The Montreal International Symposium on Therapeutic Yoga is back for another year. After last year’s successful debut, once again Montreal is a place of convergence for all those in the yoga and health care community interested in yoga as a therapy alongside conventional medicine.

“Last year was absolutely heartwarming,” says Heleen Couvrette, the organizer of MISTY (and founder of H-om Yoga in St. Lazare, near Montreal). “The energy was deeply felt by the faculty. There was a sense of connection and support for each other. People attended each other’s sessions.” She felt that a community emerged among those who are involved in the pursuit of the well-being of the individual, the reduction of symptoms, the restoration of balance, the increase of vitality and relief of pain.

The symposium brings together prominent practitioners to share techniques and observations, as well as to consider the issues of therapeutic yoga, such as certification and working with the medical community. Last year’s event established the symposium as a major platform in the field of therapeutic yoga in North America. This year’s edition of MISTY builds on that success.

The faculty for this year’s edition includes several Montrealers, such as Carina Raisman and Dr. Madan Bali. It has also boosted the French track, which now includes 40% of the presentations. Among many accomplished presenters, Leslie Kaminoff, the author of the acclaimed “Yoga Anatomy”, will present an afternoon session on The Deep Core Support. Bestselling yoga author Amy Weintraub will present 2 sessions: Yoga for Mood Management and Trauma Recovery from a Yoga Perspective. Kate Potter, Creator of Namaste TV, will present a session on Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy.

The field of therapeutic yoga is growing rapidly. It fosters the ability to offer specific yoga practices that heal various problems (for more discussion of therapeutic yoga in Montreal, follow this link to a 2010 Eclectic Yogi article on Yogamontreal.com). This event is becoming the reference event in Canada for this field. It reaches out to yoga teachers, students, physiotherapists, osteopaths, researchers, educators, policy makers, senior government officials at the federal, state/provincial and municipal levels, university presidents, professors, research scientists and all others interested in health.

Hope to see you there!

MISTY takes place at the Le Westin Montréal Hotel in Old Montreal, October 20-21, 2012. For more info: http://www.homyogaevents.com/index.html

Therapeutic Yoga Teacher Training Information Session

An information session (and open house and mocktail party) is being held on August 30 at Yoga Re:source for those who are interested in a therapeutic yoga teacher training program starting this fall.

This is a 300-hr program designed to bridge the gap between medical science and yogic philosophy. By outlining health as the body’s collective response to any experience, students will learn from a wide spectrum of tools, such as posture correction and stress management, which can then be applied as added knowledge to their current practice. It is open to yoga teachers, massage therapists, naturopaths, Pilates instructors, etc.

Yoga re:source is located at 5141, St-Denis, corner Laurier (Laurier Metro). Website: http://resourceyoga.com/yoga-therapeutics-certification/