Degenerative Disc Disease with Dr. Libby Hinsley

About this episode

Dr. Libby Hinsley discusses degenerative disc disease and how yoga teachers can support students with this diagnosis.

Students often share scary-sounding diagnoses with their yoga teachers and expect us to know what they are - and how to modify for them. Today’s episode is the first of a miniseries about some of the most common conditions that will show up in a yoga classroom. Dr. Libby Hinsley demystifies the misleading diagnosis of “degenerative disc disease” - and shares the tools you will need as a yoga teacher to confidently help any student who tells you they have it. Episode Highlights: How your back is like a Jelly Doughnut! What IS “degenerative disc” and what impact should it have on your practice? The relationship between bulging, slipped, and herniated discs (hint - one of these isn’t a real thing). The prevalence of spinal abnormalities - and how worried we should be if they show up on imaging. The relationship between degenerative disc disease and backbends. Nerve compression symptoms and how to modify for them. Episode Links & Resources: Visit Anatomy Bites Libby Hinsley Follow Libby Hinsley on Instagram @libbyhinsleypt Follow Libby Hinsley on Facebook Other Resources: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga…

People in this episode

Host: Mado Hesselink

Guest: Dr. Libby Hinsley

Topics covered

• degenerative disc disease
• yoga modifications
• spinal health
• back pain
• yoga classroom conditions

Keywords

• degenerative disc disease
• yoga
• back pain
• modifications
• spinal abnormalities
• nerve compression
• bulging discs

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Anatomy Bites, Yoga Teacher Resource

More episodes of Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast

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• Teaching With an Injury with Juzbi Walia [On-Air Coaching Call] · April 23, 2026 · 33 min
• Why Running a Yoga Business Feels so Hard (and things that will help) · April 9, 2026 · 17 min
• Inside Anatomy Bites with Dr Libby Hinsley · April 2, 2026 · 1h 14m