Testimonials: Online Chair Yoga Training Course

I had my doubts last winter if I could make it through with everything going on in my life but I will say with no doubt that you inspired me, Corey, to finish. After you helped me with the timing and schedule I was re-energized.

I enjoyed the Posture Project, feel like I am more aware of the misalignments in the yoga students and just in the general population! I catch myself looking at people everywhere I go with attention to their posture. I loved the idea of the questionnaire and the before and after photos of the students. The Fascia-nation sequence is a fun way to introduce the students to the fascia netting of our bodies.

I am learning so much thru this certification program! So grateful that I found You and Chair Yoga. I love the gentle yoga classes I teach and look forward to teaching Chair Yoga!

Thank you for your teachings. Your chair yoga course is very thorough and student friendly course to take. I learned a lot watching the videos as well.

I am almost done with the course work. I have been really enjoying the quality and thoroughness of the curriculum. I am currently teaching Gentle Yoga to students who are in their 50s- 80s in the community clubhouse here in N.C.. The course information has been so helpful. I have about 25-30 students that faithfully attend my classes and have fallen in love with benefits of Gentle Yoga to keep their aging bodies, minds, and spirits healthy.

Thank you Justine for your encouraging words! You and Sherry, together, are gifts to all of us who have completed the certification program. You are truly gifts that keep on giving! The knowledge you have provided for us is so deeply appreciated. Not only knowledge, but wisdom that you both are so generous in sharing with us. I truly love and admire both of you. Cannot thank you enough.

I have a 90 minute class on Saturdays for Midlifers with asana adapted to individual needs. I have incorporated my chair yoga knowledge in my class as 2 of my students have mobility issues and have trouble getting onto the mat. What a blessing to know how to adapt the postures to the chair. Thank you so much for this certification class Sherry. It is really coming in handy teaching the 40+ age demographic.

Omg both certifications have been the best investments that I have made in a long night time. You are amazing yoga treasures.

Thanks for these very helpful tips. Thanks also for your nice comments. I really appreciate how much thought you have put into my teach back.

This chair yoga training was my first real experience receiving good knowledge and training. I loved it so very much!!! Sincerely thanks for doing what you do, and I’m just so blessed that I found you. A big fan.

I love this training program! There truly is NOTHING I would change. I could work at my own pace, study offline (handouts), study online (videos) watching as the material was discussed/ practiced and real, live class instruction demonstrated, then take the tests when I was ready. Since I tend to be more of a visual learner, this approach really fit my preferred learning style perfectly! There were plenty of real examples provided and lots of bonus extra videos to supplement my learning. I have all the handouts in one big binder and still refer to it for ideas, yet love the idea that I can go back to the website whenever I desire. After course completion, I felt well prepared to teach classes on my own…and I have!

The live mentoring component was invaluable. Viki is a highly skilled and effective instructor. She is extremely competent, and has a way about her that makes learning easy and fun. I found that her personal interaction with us was key to engagement in the program. In addition, Viki went above and beyond. She was extremely welcoming and supportive. She established relationships with the individuals in the class. She reached out to us with information, reminders, and follow ups. What was perhaps the most helpful, was Viki’s willingness to have us observe and participate in her chair yoga classes. Observing her teach provided an entirely different learning experience. For me, that was the most valuable learning lesson of them all.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this course and learnt so much. Information that I can use for my Chair Yoga Classes but also for my regular yoga practices as well. Everything was explained so simply and was easy to understand, its also great that I can keep going back over information and re watch the videos when I need to. I would not hesitate in recommending this course to anyone who is looking to teach chair yoga or yoga for seniors.

I have been teaching Chair yoga for the past 2 years and would never have attempted it without the help from your video’s. My 200 hour training covered a very small portion of chair yoga. After my Chemo, I know all about the aches and pains of aging and now I can feel for my students in a whole new light. I was asked to teach another class at the senior place, and feel I need more knowledge, so thank you for this course and hopefully this 73 year old body and mind can keep up. I love my class at the senior housing and the people, they keep me so motivated and uplifted, it is the best thing I could have done.

It’s all going smooth and sweet so far. And such a great training! Really good work. Many practical advices, examples, testimonies, shared experiences, all knowledge good and precisely presented, easy to follow (nice handouts!) and very practice oriented. Well done indeed.

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!

For me, being an online student I haven’t had the opportunity to meet Sherry in person or visit her Yoga Vista Studio. Hesitant at first to sign up for an online course(especially a yoga course) I mean, how good could it really be, it’s online? It didn’t take very long (the 1st module) to realize the high level of Sherry’s yoga knowledge and her ability to relate and transfer that knowledge to us even via online. Any doubt I had disappeared, I knew I had made a wise decision to sign up for the Chair Yoga Training Course at Yoga Vista Academy.

Since I started the course I’ve had a few things come up that have forced me to postpone my training for a bit. Sherry has been so understanding and fully willing and able to work with me as I get my life and training back on course. Because of her I hope to soon be able to add my name to the list of Chair Yoga Course grads at Yoga Vista Academy.

But for me the most important and best about Yoga Vista Academy is Sherry herself. She has been able to make me feel part of her community and able to send her love for yoga and her students even all the way to the other side of the US. I feel close to Sherry, and I’ve never even meet her. This is the best thing about Yoga Vista Academy. In a word Sherry. Thank you Sherry.

I learned so much from Sherry Zak Morris and her Yoga Vista Academy team during the six-month online Mentor Chair Yoga Program! The most impressive results for me are: I have more participants in my classes – my energy is in the flow! I used to get very tired after the sessions. Now I’m filled with energy, love and grace which the students give me back!

The Videos and Online Modules are very exciting; you learn Yoga poses and anatomy from a different perspective. Yes, and I found out that I’m an entertainer! We laugh and giggle a lot more during Chair Yoga! Thank you Sherry Zak Morris, Corey Stiles and Justine Shelton!

Namaste from Switzerland

“Hundreds of people walk outside our doors throughout the year, and we pay no attention them. We only pay our attention to those that knock on our doors.” I think of our minds like that with energy and intuition. Intuition brought me to your online class. I am grateful for the intuitive knock.

I’m thoroughly enjoying the course and learning so much. I’ve worked with seniors a number of years and have been teaching chair yoga for about 10 years. I started this course as a refresher and to learn some new ideas, but this course is so much more than I expected it to be! Love it! You’re a great teacher.

The online course was of a very high standard under the expertise, guidance and professionalism of Sherry Zak Morris. The course itself was online but any questions or queries on any aspect of the course were expertly dealt by Sherry who always returned any of my queries very efficiently and in a quick response. There was in depth material and on line classes that suited the needs of all the requirements of my students.The course has been invaluable in increasing my knowledge and expertise to many groups of Seniors.

Before this project, I never REALLY looked at peoples’ posture very much. It’s amazing what I saw and learned from having to observe people and write this paper. Seems like everywhere I go now, I’m looking at a person’s posture and trying to figure out what the issues are and how to improve them. Thanks Sherry!

I have been enrolled with the Yoga Vista Academy since June and have been very pleased with the attention to detail and quality of the on-line program. Sherry is always knowledgeable and entertaining with her approach at offering the material, and Justine speaks to the ‘anatomy nerd’ in me!

I have been a teacher for many years and appreciate the difficulty in presenting material in a clear, concise manner, especially via online education.

Thank you for this opportunity to win this valuable teaching tool.

Loved the program and have been recommending it big time. I learned a lot from it and have brought many things I learned into my regular classes as well. I feel so much better about teaching seniors and chair yoga after taking this course. You probably were able to tell I have mastered the tea cup and finally figured out how to cue it. All my students love that one and many others. My feedback is all positive. Being able to do it on my time table was extremely helpful. I did everything! The videos were great as well as the anatomy PDFs.

Every class I get compliments and my class sizes are steady and growing. Love it! So much to learn. I hope that I can figure out a way to do this full time!

I think this is one of the best online courses I have ever taken. I do teach chair yoga already, and I have already gotten so many new ideas! I am passionate about my seniors, and I know this wonderful course will make me an even better teacher!

I am really learning amazing things about yoga and the aging process.

I also like the way that you try to encourage us to be creative, which shows both on your handouts and videos. One of the many best things in this program is that there’s no time limit, which doesn’t put much stress on the students (like me)! All in all, I have to say that I do love this fruitful program!

I had no idea how successful my chair yoga classes would be! I started a class in January as a volunteer at our senior center. From that I have grown exponentially via word of mouth. I am now teaching 6 classes a week, and am being asked to do more.

Thank you from the center of my heart for your patience and kindness. I am SO grateful that you, your amazing team, and chair yoga has come into my life!! I hear from my students how they have benefited from their practice of chair yoga. Classes are full, fun, and flexible.

It hit home just how much posture is correlated with pain and discomfort. I always thought, “what’s the big deal? Just stand up straight!” Now that I’m a senior I have so much more compassion and I’m getting a taste of what my students are experiencing! The students find relief with regular practice with emphasis on awareness and alignment and that in itself is huge. Love your program. I have been inspired the whole way through. I am so thankful.

