Back Care Immersion
Yoga therapy summer school.
Six weeks of guided learning starts July 16th.
Weekly study plan emails keep you on track.
Learn in diverse ways: webinars, home practice videos, class language for teachers, homework, suggested reading, and more.
Access to our private community discussion group.
Live video Q&A sessions on Facebook.
Two months of live support.
And two years of course material access. This is nice psychological nudge to help you focus on this learning.
Mary Richards began practicing yoga in 1992, and teaching in 2002. A Phi Beta Kappa, she holds a Master's of Science in Yoga Therapy and a Bachelor's degree in International Affairs. Mary is passionate about sharing her experience in yoga therapeutics and other healing modalities to help others cope with -- and ideally, prevent -- injury. Her first book, Teach People, Not Poses, was published by Shambhala in 2023. She has two grown children and lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with her husband, dog, and Penelope, the cat.
Lizzie Lasater began teaching Vinyasa Yoga in 2005, before earning a Masters in Architecture from Columbia University.
She lives in Salzburg with her partner and twin boys where she produces online yoga courses, leads retreats, writes a free Sunday self-care newsletter, and designs spirit jewelry.
Anatomy
Asana
Therapeutics
Practice PDF Wk1
Notes PDF Wk1
Homework
Anatomy
Asana
Therapeutics
Practice PDF Wk2
Planes of Motion PDF
Notes PDF Wk2
Homework
Anatomy
Asana
Therapeutics
Practice PDF Wk3
Scoliosis PDF
Notes PDF Wk3
Homework
Anatomy
Asana
Therapeutics
Practice PDF Wk4
Notes PDF Wk4
Homework
Anatomy
Asana
Therapeutics
Practice PDF Wk5
Notes PDF Wk5
Homework
Anatomy
Asana
Therapeutics
Practice PDF Wk6
Homework
Notes PDF Wk6
Final Quiz
Did you know that standing with all your normal curves out of alignment can effect every organ system in your body? Did you realize that standing with all your normal curves intact is one of the healthiest things you can do? Posture affects you physically, mentally, and emotionally. Turns out our grandmothers were right. We all need to stand well. Explore your curves and their perfection. Stop disturbing your curves and you will stop disturbing yourself. Find out how.
What limits movement in the vertebral column? Certainly neuromuscular resistance is a factor. However, bony features and shapes tell us a lot about the direction and range of motion possible in each segment of the column. Time to grab your x-ray goggles! Let’s take a look at the joints, processes, and tensile structures of the vertebral column. Then, let’s get on the mat and debunk some anatomical and movement myths that undermine our kinetic integrity.
We tend to think of vertebral movements in terms of flexion, extension, sidebending and twisting. But there is an intimate relationship between the last two that is fascinating, and when you understand how these two movements work together, you will have a much greater understanding of scoliosis and how to work with yourself if you have scoliosis, as well as with your students who present with it in class. Revelatory.
Some 80 percent of adults will experience back pain at some point in their lives. Dysfunction may arise anywhere in the posterior kinetic chain, from the base of the skull to the tip of the tailbone. Maybe the pain originates from compressed nerves or disorganized muscle activation patterns. Maybe it is related to past trauma. Regardless of origin, back pain often challenges people to look at the road behind them. Many folks will come to the mat, seeking relief and a return to the rhythm of their daily lives. Let’s use asana and pranayama like tuning forks, to adjust the body-brain vibration.
The pelvis is the basin of birth, the source of our power, the initiator of walking and the foundation of standing. It is the site of the melding of the vertebral column (sacrum) and the lower extremity (femurs). The more we live in the deep belly of the pelvis, the more we are in touch with our intuition, our feelings, and our deep Knowing. This week we will look at the SI joint and learn its part in walking. Did you know that Westerners walk differently than indigenous cultures? Do you know why carrying on the head is actually good for your posture? Let’s talk pelvis.
We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again: Our grandmothers were right. An ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure, especially when it comes to our back-body health. Whether we’re driving our desks, carrying heavy packages, or running errands while wearing impractical shoes, life takes a toll on our vertebral column. Now that we understand what’s normal and what’s not, let’s practice some asana and movement fundamentals to keep our discs plump and juicy, our facet joints sliding and gliding, and our belly soft and back strong.
This is a fantastic course with scientific, evidence-based materials that explain the work of the poses. Lizzie is a good moderator and at times I felt she w...
Read MoreThis is a fantastic course with scientific, evidence-based materials that explain the work of the poses. Lizzie is a good moderator and at times I felt she was speaking my mind asking questions for me, and Mary's enthusiasm is contagious.
Read LessI have been teaching Yoga for over 20 years and I find this course so amazing - the level of detail! And articulating the truth that the body is like an orch...
Read MoreI have been teaching Yoga for over 20 years and I find this course so amazing - the level of detail! And articulating the truth that the body is like an orchestra and the fundamentals of body design and intelligence is so important to emphasize!
Read LessI am halfway through the course and I am blown away by the knowledge, wisdom and humor I've been experiencing so far. Judith Hanson Lasater is the godmother ...
Read MoreI am halfway through the course and I am blown away by the knowledge, wisdom and humor I've been experiencing so far. Judith Hanson Lasater is the godmother of Yoga; Mary Richards is the bomb when it comes to anatomy and her ability to break down anatomy - yes, she's the real deal and best anatomy nerd out there; Lizzie Lasater asks all the questions in a way that we Yoga teachers can relate!
Read LessJudith Hanson Lasater alongside Mary Richards makes these teachings approachable and highly clear - whether you have previous anatomy knowledge or not. This ...
