On this week’s episode Shannon welcomes Joanne Pineau. Joanne is a yoga teacher, educator, and author whose enthusiasm for the healing power of yoga for both mind and body impressed Shannon when she attended one of Joanne’s courses on managing sciatic pain.
Joanne’s passion has led her take numerous trainings and certifications in the many facets of body healing. This has enabled Joanne to share her valuable wisdom with others through her 20 years of teaching yoga, her expert knowledge of sciatic and lower back pain, and in practicing Reiki, Thai Yoga Massage, not to mention her writing and workshops.
Joanne has her 500 YTT, an Honours Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, and taken countless other trainings.
She is the owner and operator of Inner Journey Yoga Therapy and works at Synergetic and Wellness Centre.
Joanne is a mother of six and lives in Thornbury, Ontario.
[3:00] How Joanne began specializing in sciatic pain management
[3:20] What is the difference between sciatica and sciatic pain? What is piriformis syndrome?
[6:55] Anatomical link between sciatic pain and the piriformis muscle
[8:50] Five actions yoga teachers can take to address their clients’ sciatic pain:
1. Ask the students what they’ve experienced
(including professional advice and treatment they’ve received)
2. Poses that help
3. Understanding the seriousness of nerve compression
4. Try to determine your client’s level of pain
5. Include pelvic stability techniques in class
[16:40] Importance of strengthening the iliopsoas muscles and poses to engage muscles
[18:10] Sacroiliac joint instability
[18:34] Importance of teaching posture through poses such as staff and mountain pose in class
[19:20] Importance of teaching posture outside of yoga classes (how to hold themselves when sitting and standing,) to bring symmetry and length through the spine
[21:16] Adding interest to what may seem like basic poses that benefit the management of sciatic pain
[22:45] Importance asking your students a lot of questions to find their pain comfort zone and go-to poses for the individual
[25:15] The trust and appreciation students will feel if you take the time to listen and try to understand their pain, find poses that work for them- there is no need to worry you aren’t an expert in this area
[27:20] Joanne’s workshop and class offerings such as her Lower Back Pain, Sciatica, and Pelvic Health exercise program
Links
Joanne’s Website: Inner Journey Yoga Therapy
Joanne’s Classes and Workshops
Synergetic and Wellness Centre
Book: Stop Sciatic Pain by Joanne Pineau
Book: The Psoas Book by Liz Koch
I had a student message me earlier saying her sciatica had flared up and she couldn’t make the gentle yoga and meditation class this evening. I messaged her back saying that I hope she would reconsider as she could just come for the meditation portion and even lay on her mat for the rest of the class and relax, or just try some poses as yoga can be very beneficial to sciatic pain and do whatever felt best for her. She told me she would be at class that night. I also referenced I have felt with this type of pain (mine is due to too tight of a piraformis muscle) but that yoga has helped so much. I have listened to this podcast before but I am listening again so I can give her some extra help. Thanks so much for these podcasts Shannon I dont think I would have had the confidence to deal with this, without the podcast. <3
Katie! I am so glad to hear that the podcast is helping you along the way. How did the class go?