I am offering a Chair Yoga for Vets on Veterans Day and am confident with my ability and looking forward to the challenge. Thank you for everything!

Thank you so much for the time, effort, and passion you offer to your students. The comprehensive feedback/Final Report was so positive and uplifting…and extremely helpful–not just the accolades, but also the suggestions for improvement. I’ll implement those important recommendations immediately. Excellent.

You are truly the teacher’s teacher, a brilliant role model, and a shining example of what true yoga is really about.

If someone were to ask me where to find the best information and lessons about Chair Yoga, I would (and have, many times) send them to Yoga JP and Yoga Vista Academy. Even though the training is remote (as in, not in person), I felt as if I knew Sherry and Justine and the regular teachers and could go to any of them if I had questions. The information provided in the training is comprehensive, and having text and videos plays to everyone’s learning style. I could not recommend this program more. I already was teaching Chair Yoga, but this has made me a better teacher. Thank you to Sherry and the crew.

Thank you so much for putting together this wonderful program, which has brought so much to my chair yoga teaching.

I recently gave up my job to teach more classes and set up a lovely chair yoga class in my home town Tramore for the active retired, and a nursing home has asked me to start this Tuesday so I start your module on Teaching Chair Yoga in Senior Care Facilities before I started on the Teach back. It’s so great to have each and every module, handout and video to help us yogis along in their journey to help others. I will be eternally grateful to you and all your time, effort and love in creating these online courses.

I now have bi-weekly 30 min yoga session with an 87 year old sweetheart, named Lily, in her home. Thanks to Sherry’s business marketing tools which HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY helpful! Your comment about “not selling yourself short” is SO true!! I wasn’t sure what to provide for a rate when asked and used your reference guide. However, I was nervous I was asking too much! And guess what – It was accepted!

Someone asked me recently if I thought my Chair Yoga training through Yoga Vista Academy was worth the price. Let me explain it this way: I always wanted to teach yoga for seniors (and disabled veterans) but I was always afraid to even approach it, afraid of accidentally hurting a senior, afraid of senior anatomy and health issues…until I saw some of Sherry’s videos and thought, ‘THAT is the kind of senior yoga class I want to teach.’ I developed a level of confidence with designing classes and teaching seniors that I truly hadn’t expected.

People are the very heart of the yoga visa academy. I love friendliness the optimism & positive support from everyone I have come into contact with.

The knowledge you share in such a loving & generous way, and the positive feedback & support you give is so enabling. I love that within 4 weeks of starting my Chair Yoga class Yoga Vista has already helped me to make a difference to people’s lives. One student told me she was now confident to climb the stairs using alternate feet (rather than leading with just one leg) and a second that she could now do up her shoes. I think that really says it all. Thank you so much …

Thank you so much!! I’m so very pleased with the online chair yoga course, it has been very insightful and greatly expanded my understanding of yoga asana. The online course webpage was so simple and easy to navigate. It had a nice flow and loads & loads of information and poses! I really enjoyed learning from home, at my own pace. I thought it was really great, so thank you!

THANK YOU so much for your excellent program. It has been a life changer for me and many of my students. I hope to continue growing and helping those in this community.

I just wanted to share with you what happened in my chair yoga class at the Senior Citizens yesterday. We had a regular class and I had been teaching the tray and tea cup exercises. At the end of class I passed out little battery operated candles and explained this would be our quiet restful closing. I turned off the lights as they turned on their candles and we did the tea cup. Everyone was quiet for a minute then they all broke out into the children’s Bible song “Let you little light shine”. It was such an encouraging and inspirational event. Thanks for showing me all the benefits and pleasures of chair yoga. Please keep it up! You just don’t know how many people you uplift and inspire!!!

Thank you for the course – it’s so comprehensive ! I’ve encouraged several other local teachers to consider taking the course – seated yoga is much less developed in UK than it clearly is in the US. But with our changing population I have no doubt it will grow fast – I certainly hope so – I’m a huge fan!

Yoga Vista Academy inspires me through its newsletters and YouTube videos. However, the impact of working my way through the Chair Yoga Certification program has made a tremendous difference in my growth as a Chair Yoga teacher. Teaching Chair Yoga classes to people with widely differing abilities requires significant knowledge to ensure student safety as well as their progression. Yoga Vista Academy gave me that and so much more as part of their certification program. And I know there’s more to come!!!

I like Yoga Vista Academy for many reasons including lots of important, applicable information for a demographic that benefits from chair yoga, full length and shorter videos on focused sequences, and inspirational instructors.

What I like best though is how user friendly the information and sequences are; offering me the opportunity to incorporate different flows and poses into my classes for a very appreciative group of yogis. They enjoy learning and experiencing something different each week and I am able to offer something for everyone for the benefit of all.

Thank you Sherry, Justine, and everyone at the academy!

I have to say that I am THOROUGHLY enjoying this course. As a technical writer and instructional designer for the past 25 years, I have to admit that I am a bit “snobbish” about participating in training programs as an attendee. The design of this course is fabulous. I love that you provide the options of auditory and visual means for learning (I happen to be visual).

The size of each module allows a person to successfully complete the modules even within the time constraints of their personal and professional lives. I particularly like having the PDF files (not only because I’m visual) but because I can print them and highlight things that warrant my personal attention further.

I completed the posture project for the 50+ this morning!!! I love to watch your videos which are very easy to listen and understand. You inspire me with so many ideas and I’m very excited to prepare my one hour class incorporating hula motion since I live in Hawaii.

The course was so well organized and informative. I’m really glad that I decided to expand on that weekend workshop with you in Chicago and pursue the full certification.

Almost done with chapter 1 and I love everything about this already! I loved your introduction and the picture of your half lotus pose is me!
I feel at home! The way you talk and present yourself totally draws me to this program!

Awesome on line course! Sherry has been so helpful – Great Hands on Guidance! I never expected Sherry to actually call me and walk me through the steps to get my Mac set up for the course! I truly felt welcomed and on my way to success! The video’s and written materials are spot on! Great resources to go back to again and again! I am grateful that my Yoga Journey has taken me down the Chair Yoga path. Thank you to everyone at Yoga Vista Academy. Keep up the great work! Namaste!

I am learning a TON! This program is so fascinating, approachable, and immediately applicable. I’m loving it!

And a huge thank you Sherry for putting this course together. I don’t really have anything but praise for it. I found it very, very informative, well planned, easy to follow, and hard and extensive enough I’m sure, to ensure only those really interested in the training/qualification would put the time and effort in to see it through. Great course. PLUS I was also soooo lucky in being able to come and meet you all and join some of the classes at Vista.

Taking this class has been an amazing experience for me. I am impressed with the amount of past and ongoing research you have put into it. This is obviously a labor of love for you and you must know how many lives you have touched. The lessons are well constructed and easy to follow. Your positive attitude is infectious. I LOVE all the videos and watch at least one a day, whether it’s chair yoga, gentle yoga, somatics, or one of the educational clips. One of the things I most appreciate is the time you take to make the class personal. You responded immediately to every email I sent, answering my questions an offering encouragement. I also appreciated the time you took to thoroughly review my teachback and provide specific, helpful comments. Where do you find the time and energy for all this?!? I am amazed. Thank you so much for the work you do. You have personally blessed many lives, and your love and compassion is radiated to the world through all those you teach. You are a gem.

The course was so helpful and appropriate for teaching seniors yoga. I felt very supported and have enjoyed my teaching so much more. The library of asanas, I’m sure is every yoga teachers dream. I understand the aging body so much better. Helping to understand the asanas and why we do them. I also feel that the people who attend my classes are benefiting from that knowledge.

I have learnt so much from doing your Chair Yoga online course, I have been a teacher for 5 yrs now and a student for over 22yrs and I learnt so much than I did in my main teacher training, I would encourage anyone that is interested in teaching not just seniors but any form of chair yoga to invest in this amazing course. A friend asked me why did I choose Yoga Vista Academy and my answer was easy, I felt like Sherry and I taught along the same path, I like to think I teach from my heart and allow people to shine in their own light and that’s how I experienced doing my training during this amazing course. Absolutely LOVED the whole course, thank you for the experience and sharing your love of yoga with me.

Since I graduated and got certified, I m starting another chair yoga class in another village and was approached by a local care home to do a class there too. I am seeing if I can fit it into my schedule as the local high school asked me to do a yoga class there for the students and one for the teachers so it is all full steam head!! Thank you Universe.

This is my fourth week teaching my chair yoga classes. I am doing three a week and everyone is loving it. We did the dance to ‘What a Wonderful World’ this week. THANK YOU. Sherry, I am HAVING SO MUCH FUN AND CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH. I hope I get to hug you one day in person. You are a blessing to me and so many others!!!!

