bolster, blocks, and blankets are utilized to support the body and facilitate relaxation and restoration of health. Techniques such as breathing exercises, meditation or guided relaxation may be included. With one-on-one guidance, yoga postures and mindfulness techniques become accessible and comfortable.
How will the sessions be structured?
Melissa will work with you during the first session to understand your history and your goals. From there she will work with you to try various poses with modifications, likely using props, to support your body. At the end of the first session, you will have a unique set of poses and techniques to work with at home. If you would like to continue to work with Melissa regularly as you progress along your pelvic health journey, she can offer suggestions to progress the poses as they become more comfortable in your body as well as support you in developing your mindfulness practices.
What types of yoga are offered?
Melissa weaves multiple styles of yoga together for an interdisciplinary approach that includes alignment based principles, movement science, and evidence based practice. Melissa has additional training in prenatal yoga, restorative yoga, yoga for anxiety, depression and trauma, as well as yoga for pelvic pain.
When is the best time to pursue therapeutic yoga as a treatment option?
Once you have worked with a physical therapist to manage your painful symptoms, it is important to start to retrain the body so that it recognizes that it is safe to move. Therapeutic yoga as an adjunct treatment alongside physical therapy may accelerate your healing. If you are unsure about the timing of initiating yoga as a treatment modality or whether or not you are a good candidate, call the Merrimack, NH office at (603) 589-9184 to schedule a free phone consultation with Melissa.
What to Expect?
What can I expect at my first Therapeutic Yoga session?
Patients can expect a one hour 1-on-1 private session with Melissa Patrick, an experienced yoga instructor and pelvic floor physical therapist. Melissa will take a complete medical history, consider questions and concerns that the person may have, and discuss goals for the movement sessions. Melissa will provide the person with a tailored set of postures and mindfulness techniques to address the musculoskeletal needs of the individual
What should I consider when coming to my first session?
If you have an existing stretch routine, yoga practice, or activity that you want to return to, please be prepared to demonstrate and discuss challenges with your existing routine. Come with an open mind for exploring new ways to move. You are welcome to bring your own mat/props if you prefer. Otherwise, we will have them available and disinfected for you. Wear comfortable clothing that you can move in freely.