Read MoreJudith Hanson Lasater alongside Mary Richards makes these teachings approachable and highly clear - whether you have previous anatomy knowledge or not. This course furthermore takes that knowledge to another level, where through high-quality videos, podcast discussions and live tutorials, it teaches us how the body is constructed, its functionality and more importantly makes us aware of causes of injuries and how to best avoid them.
Read LessI have just completed Chapter 7 on the sacrum and have already learned SO much that I am able to feel in my own body and share with the students in my classe...
Read MoreI have just completed Chapter 7 on the sacrum and have already learned SO much that I am able to feel in my own body and share with the students in my classes. What has helped the most is actually looking at the vertebral column to see with my own eyes how it moves - in the talks, podcasts and in the key pose video for each chapter and in the pocket anatomy examples.
Read LessThis course (and the philosophies of all three teachers) should be required to be completed by every yoga teacher. I took a wonderful Experiential Anatomy wo...
Read MoreThis course (and the philosophies of all three teachers) should be required to be completed by every yoga teacher. I took a wonderful Experiential Anatomy workshop in 2016 in Vancouver with Judith so I’ve been thrilled to take it again in this format - where I can review, practice and review some more and always have it for reference.
Read LessI want to watch the tutorials over and over as I learn something new each time and the webinars were great. I felt the information was very successfully pres...
Read MoreI want to watch the tutorials over and over as I learn something new each time and the webinars were great. I felt the information was very successfully presented and there was more than adequate support throughout the course for questions, answers and demonstrations.
Read LessI highly recommend this course for all Yoga instructors and practitioners - you are guaranteed to learn something and have some laughs as well. Thank you for...
Read MoreI highly recommend this course for all Yoga instructors and practitioners - you are guaranteed to learn something and have some laughs as well. Thank you for all that you continue to do to promote the safe and educated teaching of Yoga - with deep gratitude.
Read LessDear Judith, Lizzie and Mary, It is with a touch of sadness that I complete this course. You’ve all been an important part of my life these past months and...
Read MoreDear Judith, Lizzie and Mary, It is with a touch of sadness that I complete this course. You’ve all been an important part of my life these past months and I’m sad to see you go. Although that is not entirely true as I know I will be accessing highlights from this course on many occasions! I’m an RYT with 13 years of teaching experience and I still have a good deal to learn. I loved the way the course was structured and really had many AHA moments. I hear your voices in my head when I practice and teach-in a good way! I highly recommend this course for all yoga instructors and practitioners-you are guaranteed to learn something and have some laughs as well. I enjoyed your camaraderie and the care you all took in designing and presenting this course in addition to reminding us that we are all human after all. My only criticism is that as a non Facebook user I felt a bit left out...it wasn’t a showstopper but you may want to adjust the way you incorporate Facebook into your future courses for those of us who have no desire to use it. Thank you for all that you continue to do to promote the safe and educated teaching of yoga- with deep gratitude...
Read LessAs a new teacher of Yoga I found this course helpful, inspiring and interesting to boot! I so enjoyed the wisdom of Judith Hanson Lasater that she so generou...
Read MoreAs a new teacher of Yoga I found this course helpful, inspiring and interesting to boot! I so enjoyed the wisdom of Judith Hanson Lasater that she so generously and lovingly shared with us and Mary Richards’ lectures are so full of passion for anatomy, while her explanations are clear and easy to understand.
Read LessI always wanted to learn more about anatomy but I was afraid of failing, never understanding and not knowing how to apply and share it in a relatable, ever...
Read MoreI always wanted to learn more about anatomy but I was afraid of failing, never understanding and not knowing how to apply and share it in a relatable, everyday way. But this course changed all of that and it is a treasure I’ll keep going back to and finding hidden gems again and again.
Read LessYes! The course begins with anatomy fundamentals, and moves into a back care practicum that will dramatically impact both your practice and teaching. From Anatomy to Asana to Therapeutics each week we move sequentially into deeper layers of understanding.
Yes. At the end of the course you will receive a certificate of completion for 30 non-contact hours. After that, you can submit for continuing education credit from Yoga Alliance in the United States. If you live outside the USA, please ask your equivalent organization if they accept digital training as non-contact hours.
We know you might be busy this summer. That's why we guarantee two years access to the course material. Additionally, our experts are available for two months of live support to respond to your questions. Honestly, this might be your only chance to take the Back Care Immersion. We have no plans to run this course again.
We recommend you have a copy of Judith's book, "Yogabody: Anatomy, Kinesiology, and Asana." While not required, we also think you'll enjoy subscribing to Anatomus or downloading the Pocket Anatomy App..
Absolutely! We've structured the course with serious students in mind. This embodied learning will change the way you practice and experience your own vertebral column.
No worries, this course was designed with pre-millennials in mind; and we're always here to help with tech questions. Facebook is the place for our lively community discussions. Students and teachers can post and interact within our private group page. We strongly encourage you to join - it's quite fun. But, if you'd prefer to stay off social media, you'll still have full access to all official course content on our learning platform.
No. These dynamic learning videos are pre-recorded. Each week, your host Lizzie Lasater works with either Mary Richards or her Mama, Judith Hanson Lasater. Each webinar combines lecture, discussion, Pocket Anatomy 3D visualization, and on the mat demonstrations.
We don't think so. While some of the material will be review, giving you a chance to solidify your learning, the focus on therapeutic applications of asana is new.
We want you to be 100% delighted with your learning experience. If, for any reason, you're disappointed after the first week of the course, we will be happy to issue a full refund.
Are you ready to join the learning adventure?