Delving into the course material over the span of about five months helped me learn the importance of the “why” behind each movement and communicate that to the seniors I teach. As I continued through the course I applied what I learned in my classes which made them fresh and vibrant each time. I have significantly expanded my movement repertoire and confidence regardless of my audience size or level. I am better equipped to pull up whatever is needed to meet the group or person in front of me.

The course material is meticulous, well organized and infused with live vignettes and lots of subject matter experts in related fields. The handouts and multidimensional libraries of anatomy and poses are just wonderful! I think it’s a win win for all yoga teachers wherever you are in your practice and teaching.

I was prepared to take human anatomy at my local community college as an enrichment to my yoga teacher training, but the anatomy of the aging body is more than I would have had. I wanted to know the how’s and why’s of aging. These are the tools that allow me in depth understanding and compassion for Seniors and for those with limited mobility. The medical names are important to know, and are delivered in such a way that I remember terms and how they fit into my daily work of teaching chair yoga. I’m not going to just read and take a test, I’m retaining so much of what I am learning, and applying it. Your program has so many pictures, sequencing, cue tips, and practical helps. It just goes on and on.

The coursework was broken up into well organized and manageable sections, all very appropriate for the topics – info you need to know. 2- The quizzes were great highlights of more important information.

The online class was perfect for me. It was easy to stop and start when I needed to and thanks for the extension from 6 months to almost a year! The videos made the experience more real and helped with ideas for my own class. As you know I have been borrowing and using you ideas for a long time!

It’s been an incredible journey. Loved the way new information formatted. Great videos, meeting new teachers, becoming friends ,exploring new ways to help seniors live better. Sherry and Justine made the course easy and fun while learning. Looking forward to my last get together in 10 days.

I know that you value our great news, we mortal Chair Yogi students of yours! For the past five months, each Tuesday morn I have been teaching at the Elenora sixties & better community Center’ and I’m growing in confidence as the class grows! A local retirement Center has given me the go ahead to teach every Wednesday morning there after I gave a Complimentary class to their residents Thanks once again for all your wonderful support!

It was such a blessing for me to come across the Yoga Vista Academy online program. It’s inexpensive and easy to work. I was able to recieve such detailed knowledge on the aging process and all the main issues that can contribute to pain. Learning about the anatomy was so helpful. I appreciated the information to print and videos to reinforce what you are learning. I loved Sherry’s style and she really inspired me to become the best chair yoga teacher I can be.

There are different types and styles of yoga and working with students on this program that brings such variety and benefits. All the teachers are dedicated and inspiring. You become a part of that community, with the ability to use the videos as often as you desire. I could go on and on about Yoga Vista Academy online program. I plan on continuing going through some more of the many workshops and programs, for there are many! I recommend it highly!

I would like to thank you for offering such a wonderful course online. As I am going along and studying the material, I am learning so much about the body and the way to structure classes to help the older adults to stay active and live a more happy and healthy lifestyle.

I am happy to provide feedback on this great program. You are an innovator in this field.

The chair yoga training course was informative, easy to follow and well organized. The continual updates are so helpful to give our students new information and keep our classes fresh and fun. Sherry has a special way of making movement joyful and challenging. Our 4 times with our mentors helped us share new ideas and experiences.

Thank you so much for the nice comments and thank you for sharing your knowledge of chair yoga, it is truly appreciated. Everything that I have learned from you has made me a more confident instructor and I will continue to research and learn more on your website. Thanks again for everything you do and for being my saving grace.

I feel so blessed to have found you and Justine and your program. You have enriched my life and through the knowledge I have gained in your program, I can pay it forward.

What I like about Yoga Vista Academy..

1. Something new for this part of Canada
2. The information given is perfect for seniors. The anatomy of aging is so helpful in planning my yoga sessions.
3. The library of asanas is the best thing ever!!
4. Sherry and Justine are so informative and extremely helpful
5. I feel so good about myself because I can teach yoga for many more years, also helping to keep myself fit and healthy
6. Thank you very much I am so glad yoga vista is in my life!! Hopefully I can come to Vista next October. ????

I have been so blessed to learn about Sherry Zak Morris and Vista Yoga Academy with the online curriculum for Chair Yoga certification! She is a phenomenal teacher and explains everything clearly and with joy and a great positive attitude, which is contagious!!! Also, the mentoring of Josee Madison has been such encouragement to grow, improve in my knowledge of the human body and how to help hurting people. Sherry’s online teaching program for Chair Yoga is complete, detailed and thorough! I have confidence, through her knowledge and detailed understanding of the body, to be able to help so many hurting people and give them Hope! Kudos to Josee and Sherry for all you do! Thank you for your patience in helping me do my best!

I really enjoyed going through the course at my own pace and found that I learned and re learned many things—using your manual. I totally appreciate all that you share and promote. I continually add and learn things from the newsletter and reviewing the manual. The quizzes were helpful.

I found this course to be well designed/formatted and very comprehensive.
It flowed nicely from one area of the body to the next.
The Anatomy section was very detailed, and loved learning about the mechanical aspects of the human body.
The Conditions sections associated with the different areas of the body answered a lot of questions I already had about working safely with a wide variety of ailments that seniors may be experiencing.
The Poses section was filled with great step by step information, which gave me confidence, ensuring I was delivering the information to the class appropriately.
The videos were a fun and inspirational part of the class, seeing various members of the Yoga Vista Community sharing their knowledge.

I am LOVING the program!

It’s always a challenge living in a remote location – being unable to access many ‘live’ training programs.

This one truly is amazing!

I would like to extend my thanks to you. I appreciate that throughout the program you touched base with me/us as students. I always felt that I could reach out to you if I needed to do so because your welcoming personality shines through, even in emails! Your program is a wonderful, comprehensive program.

I’m so excited!! I love, love, loved the in-person training. All participants were positive and energizing. Lynda is amazing; she shared so much valuable insight from her experience. I’m getting so much out of the manual and online training, but I personally would probably never complete it without the energizing and sharing quality of the live training segment. The live segment also gives me reasonable deadlines.

I can honestly say that I’ve never had such a pleasant learning experience. I feel as if I have learned so much more through your program than I did in my 200 hour teacher training. The content was well presented, pertinent and informative. As someone who has struggled with figuring out how she best learns this program was very accessible.

Combine that with the incredible feeling of support, enthusiasm, and downright compassion that comes through in all that you (and all those involved in the program) do .. and you have one heck of a program!

I can’t thank you enough for the joy and creative ideas you bring me. All the very best to you, I wish health to you and your family, and appreciation to all of the wonderful and innovative yoga teachers who contribute to Yoga Vista.

I have taught seniors many times in a yoga class but i took your course because OMG your anatomy, knowledge of diseases in the older population and how you empower the seniors to try different postures….I love love loved this course.

I teach people Parkinson’s disease and dementia. Your certification was a turning point for me. It has changed my life. So grateful for you!

I have been asked to teach at a Nursing Care Home for the Elderly and was feeling very nervous about it. Your course, however has reassured me and I found lots of points useful. For example- starting the class by checking which joints are moving, instead of starting with a quiet meditation. I loved the video showing how you do the shoulder and neck massage. Its something that I do not normally do in my yoga class, but will now be added as I feel much more confident with it. I also like the idea of greeting every student prior to commencing the class. I loved the course!

I have learned a great deal from your program and it served as a great resource for me. My niche is teaching Gentle and Chair in a retirement community, as well as teaching Chair Yoga for Stroke Recovery to support a program developed by a Neuropsychologist. Every week I add new movements and sequences thanks to your classes.

I could never have completed this course in an in-person class situation. Both my husband and I are lucky enough to have our 90+ year old mothers alive and living on their own. Most of our weekends get spent with one or the other; they are a fabulous focus group on what works and what doesn’t for some of my classes! They love all I’ve learned as much as I do.

I feel so blessed to have participated in this training and to have the opportunity to share it all with the senior’s in my community.
Thank you for your knowledge and inspiration Sherry, Justine, and everyone at Yoga Vista Academy.

My journey teaching seniors has and continues to be influenced by your knowledge and guidance. As you know, I have completed your chair certification, very close to finishing the gentle yoga certification and once I have completed I will be signing up for Justine’s Low Back Courses. Having a Crown Membership with access to YogaJP has provided me with invaluable resources that I have been able to provide to my students who range in age from mid 60’s to 97. You are both an inspiration to me and I thank you.

WOW! I received so much personal growth from the Chair Yoga certification course. The teachers are knowledgeable, experienced and supportive which provided for a wonderful learning experience. Each of their unique backgrounds and approaches provided another dimension to the course. The materials were rich with information and well-written. There was so much more that I received from taking this class than I had ever thought possible. Thanks so much for all that you and your staff do to help teachers like me grow in our yogic lives.

I loved this program. It was above and beyond my expectations. The icing on the cake… what really tied it together for me, helping me stay on course and and gain the confidence to teach, was the mentorship program. I don’t think I would have done as nearly a good job on my teachback nor felt the confidence that I do (even if it’s at the sappling level ) if it hadn’t been for this part of the program and Corey.

