The Empowered Pelvis: Yoga to Reduce Incontinence, Pain & Improve Pelvic Health

In this weekend retreat, study with yoga therapist and pelvic floor expert Leslie Howard as she shares the evidence-based yoga practices for pelvic floor health used in studies on the benefits of yoga for pelvic floor health with a specific focus to comfort, confidence and continence.

About one in four people in the US struggle with pelvic floor challenges. It is not just a medical problem; it can affect us emotionally and socially as it often makes us afraid to engage in activities that would make us veer too far away from a bathroom.

The pelvic floor muscles play an important role as part of the body’s core system, contributing to core stabilization during movement. Yoga offers numerous techniques to strengthen and balance the pelvic floor.

Proper strengthening and stabilizing of the pelvic floor help to create the correct foundation for each movement in the body. This is the true meaning of “core work.”

In a study designed by Leslie for University of California, San Francisco, women who participated in the yoga program in the study experienced an overall 70 percent improvement – or reduction – in the frequency of their bladder dystunctions compared to the baseline.

Whether you experience this condition or are just plain curious about how to create greater tone and balance of the pelvic floor, this retreat contains a wealth of helpful and practical information.  This retreat is for women, women identified or non-binary folks.
Continuing Education Opportunities

Yoga Alliance (YA):  Approximately 7 contact hours
Integral Yoga Teachers Association (IYTA) can provide you a CE certificate of your program’s total contact hours. For more information, email membership@iyta.org.

Testimonials:
The magic of yoga has had me feeling divine… and my body feels uncharacteristically balanced. This is coming from a guy who hits a volleyball with his right hand, swings a tennis racket with his right hand, kicks a soccer ball mostly with his right foot, and who tempers a post-surgery right knee. The “magic” of yoga has my right knee suddenly smiling and in balance with the rest of my body. I had a game the following night and I couldn’t believe how my body felt. None of my joints were moaning and my body was so good to go…” – Paul G.
The workshop was fascinating…I have to say I really have never thought much about my pelvic floor and now I am glad to know it is there! Leslie was a great teacher and I think everyone there enjoyed it and learned a ton.” – Lisa M., M.D.
I loved being at the retreat and have a new found appreciation for Iyengar yoga… at least the Leslie Howard version of Iyengar Yoga.” – Adrienne C.
WOW, the info from you has enlightened me on such a deep (literally!) level. Really seeing that my sacrum issues are emotional and how much the pelvic floor is involved… who’d a thunk? Thanks so much for the work you are doing, very powerful.” – Jnana Gowen
Thanks so much for you chock-full of information and enlightening workshop! What a treat! I am forever changed with this new awareness. I want to shout it from the mountain tops. I look forward to exploring this more. You are a joy as a teacher… clear and in tune with the group… have fun, as you are making such a difference in the lives of the woman you share this with…” – Cathy H.
I took your workshop on Sunday at 4th Street Yoga, and wanted to say that it was illuminating. I did my regular Tues. evening class yesterday, and I felt like my pelvic floor area had a new spotlight on it. Have you even seen a black and white photograph that has been hand-colored in one spot? That’s what it felt like, to suddenly have all this focus to this previously unnoticed region, like it was red or blue or some other color and everything else was in black and white. This kind of awareness seems like it will be very helpful in getting at the familiar yoga poses with a new focus.” – Nancy W.








FRIDAY



3–5 pm
Registration


5-5:45
Yoga Nidra with Atman


5–6:30
Mixed Level Hatha


6-6:30
Meditation


6:30-7:15
Dinner


7:30-7:45
Orientation


7:45-9
The Breath and Your Pelvic Floor



SATURDAY



6–7 am
Guided Meditation with Rev. Lakshmi
Integral Yoga Meditation with Linda Santoshi


7:10-8:40
Integral Yoga Hatha – Level 1 with Atman
Integral Yoga Hatha – Level 2 with Krishna
Joint Freeing Series with Hope Mell


8–9:15
Breakfast


10–11:30
Pelvic Anatomy and How to Find It


12–12:30 pm
Meditation


12:45–1:30
Lunch


1:30-2:30
Free Time (Hike, Journal, Rest, etc.)


3-5
Core Awareness


5:30–6:15
Dinner


7:30-9:30
Satsang (gathering of the seekers of Truth)
Kirtan (Music & Chanting), Video of Swami Satchidananda
Speaker: Swami Priyaananda



SUNDAY



6-7 am
Integral Yoga Meditation with Rev. Lakshmi


7:10-8:40
Integral Yoga Hatha – Level 1 with Mochani
Integral Yoga Hatha – Mixed Level
Adaptive Chair Yoga


8–9:30
Breakfast


10–11:45
Finding and Feeling Your Pelvic Floor In Asana


12–12:30 pm
Meditation


12-12:45
Laugha Yoga with Bharata


12:45–1:30
Lunch