An evidence-based exploration of osteoporosis, hypermobility, arthritis and musculoskeletal pain.

For yoga teachers and trainees.

10 hours of Continuing Education / CPD available.

£249

Osteoporosis, hypermobility, arthritis and musculoskeletal pain are all common, yet each is surrounded by conflicting advice, outdated beliefs and fear-based messaging that can make it difficult to know what to believe. Is yoga safe? Can it help? When should movement be modified? And what does the research actually tell us?

Teaching People, Not Condition is a four-part training designed to replace uncertainty with greater clarity, curiosity and confidence. Grounded in contemporary science and an inclusive approach to movement, we will explore osteoporosis, hypermobility, arthritis and musculoskeletal pain, separating myth from evidence and considering what our current understanding means for the way we move, practise and teach.

Part 1: Osteoporosis and bone health

Osteoporosis is common, frequently undiagnosed and surrounded by conflicting advice about movement. In this workshop, we will explore what yoga teachers and practitioners need to understand about bone health, osteoporosis and fracture risk.

We will look at how bones adapt to load, what happens when bone density decreases, how osteoporosis is diagnosed and treated, and what current physical activity guidelines recommend. We will consider where yoga may be beneficial, where its limitations lie, and how teachers can make thoughtful decisions about poses and practices without unnecessarily restricting students.

Along the way, we will challenge common misconceptions, including whether yoga can reverse bone loss and whether everyone with osteoporosis needs to avoid the same movements.

Part 2: Arthritis and joint health

Arthritis affects millions of people, yet the term encompasses many different conditions and is frequently misunderstood.

We will explore what yoga teachers and practitioners need to know about osteoarthritis and inflammatory forms of arthritis, including what happens within the joints, why structural changes do not always correspond neatly with symptoms, and how arthritis is currently understood and managed.

We will examine the role of movement and physical activity, challenge common assumptions about wear and tear, and consider how yoga practices can be adapted to support people experiencing pain, stiffness or changes in function without teaching them to fear movement.

Part 3: Hypermobility

Hypermobility is common, particularly within movement practices such as yoga, yet it is surrounded by conflicting advice about what people should and should not do.

We will explore what hypermobility actually means, why some people are hypermobile, and the spectrum from asymptomatic joint hypermobility to hypermobility spectrum disorders and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. We will consider why hypermobility does not automatically mean pain or instability, why some hypermobile people feel surprisingly tight, and rethink what we mean by stability.

We will then translate this understanding into practical teaching, exploring strength, active control and capacity while challenging familiar rules around hyperextension, end-range movement, stretching, Yin Yoga and weight-bearing. Most importantly, we will consider how teachers can support hypermobile students without unnecessarily restricting movement or treating hypermobility itself as a problem to be fixed.

Part 4: Musculoskeletal pain

Pain is one of the most common challenges yoga teachers encounter, and also an area where we are exposed to a great deal of conflicting information.

We will use low back pain as a lens for exploring contemporary understandings of musculoskeletal pain, moving beyond simplistic explanations based on posture, alignment, tight muscles or individual anatomical structures. We will explore what current research tells us about pain, imaging, movement and exercise, before translating this understanding into practical strategies for supporting students while staying within our scope of practice.

Although low back pain will provide many of our examples, the principles explored can be applied to musculoskeletal pain throughout the body.

Across the training:

The training combines accessible anatomy and physiology with current research, physical activity and clinical guidelines, critical thinking and practical application. Together, we will explore:

• What we currently understand about each condition or characteristic

• How these conditions are identified, diagnosed and commonly managed

• Physical activity recommendations and where yoga fits within them

• Common myths, misconceptions and outdated narratives

• Relevant research and how to interpret it critically

• How language can either reinforce fear or support confidence and capacity

• Practical approaches to adapting yoga without unnecessarily restricting movement

• How yoga teachers can recognise the boundaries of their role and scope of practice

• Time for questions, discussion and reflection

The aim is not to provide rigid rules about what people should or should not do. Instead, you will develop a clearer framework for understanding these complex topics, thinking critically about the information you encounter, and making more informed decisions about movement and yoga. You will leave with greater confidence in supporting the diverse people who arrive in their classes.

You’ll will receive a 10-hour Continuing Education / CPD certificate.

Each day will run from 1.15pm – 3.45pm and 4.30pm – 7.00pm.