Corey helped us build our skills and confidence session by session in a safe and affirming way, offering great feedback and sharing her wisdom as well. I feel blessed to have her as my mentor. Having a cohort of other students was also important aspect of the program. It gave me a sense of having a community in which to grow and develop as a teacher, and I really appreciated being able to learn from and share with the other students.

I appreciate all the time, effort, collaboration, and years of learning that were so evident throughout this course. The course was structured really beautifully, introducing material that built from the ground up what it means to be a chair yoga teacher for seniors at all different levels of health/fitness. The Methods and Philosophy section communicated the essential elements of teaching and structuring a class so that I had a nuanced lens through which to view all the great video material and really learn from them. The Anatomy of Aging section was so rich. I thought having the three sections on anatomy, conditions and poses for each general body area was very helpful. The yoga aspects included in the anatomy and conditions section reinforced each other, and having a separate pose library because it made pose ideas easily accessible for constructing a class. The program was full of so many great pearls!

Ever since the day I first called you when I signed up for the class because I had trouble getting on the website. You actually answered the phone, on your way to teach. I was amazed that I talked to you in person and you remembered me signing up. It was so personable. I know you are growing but if you can keep that intimacy it really makes a difference. I really feel how true and passionate you are in wanting to create great teachers. It is amazing how you link your students together creating a community. This helps so much especially with the distance learning. Thank you for all you do and I plan on getting more certifications from you in the future.

Thanks so much for everything. You don’t know what this program has done for my self confidence. I am so motivated working with the seniors and I just keep learning more. My gratitude also to Justine and Viki for all of their cheerleading and kind words.

Thank you for taking the time to create such a comprehensive program and to share your expertise and experience in such a candid and honest way! The depth of information on the aging body, anatomical issues with each part, combined with yoga poses to help mitigate issues was extremely helpful. Having a manual with diagrams and photos addressing these issues serves as a handy reference guide when preparing classes. I constantly find myself reviewing the manual as students identify their physical limitations. Your program was so extensive that after completing Gentle/Chair Yoga dual certification, I feel like I earned a medical degree! Thank You! Thank You! Keep doing what your are doing! You are making a difference in so many lives!

My love & excitement for what I’m doing with chair yoga is all down to your ‘generosity of spirit’ Sherry, and your willingness to share all that you believe is good with your students & trainees the world over. You are truly inspiring !

The Chair Yoga Certification course was totally amazing in the content offered and the way in which it was presented. I really love how you have the main portion of the program to complete, but there is also so much additional information to continue to study long after completion of the program. The anatomy section to me, was not at all “too much” because this is vital information for a yoga teacher. I also loved how you feature some of your teachers/mentors and their work, i.e. Somatic approaches with Erhard R. and James Knight. Justine’s videos were super helpful too. The program just covers so many areas but does not bog down in anything.

Thank you for a really incredible course. I’ve learned so much!

I want you to know how much I enjoyed completing the Chair Yoga Certification course. I learned so much more anatomy than in any of my other Yoga trainings. I loved how the course tied together the anatomy portion with injuries and conditions, and then illustrated specific poses to be used for various conditions affecting seniors.

I’m very pleased to be a graduate of Yoga Vista Academy! I can’t wait to continue my education and am planning to sign up for more classes – especially the teaching mixed floor and chair classes…. Thanks again for all the incredible work you and your staff do for those of us out here. I love everything you’ve done.

I love the wealth of experience and knowledge offered by the instructors at Yoga vista academy! I love the variety of poses and progressions that the trainings provide! I know as soon as I learn something that it is going to have a tremendous impact on my students, and I am always excited to share what I have learned with them!

Yoga Vista Academy is helping me to help others and prepare them for longevity!

This workshop has greatly enhanced my knowledge on the correct steps to deal with arthritis issues and in each of my classes seniors have issues with knees, fingers and hands being the most common and I have thankfully seen the exercises bring long term benefits to the Seniors through the various exercises I’ve learned in the two on-line courses.

I am a quadriplegic that had been seeking out a yoga class to meet my needs and found Sherry. She is internationally recognized for senior yoga – a population filled with disabilities and restrictions. Her online Chair Yoga Certification Program introduced me to other disabled class enrollees in England that are teaching yoga there.

Sherry is fun and approachable. For teachers interested in including people with disabilities and seniors in their class or for someone wanting to gain this knowledge and teach a chair yoga class, I strongly recommend this program.

Just to let you know I am loving this course and so glad to have the Crown membership. What a wealth of information! I had originally wanted to do a 500 hr program but impossible to find one that fits the focus of a chair and gentle teacher who wants to focus on baby boomers and seniors and your program is the perfect solution. Thanks again and I am really enjoying it!

This 60 Hr Chair Yoga Teacher Training course with Sherry Zac Morris of Yoga Vista Academy was a highly informative and most enjoyable course. Each topic is discuss in full detail and is backed up with a full color handout and backed up again with full educational videos. There are test at the end of the units that put you to the test but excellent to do. It has made me highly knowledgeable in Teaching Methodology, Techniques, Training & Practice, Anatomy & Physiology, Yoga Philosophy and Lifestyle & Ethic which I now carry with full confidence to my own classes that I teach.

Currently I’m offering 7 chair yoga classes a week (plus a twice-monthly healthy brains with yoga segment) and am loving it. I often hear from students how much they appreciate the variety of movement and themes from class to class, and I know that I’ve been able to offer that as a result of this training. One of the best compliments I have received from people who used to practice mat yoga was that they still felt as though they were practicing “real” yoga!

I have so appreciated this course and your approach to teaching teachers to be competent, caring and joyful in their work. I must say, I talk about you and this program all the time. I had a wonderful experience in my original 200hr training because of its somatics orientation. It blended perfectly with your approach. I wish all programs honored the wisdom and brilliance of our bodies in this way.

I am so grateful to you for all your support. Coming from a career in education I know that your course presentation and organization was a perfect way to learn all that material. I most appreciate access to the video library and use it often. I am now teaching chair in an assisted living community and a gentle class at a studio…..One more thing……..You were SO RIGHT about the nursing home population. Everything you said was true-EVERYTHING.

Sherry I cannot express to you how much my report card means to me. Last week was an exceptionally challenging week for me (we all have those!). So, receiving your assessment of my TeachBack came at just the right time. I admire you so very much, and the positive feedback I received from you, was a balm to my soul. I want to be the Yoga Instructor who makes you proud, and is representative of the Yoga Vista Academy’s excellence.

The On-Line Chair Yoga Teacher Training program is full of wonderful instruction for all types of learning styles and laid out very well to pace oneself through the material. The use of the many teachers and experiences/education that Sherry and Justine have collected is amazing and drew me into learning the anatomy material with much more ease. The Yogajp.tv resource was absolutely a real plus. I did get this subscription before jumping into the program so I could get an better idea of how the classes were composed but also to have a resource for me to do out of my home meeting my requirements/restrictions that I was unable to find in the community. To see how this resource continues to evolve and all of the benefits one receives for their subscriptions is priceless.

I must say that the material, videos and various teaching methods were fantastic. I did not know what to expect in an online course but I feel that I learned more than the face to face format as I was able to control the pace, access the information any time and remain focused. I loved the mentoring and coaching offered by Corey as it kept me interested and I was able to connect with others who were experiencing the program at the same time. I also enjoyed receiving your newsletters and Corey’s cheerful e-mails which brought so much fun to the program.

The first course I completed in the area of working with Seniors was through University of Limerick which gave me a good base and foundation but having completed both Chair and Gentle Courses along with online material , youtube clips, dvd sets, and so much more information from the video libraries it has given me the opportunity to continue exercising and pass on a wide range of knowledge and advice to my students in 17 weekly classes I have on a weekly basis, so huge thanks and blessing Sherry for continuing to pass on your invaluable knowledge and skills.

I would highly recommend the Live! program to any aspiring chair yoga teacher, or to any yoga teacher who wants to add chair classes to his/her repertoire. I found the line on the cover of your Teaching and Certification Training Manual to be true: I have indeed been empowered with knowledge, skills and confidence! For me, the live element was key to my decision to do this training. I know from experience that I don’t finish most of the online learning I begin. Lynda is a fantastic teacher with much to share. In addition, I know that I learned a great deal from the other student teachers in our live group. My experience was more than worth my 6 hour round-trip commute.

The layout of the course work is very cohesive. Completing the course has greatly enhanced my teaching skills and helped me to become more confident in my abilities as a Yoga teacher not only to seniors, but other populations as well. Thank you so much for the effort you have put into creating this course. I will be a devoted follower of Yoga Vista Academy in the future!

In 4 months, at the age of 53, I will finally leave my federal government job in order to follow my true passion of teaching chair, gentle and low back yoga. I am extremely grateful for your teacher certification that is allowing me to transition to a new chapter in my life. I continue to be impressed with your materials and teaching as each time I reread or repeat a video, I pick up something new.

