Course Description
The vast majority of Americans are growing into their senior and golden years, and beginning to experience the physical effects of aging. It is becoming imperative that Yoga Teachers learn to adapt their classes to safeguard the health of their Senior students. This Workshop will review the most pertinent health issues facing the Boomer and Senior population, the yogic prescriptions for wellness and the necessary counter-indications for a safe, fun and effective Chair and Senior Yoga practice. You will be given a large selection of tools necessary to plan and teach an effective and inspired class.
Catch the Passion for Teaching to Seniors!
This is one of Sherry’s popular Teacher Training Workshops and consists of a 4-part Series that will get you immersed in the amazing journey of aging and Yoga. This series was the seed that sprouted into the comprehensive 60-Hr Online Chair Yoga Teacher Training Program. It’s a great start for anyone interested in teaching Chair and/or Senior Yoga.
You will learn so much about the aging body and how Yoga can help! This workshop will help you become familiar with the issues facing this student community and give you more confidence to teach to this demographic. Each module has a detailed hand-out with illustrations, poses and modifications, as well as Video Lectures to enhance your learning experience.
After this workshop::
- You will learn about the aging body and how Yoga can help!
- You will be familiar with the issues facing this student community and give you more confidence to teach to this demographic.
- You will have a library of poses and adaptive modifications you can immediately bring into your teaching.
Each module has a detailed hand-out with illustrations, poses and modifications, as well as Video Lectures to enhance your learning experience.
Get Full Credit Back!
Apply the Full Amount of this Workshop towards the Full Chair Yoga Teacher Training Program
This 4.5 Hour workshop will give you a thorough Foundation of Teaching Chair Yoga to Seniors. Our 60-Hour Online Chair Yoga Training and Certification program provides deep dives into each of these Topic Modules plus LOTS more!
Contact us for a Coupon Code to use at checkout when you sign up for the full Certification Program.
Course Outline
| Module 1 | Fundamentals of Teaching Chair and Gentle Yoga with Sherry Zak Morris, C-IAYT |
| Unit 1 | Video and Handout: Fundamentals of Teaching Chair and Gentle Yoga |
| Module 2 | Anatomy of Aging - Exploring our Structure Through Movement |
| Unit 1 | Handout: Anatomy of Aging - Exploring our Structure Through Movement |
| Unit 2 | VIDEO: Anatomy of Aging – Exploring our Structure Through Movement - Part 1 |
| Unit 3 | VIDEO: Anatomy of Aging – Exploring our Structure Through Movement - Part 2 |
| Module 3 | Class Framework: How to Build and Deliver a Chair Yoga Class |
| Unit 1 | Video and Handout: Class Framework: How to Build and Deliver a Chair Yoga Class |
| Module 4 | Bonus - Chair Yoga Class Scripts |
| Unit 1 | Handout: BONUS! Class Sequences for Chair Yoga: Senior Yoga, Wheelchair Yoga and Deskworker Scripts |
| Module 5 | Quiz: Yoga for Seniors and the Anatomy of Aging |
| Unit 1 | Quiz: Yoga for Seniors and the Anatomy of Aging |
| Unit 2 | CEU-Yoga for Seniors |
| Unit 3 | Optional: 30-minute Chair Yoga Teachback Submission for IAYT ADP Credit |
4 Learning Modules
Module 1: Fundamentals of Teaching Chair and Gentle Yoga -This module addresses the unique approach to teaching to people with limited mobility and physical limitations. Learn how and why we need to adapt Yoga asanas to keep our students safe and motivated. We will cover specific teaching, movement and student philosophies by looking at photos of actual students and breaking down movements that are accessible to everyone.
Module 2: Anatomy of Aging – Exploring our Structure Through Movement – This module addresses the common misconceptions about the aging body and offers the participant the opportunity to explore the body from the inside out through Gentle and Chair Yoga movements. The body is a beautiful structure that works at its optimum when aligned and supported. The aging body has the ability to continue to have strong bones, muscles and joints when encouraged by safe and supportive movements. We will cover the common issues, injuries, physical limitations and modifications present in a Chair and Gentle Yoga class.
Module 3: Class Framework: How to Build and Deliver a Chair Yoga Class – Learn a modular way to create a 30, 45 or 60 minute Chair Yoga class that meets the needs of your specific student demographic. The extensive hand-out includes a wide variety of seated and standing poses which will become your Chair Yoga Encyclopedia! Learn how to make your classes fun, unique, different and educational!
