Living Well Institute

Description

The body has not one, but three diaphragms. The concept of “3D” health describes the functioning of three vital diaphragms that influence whole body health through their neural, mechanical, and myofascial connections. These diaphragms include the oral cavity (cervico-thoracic or laryngeal) diaphragm, the respiratory diaphragm, and the pelvic diaphragm/floor. The neural mechanism is provided by the wandering 10th cranial nerve, the vagus nerve. As the largest nerve in the autonomic nervous system, the vagus extends from the brain to the colon. Vagal afferents comprise at least 80% of vagus activity, and dictate everything from heart, lung, and digestive function to our physiological health and psychological wellbeing.

Self-regulation and stress management are also functions under vagus control which are of particular interest, given that over 50% of the population reports experiencing at least one significant trauma in their lives. Research tells us these trauma statistics increase the risk of a person developing PTSD, and since perceived stress is also a risk factor in noncommunicable disease (NCD) and pain genesis, we now know that stress management is a vital part of clinical practice. Strong vagal tone is associated with healthy stress management, a high emotional IQ, resilience and well formed coping mechanisms, while poor vagal tone has been linked with chronic inflammation, poor digestive health, immunity, and emotional resilience, and is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, depression, and some forms of cancer. 

Learning how to work with the three diaphragms as a whole is supported by osteopathic theory, which says the diaphragms are involved in controlling fluid pressure and movement of the entire body and also by biomechanical theory, neuroscience, and neuroendocrinology. A review of the diaphragms includes: 

• The Cervical-Thoracic Diaphragm (laryngeal and oral diaphragms) is responsible for neurological optimization of stress response, swallowing, and communication, which controls vagal tone for cardiorespiratory functioning and the respiratory and pelvic diaphragm functioning.

• The Respiratory Diaphragm is a connecting point between cephalad and caudad diaphragms, and is the main muscle influencing pulmonary function. None of the diaphragms work in isolation, therefore, each exacts an influence on vagal tone and function. 

• The Pelvic Diaphragm is the terminal end of the tri-diaphragmatic (3D) system, and can bear the brunt of trauma and impairment with dysfunction in the superiorly-located diaphragms. The pelvic diaphragm contains the muscles of the pelvic floor, which in turn impacts pressurization of the entire 3D system.

NOTE:  This 5 hour course is contained in the Integrative Lifestyle Medicine course. If you have purchased the ILM Certificate Course or the Level 1 Bundle, you do not need this version.

This second* (we recommend you take this course first), 5 hour course in the 24 hour Integrative Lifestyle Medicine Certificate program will change your practice. It will:

• Increase your effectiveness as a therapist and improve patient outcomes and satisfaction.
• Give you a comprehensive skillset to use Integrative Lifestyle Medicine in practice. 
• Lower burden of care on you as the practitioner and empower the patient to be a partner in their healthcare. 
• Help you determine root causes of disease, pain, and disability which helps patients heal faster and with long-lasting results. 
• Tackle persistent pain and complex comorbidities that are hindering your therapy outcomes.

Course Overview in Brief

Module 2 

This course will teach you immediately applicable techniques for improving patient outcomes and satisfaction, including how to: 1) Impact vagal tone, 2) Use trauma-informed clinical reasoning & intervention, 3) Employ positive psychology to affect self-regulatory mechanisms, 4) Scaffold yogic breath, postures and meditation, 5) Evaluate the three diaphragms multi-system effects on the mind-body complex from the oral cavity to the pelvic floor using the orofacial examination and biopsychosocial vector analysis, 6) Understand epigenetic impact on rehabilitation outcomes, and 7) Use appropriate documentation to support reimbursement. 

Clinical Objectives

Part 1 

1. Describe the breath techniques that help manage and promote systems-based health and emotional regulation and well-being. 

2. Cite the evidence base for using Orofacial Examination. 

3. Identify the components for completing the Orofacial Examination. 

4. List the types of interventions offered in the NAP Meditation. 

Part 2 

5. Cite the evidence base for the biomarkers that inform trauma-sensitive yoga prescription. 

6. List the 15 biomarkers of trauma-informed yoga prescription. 

7. Practice the postures and breathwork involved in the “sensory diet” to impact vagal tone and stress response.  

8. Identify how the voice is a new biomarker of neuromuscular and psychophysiological dysfunction. 

Part 3 

9. List the 4 components of the biospsychosocial vector assessment.  

10. Discuss mindful movement prescription through the medical therapeutic yoga locks system.

11. Describe how to externally evaluate for pelvic floor function and diaphragmatic integration.

12. Scaffold yoga postures and breath techniques for movement and mindfulness prescription across the lifespan.

Part 4 

13. Describe the impact of epigenetics on clinical reasoning and prescription.

14. Define eudaemonia and how it impacts longevity. 

15. Apply positive psychology to help achieve sustainable healthy behaviors. 

16. List the ways in which social media, connectedness, and social support impact health. 

17. Review documentation methods for inclusion of the medical therapeutic yoga as lifestyle and functional medicine. 

What's Included:

• 5 hours of Powerpoint, lecture, video, and audio lessons
• Workbooks that you can download to easily follow lectures and take notes.
• Scaffolded sessions broken down into short mini subjects so you can easily complete the training in a self-paced way without losing your place.
• Powerpoint, lecture, videos and audios of medical therapeutic yoga practices you can use with patients.
  Comprehensive training that will prepare you to immediately apply Integrative Lifestyle Medicine & Functional Medicine.
• A private forum classroom where you can clinically troubleshoot with Ginger and build your network with other graduates.
• Lifetime access for the life of the course, which is usually 3-5 years. You can return to this course at any time during the life of the course.
• ILM Certification is awarded upon completion of all four ILM Modules and Electives (24 hours total)
• There is no start date or completion date. You can complete the course at your own pace.
• Quizzes at the end of each module (6 total for ILM Certificate)  help you master and assimilate the knowledge.
  

Who is this Course for?

Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, athletic trainers, and related professions. This course serves as a prerequisite for the Professional Yoga Therapist Program.

Please see learn.integrativelifestylemed.com for more courses in the ILM and PYT Programs.

Can I Share A Course With A Friend Or Colleague? How Does The Group Discount Work?

Each course purchase is for a single viewer only, and may not be shared. If you are interested in group/staff viewing, please contact us at [email protected] to arrange a group discount code specifically for your group. The larger the group, the larger the discount.

Each individual must purchase separately with the discount code, and agree to the terms and conditions (legal). This provides each participant with their own copy to review at their pace, in addition to the opportunity to interact with colleagues as you all work collectively through the material.

Questions?

Contact us at [email protected].

**This course is not intended to act as medical advice. Please seek guidance and treatment from your health professional in your area for any unmanaged conditions.**