I just wanted to check in and let you know how much I’m enjoying the chair yoga teacher training! I really appreciate the mix of written material and video presentations. Also, I wanted to share with you how impressed I am with the handouts. They are so comprehensive and unlike anything I’ve ever received in any yoga training that I’ve done in the past.
I currently work at UVM Medical Center in the Psychiatry Department as a licensed mental health counselor in a partial hospitalization program for mental health. I’m also a yoga teacher at a few yoga studios locally (certified at the 200 hour level). I’m super passionate about combining those worlds.

I am so enjoying taking the chair yoga certification course! Once completed hope to visit “Yoga Vista Academy” You guys are awesome!!!

I’m enjoying the Live Mentoring Chair Yoga Training Program for many reasons:
1. We can get immediate answers to any questions. Also, as we practice with one another, we can ask specific questions pertaining to poses we are doing as we are doing them.

2. We can share ideas and learn from others. It is nice to meet people that are taking the class and building relationships with them over time. In addition, we can practice in front of people.

3. The sections are divided and manageable. Having a small test after each one is helpful because there is a lot of information to absorb. The coursework is set up for our success.

I feel like I am learning and have such an abundant assortment of resources. And of course, amazing teachers!

I am enrolled on the Chair Yoga programme and am finding it a real source of inspiration in teaching my seniors classes.

I really enjoyed taking your course. I chose it because of your focus on anatomy and I learned so much. The course was very thorough.

Wow! That’s fantastic. I’ve really enjoyed this fun and informative course. Especially found the age related symptoms info useful and how to work around these. Also, so many ideas for fun routines to do with seniors. I would love to be involved in anything you have going on.

Having my Master’s Degree in Education, I am very particular about online training programs and I have to say that the Yoga Vista Academy Chair Certification program was exceptionally well-designed and informative. In addition, getting constant encouragement and support made the training very personalized. Thanks for a great job Yoga Vista Academy!

I just wanted to share with you that today I did my first full chair yoga in a nursing home. Todate I’ve taught to the Parkinson Association, then set up my own chair yoga class in my home town for the active retired, but today I took it to a whole new level where every one was in wheelchair, several amputees, deaf and even one blind man. Now! you’d swear I was doing this all my life as it was one of the most enjoyable, rewarding and humbling class, and boy our seniors love a laugh, they had me sing Joe Dolan-More And More, Neil Diamond-Hands Touching Hands. It was fantastic! Everyone engaged and love it.

So I guess I was so excited about it all that I just wanted to share it with you. This was all possible thanks to you, your team and all your invaluable handouts, videos, tests and teachbacks even though it’s an overwhelming amount of material. Love, love, love you and your Vista Team xxxxx

I have learned and relearned so much. I am a retired nurse and anatomy and physiology have always been one of my passions. I love incorporating all the new poses and information from the course. I will certainly be going forward with the extras that have been provided. I am loving every minute of it!

I really enjoyed being apart of your program for Chair Yoga. I feel that I learned a lot of skills that will help me be a better teacher. I love how each module was presented. I would not hesitate to recommend the Academy to my yoga teacher friends. You have a wonderful venue! I savored every module I took and I am incorporating them in every class I teach. I have learned so much and still am when I watch YouTube.

I cannot say enough about the quality of this program. Excellent and Praiseworthy!!

I loved the Posture Project Course and use that information all the time. You have inspired me, I have become the queen of props. I have been using balls, magic wands, drumsticks, hats, ninja items, and anything from the dollar store. They love it!!!! Thanks. I could never do this without your certification. I am also in yoga therapy class, and have 3 private older ladies. It is really helping them. Thanks again to you and Justine.

I was interviewed on Ireland”s National Radio Programme Radio 1 about the success of the groups because what I am doing with the Seniors is a very recent development in Ireland, so much credit goes to yourself for all the valuable information I have learned both from the course and all the you tube clips you send on, so a big thanks.

Thank you for putting all of this great information together in one place. I just finished the hip anatomy section. I wanted to tell you that it is one of the best, most concise explanations of the hip joint I’ve seen.

Thank you for this great opportunity to learn through your Chair Yoga Course! I am enjoying it very much and applying so many of the techniques and tips to my regular yoga classes.

I am learning so much from it, and am enjoying it a lot. I’m finding the “Conditions and Injuries” sections invaluable, because it has finally put a real “everyday” human slant on anatomy study!

I am Jyoti Nanda from India, and I have enrolled in the Gentle Chair Yoga For Seniors online course. Just wanted to say that this is an amazing course. I am a RYT 200 and an Ananda Yoga trained teacher. I am committed to making yoga accessible to as many seniors as possible.

I have really enjoyed both programs and my teaching has really benefited and have a good following and credit to all I have learned from you!!. I am subscribed to your video channel which I admit is a great resource.

It’s amazing to see the interest in these senior and chair classes. I am not even done with my classes and people are asking me to teach!!

I’m a new Yoga Vista student and I’m loving the ease of working at my pace. The best part is the comprehensive immersion into Gentle and chair yoga in such a way that I feel like I’m really a part of the class. The student participation and their sharing their experiences in the course information is very helpful to me. Thank you!

I am doing my on line chair yoga certification course with you right now. And I must tell you that it is very well planned. I have learned so…. much from you! I would like to thank you for all the hard work you’ve put into it. I have completed my 200 hours yoga training in 2015 and have been teaching since then. For past two years, I have been teaching chair yoga at an adult day care center to seniors. I had watched some of your YouTube videos and you inspired me to do the chair yoga certification course. Again, thank you for that!

The program was excellent. I can see that it was designed to ensure successful learning. The video and PDF instruction worked well. Your support was beyond expectation and both you and Justine are fantastic at supporting the instruction responding to questions fully and completely, and providing additional information to support instruction to specific mobility or chronic conditions of current students. I really appreciate that a lot and I believe this is something that adds tremendous value to the learning experience. As a relatively new yoga instructor I feel I am learning so much and there is always so much that I feel I don’t know….having your consistent and fully supporting me with quick and thoroughly thought through responses is so helpful.

I enjoyed the Anatomy Module. I knew a lot of the basic anatomy already, but I really appreciated tying that to the problems that Seniors have and then showing why certain poses helped with these problems. It is great to have all of this in a coherent, organized form. I will refer back to these chapters when I plan my lessons. Thank you for the user-friendly curriculum. I look forward to the rest of the course.

The chair yoga teacher training program was invaluable to hone and fine-tune my yoga education to serve the 55+ population I teach in South Florida. I found that during my 200 hour certification, anatomy was my weakest area because I just didn’t have much of an interest or understanding, but in this program it was so easy to follow that I found myself becoming an anatomy geek. It was general anatomy, yes, but also what happens to the body as it ages, or with various health conditions. I find myself incorporating many of the concepts and movements into my traditional hatha mat classes as well, and the class attendance has improved as a result. I was dubious about how well I would learn using video content, and was very pleasantly surprised to find out how effective it was. Not only did I feel as if I was there, but I have all of the content as reference materials too! I highly recommend this course, and all Yoga Vista Academy offerings. May we keep up this vital work that blesses so many!

I have thoroughly enjoyed your program. I will be doing the final assignments and teach back in the coming months. I can’t wait to say I have completed this and say I am a certified chair yoga teacher! Your program was well thought out and easy to follow. Thank you!

I truly enjoyed doing my Chair Yoga Certification Online Program with the Yoga Vista Academy. The content and the professional manner in which it is presented was excellent. I learnt more in the past months than I ever did from my past 3 year Yoga training here in Australia, and feel I have achieved more, especially with anatomy. Being able to view the many and varied videos was great for me and Sherry’s support throughout the course was always there. A great motivator. I can highly recommend the Course to anyone who is considering undertaking it.

I am not yet done, but I am enjoying the program very much. I think the thing that is different and that I like so much, is that it takes people where they’re at. I have gotten a little burnt out on the hard lines of strict Vinyasa flows. As we age it’s clear that limitations come up. Accepting them and staying positive seems key. You do such a wonderful job making the classes fun. I’m learning a lot just from your approach. Thanks for all your hard work!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for creating this training for yoga teachers. I am a 200 hr trained teacher and I am enjoying all of this training, especially the anatomy. Well designed, well done. I currently have a chair yoga group I work with at an assisted living facility, and I get to practice on them. They love it! These classes are so needed for our senior population. I like to give them encouragement, for example, balance can improve, flexibility can improve. I get lots of hugs and compliments. I have found what I want to do in retirement. Thank you for helping me!

I had 28 people in my chair class Monday 🙂 I might have to cap it soon….Thank you Sherry, for creating such a valuable program, which enables us teachers to go out and help others XOXOXOX

I am absolutely enjoying every moment of learning, and I am very impressed with your team’s skill-set in these videos, and how much information there is to try and soak up. I have added quite a bit to my personal practice as well as sprinkling a bunch in my chair yoga. I am not sure if you have heard this one yet, but the one module that brought some tears to my eyes, was the business and marketing of yoga video that you teach. Thank you for all that you do. We are all so very lucky that you took the baton.