Module 4: One-Hr Chair Yoga Class and Dances – Putting our Learning Into Practice – Let’s have fun and move together! Enjoy a complete one hour Chair Yoga class which includes warm-ups and breathwork, upper body movements, seated postures, standing and balances sequences, and lower body work. This class includes two Chair Yoga Dances to get you smiling and feeling great!
BONUS! Class Sequences for Chair Yoga. Don’t know where to start with your class script? Use these suggested 30 minute class sequences as a baseline … and add your own spice!
Sneak Preview
All of the knowledge and experience we accumulate gets process by our hearts and our minds and gets distilled into our OWN teaching style. That is why you are a one-of-a-kind Yoga Teacher! As a Teacher, you educate others. That’s the ultimate purpose in what we do. So, whether you have a long list of credentials or a short list … know that you are good enough NOW to teach someone that needs your special light!
Testimonials
Live Workshop Attendees
“Excellent presentation skills and cuing for the exercises. I learned some new moves to help my senior students. I liked the way Sherry related the moves to the muscle groups and the reason why we should do the movements.”
“Tremendous – when is the book coming out!! A wealth of info. Could not say enough, what you are doing for the profession with your teaching and online videos is just great. You are a Yoga hero!”
“Great as usual. Every time I listen to you, Sherry, you are fun and you are always add so many new things. Thank you.”
TinaMarie Connelly, Shirley, New York, USA
I’m in the middle of a course I purchased from Yoga Vista Academy…Fundamentals of Chair Yoga with Sherry Zak Morris, Anatomy of Aging & can I just say how much I’m loving it! I never thought after my teacher training I’d find myself teaching chair yoga but here I am & I LOVE it. Thank you for your wonderful content & fantastic teachers.
Jinhe Min, Seoul, KOREA
I want to thank you so so much for your wonderful class yesterday. The students {here in Korea} were so so so happy with your teachings. They felt really clear, gained confidence and were truly inspired by you and the teachings. All of them conveyed so much gratitude to you:)))) And I thought you did amazingly great!
Christina G., Vienna, Virginia, USA
I truly believe that all YTT 200 programs should also include a course like this one for aging/older adult population. Even though I tend to have clients that are between 16-40 I believe that it would be beneficial to have this type of knowledge under your belt.
Melinda P., Strongsville, Ohio, USA
I enjoyed your workshop very much. I feel a big shift coming in my teaching philosophy as a result of the knowledge your are sharing. I look forward to reading the manual, watching and doing more of your videos, and the next live workshop.
Alison D., Tampa, Florida, USA
I absolutely LOVED the intro package about Chair Yoga for Seniors. It was clear, concise and presented with a spirit of authentic joy. I am hoping to utilize the approach you shared so delightfully at the new residence I will be moving to.
Gerry Hurtig
Parrish, Florida | United States
Teaching “on the fly” happens all the time. Yesterday I taught my weekly Yin Yoga class. When I entered the room I had my normal group of students as well as two new students seated in chairs – (Enter YVA Chair Yoga and Yoga for Seniors training). I modified Yin Asana’s for the chair for these students. In addition, I had students with lower back-pain (Enter YVA Yoga for Low-Back Pain) and used certain movements for them. But wait – there’s more! I had a student that is 8 months pregnant (Enter YVA Pregnancy Yoga – STOP – there isn’t one!!), so I modified low-back and gentle yoga for this student. Total student population for this session – 27. One never knows what comes to them and we use the skills that we have learned over the years. THANKS Sherry Zak Morris and Justine Shelton for your teachings and instilling the confidence in us to address each class with a deep breath and confidence. You two R-O-C-K!
Chair Yoga CertifiedGentle Yoga CertifiedLow Back Certified
Joy J., Vienna, Virginia, USA
I can’t recommend this course enough for people who are working with the aging population. It is a must! Their expertise in the aging population and their slides and explanation and demos as well as experiencing for ourselves, helped bring the understanding to a maximum potential.
Melissa W., Strongsville, Ohio, USA
Sherry was so knowledgeable in chair yoga and how to teach a yoga class to seniors or people with physical limitations. I learn many poses/techniques to incorporate in my chair class that could really benefit my students range of motion and make their daily routines smoother.
Marilyn F., Ohio , USA
Enjoyed the presentations, handouts and videos. I got started watching and couldn’t stop! This was very helpful.
Jackie Currie, Avon Lake, Ohio, USA
One of your “aha” moments was particularly useful to me. I am going to begin applying the module suggestion. I think I was already sort of doing it, but when you explained it yesterday a light bulb went on for me. I don’t think I was truly taught how to go about adapting to different audiences quickly in my original training.