I taught at my first nursing home, and it was very challenging! They could only do a fraction of the movements. I found myself with a one-hour class and 15 minutes worth of material. Made it through okay, but realized I have a lot to learn 🙂 you have a really great program, and I’m continuing to watch your YouTube videos for more info. Thank you for your Compassionate Heart!

I do love the course materials, You Tubes, newsletters, etc. but somehow I became, in Corey’s nice word, “stalled.” A few days after Corey emailed me, I finished the section on the spine and took the tests. Thank you for creating the mentor/cheerleader position. I feel I’m not alone now.

I am sitting here with a smile on my face because you have encouraged me so much. As I have said before, what a wonderful experience this has been to take and complete your course. There is just so much information that I have received and am now able to share with my students.

I wish you had more courses. I have now taken all of them. Except for gentle yoga because there is alot of overlap. I think you guys are awesome. You have changed my path in my life. I am not going back to my nursing job because of you. I have been trying to figure out what I love for so long. I am, and always will be a nurse and I am finding that people love that I am a nurse and have gotten a few classes because of it!! So, a million thanks again. I know you are sick of me praising you, but you and Sherry have really changed my life!! Thank you again!!!

I left school at 15 years of age, never having touched on anatomy at all. So I found this to be challenging but thanks to this course I feel grateful to be so enlightened about The body and my own body also!

I think just helping people realize that their posture unconsciously becomes their real physical body is my imperative take away from the Posture Project and what I try to relay to people in my class. I have not tried to just tell my fellow man or woman at the grocery store that their hip leaning is creating an imbalance in their body and it shows, however I do think telepathy is a growing trend, and people are picking up on the unified field of thought. So, maybe if I just starting projecting posture corrections onto people they will begin to find new breath in the unconscious faults that become crystallized in their physical vessel.

I found this program very resourceful. It’s been my pleasure to be a part of this program as doing something good for senior people has been my passion during the past ten years, not to mention Thailand is coming towards the aging society sooner or later.

I enjoyed the course very much and learned a lot. My students have enjoyed all the new material I have been able to introduce.

I currently teach 3 chair yoga classes, and my students have commented on how much they like the new format! I have been shamelessly stealing your dances off the videos and have created a 2 of my own (honestly, just rearranging your movements, mostly). The dances are my seniors’ favorite part of the class.

I’ve had to expand my chair classes as they’ve been a huge success. Word has spread through neighboring studios and they send their Seniors my way. Just wanted to thank you for your updates and constant vigil. Very much appreciated. I see not only great strides in my students but a social bonding as well. They rarely miss a class. Which is a far different story from when I was just teaching mainstream Yoga. If I find I have medical questions I can usually refer back to my notes for the most part and send them in a good direction. I’ve incorporated a bit of humor from my own perspective and hopefully encouraged them to laugh in the face of aging. It has become a beautiful practice for all of us.

What I like best about YVA is that the online training is very user friendly. I like that it’s geared towards many learning styles like visual, audio, and of course hands on. With this format you have a better chance in retaining information. Thank you! I’m very excited to be on this journey and to share this with my community once I’m certified.

I´ve watched your program it´s amazing like your videos….I´ve been using what I´ve learned in your videos, and that´s was really great, all my students said wowwwww wonderful, because nobody here in Panamá teaches like this!

I truly appreciate all the teachings from Yoga Vista. You got me hooked on anatomy, chair yoga, vini yoga and soon…somatic yoga. They all compliment each other so well and allow us teachers to quickly adjust a class (getting away from teaching with a script…one-size-fits-all).

I turned 82 yrs young this past Aug. I opened up a yoga studio in my home. Word is slowly leaking out about me and I can’t even imagine what my days will be this coming year. Because of you, I found somatic yoga. I’ve taken James’s course and have been doing this for myself for two years. I feel great, better than ever! So I decided to incorporate as much of somatics into my senior chair yoga classes as I could. Miracles have been happening for me and my clients. Everybody has been so excited that they can move and feel so much better. My students range in age from early 60’s to 94.

I began this incredible journey of Chair Yoga Teacher Training 12 months ago with the goal of finishing by June. In April, when my accident occurred, I was not sure I would teach again and/or finish the training. As my recovery progressed, it became very clear to me that continuing with the training would not only benefit me with my healing but enable me to readily understand and relate to the many challenges specific to the senior population. The training was and continues to be invaluable to me personally and professionally and I thank you for the expertise provided in the training, the continued resources of newsletters and videos and your ongoing support.

What a powerful experience so far! I love the online training—so comprehensive! And Jane (the Live Mentor Teacher) is marvelous—I wish I lived in Chicago so I could practice at her studio. I have had some pretty disappointing experiences with yoga training, but you are restoring my faith! Thank you!

I am so grateful to be a part of this yoga community! I have learned so much about anatomy, thanks to you and Justine. I really like the way the course is designed. Taking the a test after each section is brilliant! I have three notebooks full of information that you guys provided throughout the course. Wonderful to have to refer back to. Having access to the teaching videos is something that I take advantage of on a regular basis. A chair yoga teacher who attends my gentle yoga classes when in my area, is so impressed with what I have learned is going to take the chair yoga course you offer.

I like the way you break down the modules and provide separate sections on anatomy and conditions, which give me a deeper understanding about the seniors. It is also inspirational to watch various videos and observe amazing classes and see how seniors enjoy moving in each postures.

Personally, I thought the program was GREAT, WONDERFUL and AWESOME. I teach a variety of classes and I have used all I have learned in every single class. Whether it is with my Assisted Living clients or my 30 year olds. The anatomy portion was more than I could have expected. I learned so much. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you for doing what you do and inspiring me to be a better Yoga teacher.

I am thrilled I took this program! Your On-Line Program was so informative and I have learned so much. The addition of upgrading this program to the “LIVE” option including a qualified/seasoned Yoga Teacher and Location to support, encourage, and educate me made this opportunity complete. Not being a 200 hour, I had my reservations on whether I would be able to complete this program with a successful Teachback. I know I could have not succeeded at the level I did with out the compassionate and honest feedback and support of my Mentor Teacher, Lynda! She watched me come into the program like a deer in headlights and with gentle but firm direction, she never gave me the feeling that I do no less than succeed if this is what I wanted.

While preparing for a chair yoga class I was presenting at an ALF for International Yoga Day I stumbled upon Sherry and YogaJP on YouTube. Needless to say, I was HOOKED. Now when I come across other chair yoga classes, they’re very vanilla in comparison.

I have absolutely LOVED your training and knowledge and have learned so much!! I could not have made this change in my work life without you!!! I have brought the two things I love and are passionate about together – Seniors and Yoga!! (I am a former Activity Professional and Activity Director)

I enjoyed the course material. Even though I took a long time to actually finish I started using the poses in my classes from the get-go. Every time I log into the course I find something fresh that I’d forgotten about. I loved the way you married the poses and conditions with the anatomy. My original YTT didn’t do that and it was a huge frustration. I do really love getting your little videos each week and have definitely lifted some of those vinyasas and used them.

Thanks so much for all the endless hours it must have taken to produce this course. I’m sure everyone one of us who have taken it has benefited tremendously from all your effort, experience and dedication.

I am really enjoying the course. I was an elementary school teacher and I have attended many yoga training where there is not even a manual. I am impressed with the amount of thought, effort and pedagogy that has gone into the online chair yoga program.

Many thanks to Justine, your students and yourself for the continued support that I received throughout the learning process. It is easy to become overwhelmed with all that there is to know, but you kept the information so well organized and consistent throughout the process. It was also easy to see the relationship between the chair yoga and gentle yoga materials which helped to make the dual-certification process even more rewarding for my students and myself. I highly recommend both for anyone who may be on the fence.

The Yoga Vista Chair Yoga Teacher Training was, by far, the most comprehensive teacher training I have had since becoming a 200 hour teacher. Information was provided in several modalities so that I could read, listen, and watch to learn about teaching chair yoga. I especially appreciated the section on Anatomy of Aging. This was very informative and gave me the confidence needed to work with seniors.

I also appreciated the huge collection of videos by Sherry, Justine, and other Yoga Vista teachers, as well as by other Yoga Vista Chair Yoga graduates. They continue to be a valuable resource to me as I grow my repertoire of movements and poses.

I started teaching chair yoga shortly after starting the course and my students have told me how much I have grown as a teacher during the time I was studying. When I graduated, I took the certificate and showed them and they cheered. I feel so lucky to have found such a great training program.

The course was great, I would certainly refer your course to everyone! I can’t say it enough at how gracious you are in all your teachings.

First let me say that I am thoroughly enjoying all the information in the Chair Yoga course. I am blown away! The 20 hour anatomy portion is VERY informational and highly applicable to treating my patients… As an occupational therapist.

I enjoy greatly in my Chair Yoga online courses. It changed, in many aspects, the way I see my own aging and also my ideas about sharing yoga with seniors.

I fell in love with the videos when I would search for new ideas for my chair exercises. I am currently taking the online Chair Yoga course. Before I made the commitment, I spoke to Sherry over the phone. I was so excited to speak to her and hear her voice. Her enthusiasm is contagious! She was so kind, friendly and nice on the phone. I felt an immediate connection. She is someone that you would love as a friend!

I have been taking the course for two months now and I am in awe on how beautifully this course is put together. I am learning so much about anatomy and how yoga ties in to help seniors. The videos come with a wealth of information. I love watching the different styles of the yoga teachers. The ideas on what you can bring to the table are endless!

The course is so creative and different and allows for individual teaching styles whilst keeping safety and health an utmost priority. I feel confident to walk into any situation with a whole bag of tricks up my sleeve to keep the classes inclusive and accessible to everyone so a big ‘THANK YOU!!’ from me.

The courses I have taken have been terrific . Not only did I learn a lot, it was information I could USE. Additionally the way the material was presented I have been about to recall it (sometimes spontaneously) or been able to look up something I wanted to refresh.

The course was great. I really enjoyed the live portion with Jane and learned so much in the few times the group met. Love the videos with the various teachers and styles. The thing that I learned most is to remove EGO and that not all bodies are the same. I really love all of the feedback.

I have loved the training and look forward to feedback from both you and Jane. Someday I hope to get out your way and would love to take a class with you. I am tickled to share with you that since retiring I am now teaching 4 classes a week! I teach chair at State of Mind Yoga on Fridays, I also teach basics there on Monday nights, and a basic class at a very posh retirement center, where they are eager to bring chair yoga back. On Saturdays, I teach a basic at the park district in a nearby town. I could not be happier and owe so much of my success to you and Jane and all my other teachers along the way and to come.

Yoga Vista Academy‘s Chair Yoga Certification Program provided a written PDF to accompany the video presentation which I found beneficial to the student to read and follow as well as a great reference source to keep. I have already referred back to the PDF notes several times. The library of postures is also a good reference source for poses and their unique names. I found the videos to be very helpful especially to see the students go through the asanas to the best of their ability with modifications provided to accommodate each body and level of ability.

I feel so blessed to have found you and Justine and your program. You have enriched my life and through the knowledge I have gained in your program, I can pay it forward.

The amount of time you spend organizing really shines through in every aspect of the program! Mary Cavanaugh would be amazed at how far you have carried Chair Yoga and YogaVista Academy! You encourage your students to go at their own pace and develop their own style.  And, the way you so generously share your knowledge goes beyond the  requirements for offering these courses.

I do so enjoy the people that I share yoga with. We have a marvelous time. And I use your videos to learn and share even more. Thank you so much I feel so blessed to have been a part of your program.

As you will see I have commenced my online Chair Yoga Certification and I am loving every second of it. I have completed the first module an have navigated my way through beautifully with your lesson plans and comprehensive information and videos and can I just say what an amazing journey it has been so far. I work in the Disability sector primarily mental Health and I have been sharing my newfound Knowledge with the Residents who have all embraced Chair Yoga. Management are already making plans for me to incorporate chair yoga into the day program for Residents once I am Certified and I can’t wait.

I do enjoy your instructions, information, routines, dances, and laughter. You really make me feel I am there and a part of your family. I have fun while learning.

This was a very valuable course and one I can keep referring to. It was an excellent experience working with Peggy, Nelda, Lauren, Kristi, and Moon. I learned something from everyone.

My community has fallen in love with chair yoga because of you and your amazing team!

Corey is a treasure – I am SO glad to have had her support in this journey. Thanks to her encouragement, I am through the final exam. I just need to spend more time watching videos and continuing to build on what I’ve already done, and in the next month or so, I can record my teachback. I already know what I will be writing for my field assignment, based on two friends in my class.

Every night and morning I am spending at least two hours. I am so excited to finish and start practicing. I live in Carmel, Ca where we have a huge elderly population. I have been watching your videos since November in the middle of my teacher training. I love the way you teach all the anatomy tidbits. I find chair yoga so fascinating because anyone can do it! You are an inspiration!

When they worked my eyes and told me that I could no longer do the positions on the ground I was destroyed … I had waited a lifetime to become a yoga teacher and suddenly 4 retinal interventions stop me! To discover that someone had given the importance of yoga even when sitting, made me born again … so thank you!

“Yay for yoga!” And “Yay for Yoga Vista and you, Sherry, as well as Justine and everyone else who contributed to your chair teacher training program! I learned so much from this teacher training and I am so enjoying my chair yoga classes. They give me some of the best moments of my week. I love working with seniors!! We laugh and learn and practice yoga together – and most are learning about yoga for the first time in their lives. And your program has given me so much to share with them. I now have a good, solid foundation to rely on and so many wonderful and fun sequences and movements to use. I appreciated learning in detail about the anatomy of the body and the conditions that seniors can experience. I am planning to go back through these sections – they are so helpful. I have a much better understanding of how the human body works. I can’t thank you enough for this program and want to tell you it has opened up new avenues for me, as well as bringing many new friends into my life.

It was a great course, the lessons and videos where extremely well done. It is an Honor to be a graduate of Yoga Vista Academy.

I have really enjoyed and learned great information especially on anatomy taking your Chair Yoga certification. Thank you so much for providing such a wonderful experience!

Thank you so much for supporting me through the Chair Yoga Certification course. I completed my 200 hour course a year ago and have been teaching online and in studios since then. This course has now filled in many gaps in my knowledge and competence that I was not even aware existed. In particular the course was excellent on anatomy and safety. My existing students have noticed and appreciated the more in-depth focus in my lessons. I am now doing the Gentle Yoga course and already feeding what I am learning into my lessons. Thank you all so much. Namaste Hazel

Thanks again. You and these courses have been wonderful for me. Our chair yoga program at the Y has really grown and I am enjoying teaching a great deal. Namaste.

My classes here are so popular, too. I teach Chair Yoga 4 times a week in my small town of 20,000 people and I have up to 25 in a class!
With much gratitude for the amazing work you do.

I live in Ireland and have over 350 students. I don’t have a gym of my own so I travel throughout the County on a daily basis to rural areas with low levels of population to Community Halls where Students come once a weekly and get their exercise in with an age profile of 6o – 92. I really mean this Sherry you have played a huge part in helping me get this going with the vast knowledge, great ideas and variety gained from your online tutorials, Dvd”s and courses completed with you.

I just want you ladies to know how much I have enjoyed this course. You guys have done a fabulous job with organizing and teaching the materials. Thank you, Anita Whittle

I’m thrilled I’ve learned so much from you and Justine. Thank you for all you do for me and for everyone who comes through your doors. You are truly an angel. You’ve helped me through a pretty rough time. But life is good and on we go. Sending a smile and gratitude.

In my opinion, the live portion is extremely important. One reason being that questions can be answered which then can lead to additional questions and so on. Second, it is important to build relationships with real people. We spend so much time behind electronics that we forget how to really be with people who are also stepping outside of their comfort zone. It’s a great way to learn from one another and provide support. And of course, the teach back…. practicing in front of real people throughout the course helps to prepare for the teach back. When we teach, it is In front of real people. Lastly, it makes the experience meaningful. People make it something to remember. I highly recommend keeping and moving forward with the hybrid training.

Oh my gosh! What didn’t I learn! I think that twenty hours was more in depth than basic teacher training 🙂 For me, I have a pretty extensive background in Anatomy and Physiology. What I really learned were the variety of postures “to do” and “not to do”. I thought going in that it would be just modifications on traditional but there are so many other important adjustments.

The other thing I learned was to really not be afraid to work with seniors. I love them and have always had a desire to work with them at a deeper level than I have in the past (pharmaceuticals) but I was nervous in not wanting to hurt them so your course helped me so much. You are seriously awesome and so are all of the other teachers you had do the videos and I loved the fun little sayings that popped up thru the videos too 🙂

Independent study using computer prepared manual, pictures, examples and videos gave me the feeling of being “in” a classroom. The quizzes helped me to know that I was on the right path. I was able to practice adaptations for Yoga in a chair and standing that I could recommend to students who were unable to manage asanas in the traditional Yoga way, or were not strong enough to manage Yoga on a mat. I found that during the time I was teaching these principles, the students were gaining confidence, strength, balance and flexibility at their own pace. The class gave me great respect for the effort the students were making and the increase of joy in their faces as time went on! It gives me a great feeling to assist seniors with the knowledge obtained from the class.

I am a recently retired elementary school teacher who specialized in working with students with additional needs in an inclusive setting. Since starting to teach yoga in 2019 I have strived to follow the same philosophy as I did with my young students by making my classes accessible to all. Over the past year, I have completed the requirements to become certified in gentle yoga, chair yoga and chair yoga dance through Yoga Vista Academy. I found all of these programs to be comprehensive and well organized. I learned a great deal about anatomy as well as a wide variety of ways to create safe and engaging gentle and chair yoga classes. Safety considerations for seniors as well as for people with various conditions were throughly presented. The programs all provided a combination of reading, listening to presentations as well as being able to practice the concepts presented in numerous videos. I feel that working through the certification module is so beneficial for consolidating the concepts taught in the course in a practical way. I would definitely recommend the programs offered through Yoga Vista Academy for those yoga teachers who want to provide accessible and inclusive yoga classes.

I have only positive things to say about Yoga Vista Academy’s Online Chair Yoga Teacher Training course! I found the course to be well organized and thoughtfully constructed down to the last detail. Sherry is very knowledgeable with the aging body and yoga, and energetically shares that knowledge in her writing and videos. She was so responsive, offering assistance and feedback throughout the entire process. Her positive energy and attitude shine through in this online course.

Content… The amount of information in the course was unbelievable. It was well-delivered. The PDF documents were organized perfectly. And I appreciate the videos throughout. Applying different learning methods really helped it all come together for me. Testing… I actually felt like I got real feedback. This is so unusual this day and age and I feel like I am a better teacher for it. The course made me stop and think about who I am as a teacher.

Thank you so much again for your wonderful Chair Yoga course!! I especially enjoyed the great review on Anatomy. I greatly appreciate that your resources will be my wonderful library of information to refer to when needed. The online setup worked great for me too. I also gave my feedback via Yoga Alliance.

I’ve learned so much from Sherry and her Chair Yoga Certification course. After teaching chair yoga for a number of years, I felt a little stale and in need of a fresh approach, to bring to my students and a brush up on my anatomy knowledge. The course gave me that and more. It is full of detailed pictures, videos, poses and instruction, and is easy to follow along. I liked the fact that I could work at my own pace around a rather hectic schedule.

First, let me tell you how much I am enjoying the overall course. I have learned so much and am able to take the information and relate it to the classes I teach; a few chair as a sub, Hatha and restorative.

Let me see…there is so much to choose from. First of all I enjoy your newsletters that keeps us connected to new and practical approaches to teaching gentle and chair yoga. I also enjoy the structure and platform of your online programs that allow me to go at my pace yet feel like I am part of a live course. I often return to materials that I read and practiced from your programs and learn something new from it each time.

I am very grateful for your course. The information provided throughout the course was great! I learned a lot and a couple of my friends from LMU YTRX program have shown interest in taking your course. I speak highly of you and your Yoga academy…

The course has really helped me to gain confidence in teaching seated yoga, by basing it so strongly in the context of the physiology of ageing. The depth of information about anatomy, injuries, philosophies and yoga modifications to work alongside everyone’s particular body issues, is really exceptional. I’ve found it so helpful and I know that it will continue to provide endless stimulation and ideas.

I can’t thank you enough for all I have learned through your course. I apply many of the exercises daily to give me relief from my repetitive work. I use the Tray-Flow, Celtic Cross, Lateral Bending Flow daily.

I had started this training to help my mother who is 85. She had a chair yoga class she attended in Michigan before we moved to Florida. We looked for a chair yoga class and there was none so I decided to take the training myself. It has been both wonderful and beneficial to myself as well as my mother. I have lost 48 lbs and increased my strength, flexibility and banished my back pain through the training and practice of chair yoga. I have severe scoliosis – and my posture has also improved. I am a musician (pianist/singer) who was struggling to sit at the piano and practice because of pain but now can sit and rehearse with no problems.

I have had the privilege to be mentored by Viki Boyko who was absolutely delightful and a wonderful teacher. She suggested that I start to teach while I was training. I have been working with a group of senior citizens. We meet at a church in the area twice a week. Many have shared with me that there doctors are delighted with the results from their chair yoga classes. My favorite story is about a retired gentleman who says his golf game has improved by practicing chair yoga. He says he relaxes his toes before he swings and it has made a great impact on his game. Thank you again for the opportunity to train. I think this is a marvelous program!

The Park District thought it would be a great idea to partner up with the local hospital and to offer my class for free for 6 weeks! I already get around 20 people every Tuesday, and yet, they allowed 50 people to sign up! Over 60 people showed up!

I am completely loving the training. I’m so grateful I found you and Yoga Vista! I’m currently volunteering- teaching seniors chair yoga at our senior center in my town. I have my 200 our RYT and I am completely loving the journey into Chair yoga. Hope to get certified and to keep growing and learning.

I started a chair yoga class three weeks ago and it is going very well. We had a reporter from our local paper come to class on Friday, it will be written up in our local paper. We are averaging around 21 lovely seniors ! Our reporter friend, 24 years young, did chair yoga with the class!

I feel blessed each and every day that I stumbled across your online Yoga Vista Academy Chair Yoga Course. Sherry you were so gracious in accommodating me and enabling me to do your course. I haven’t forgotten!!

Having left school at barely 15 years, my only subjects then we’re Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. Since doing your course I’ve studied anatomy. But not just Anatomy! Your Chair Yoga course gave me the fullest respect for my own body and a deep understanding of how we can offset and relieve the myriad of health issues that can be helped by practising a Chair Yoga Class. This knowledge learned is extraordinary for me. I found it challenging at times, but with the support and constant feedback from Sherry and all at Yoga Vista Academy, I never felt that it was not achievable!

Finishing this online course and receiving my certification to teach Chair Yoga, I feel absolutely confident in my understanding of what is the safe practice required of me to pass on to my Seniors or anyone with limited Mobility. I recommend this online Yoga Vista Academy course highly.

I am so happy to be a member of the Yoga Vista Academy graduates. You both are doing amazing work in teaching and inspiring people to teach yoga to seniors. I have recommended your training to many people.

The online format you use is simple to navigate, and easy to follow. There is so much wonderful information to glean from the videos and in the written portion. When I first began teaching chair yoga, I would make up routines to work the 8 bearing joints, some of which I still use today. Then I discovered your Youtube Yoga Vista videos and became so inspired by your passion I just knew I had found mine too. Sherry I feel like you are my yoga sister!

It is extremely well organized and I can see how much time this has taken you. Also, I appreciate your teaching philosophy which is totally aligned with the way I have been teaching. Thank you!

I have never found anatomy to be exciting, and didn’t receive a lot of anatomy in my 200-hour yoga teacher training. Learning anatomy on my own was both overwhelming and intimidating. When I was researching this course I saw something that said I didn’t didn’t need to be an anatomy expert to take the course. WOW.That was a relief so I went for it. I had a college professor say many times “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” That is the way this course is put together. The anatomy is broken down into sections, so it isn’t intimidating at all if anatomy isn’t your thing. I’m a long way away from being an “anatomy geek” but it no longer intimidates me. Additionally, Justine’s yoga therapy teaching provided new insights to me that really enhanced my understanding of many concepts along the way.

Thank you for your very thorough and well thought through courses.

I’m so proud to be part of the Yoga Vista community and achieve my certification. It has shaped my direction and knowledge in profound ways! I’m so grateful for the supportive environment, your inspirational knowledge and energy. I will now take steps toward the gentle certification.

Thanks to your business training, I just landed a private senior (she’s 86) 30 min yoga session every Tuesday and Thursday!

I have loved this chair yoga online training! The website is so thorough and easy to use I was never in the dark on what was expected from me. I felt like I was set up from for success from day one. The handouts were vital to my success as well as the videos.

I just wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying this course so far. I have been teaching Seniors exercise to music for about 7 years for a nationwide UK Seniors charity (Age UK) as well as open Yoga classes and have always wanted to bridge the two. I found you on YouTube and I find your classes so much more fun and interesting than most of the more sombre classes I see online!! There are not many chair yoga courses in the UK as it’s not a very popular area at present so it’s great that I can get certified through your course. I’m finding it really useful and learning a lot!

Thank you for providing such a comprehensive course. I found it so easy to work through the modules because of the way the course was designed. The information on how to sequence and to better understand the physiological issues, that seniors may present with, was invaluable. I felt fully supported throughout the course, and I will continue to refer to the course materials ongoing.

I must say I have learned so much over the year from you, what a gift you have been to me.

I’m impressed with the feedback you have given me, and it is valued and appreciated. What makes it special is that I feel like I have a personal relationship with you – that I am NOT anonymous. Your whole course is written from a place of caring and educating, and your feedback has always been the same. Thank you!!

I taught my first class today, (even though I’m still working in the “Shoulder” chapter!) I had 11, which for this town, is a miracle, and I expect it to increase next week. I got a standing ovation when we were finished and endless kudos. I owe all my success to your course, your teachers, and your large cache of videos on YouTube. I can’t say enough THANK YOU’s!!!!! I’m on fire again – thanks to everyone at Yoga Vista Academy!!!

Yes, I love the course!! So thorough and inspiring, I want to eat it with a spoon and digest it all immediately. But I know that’s not possible! I wish I had found you a year ago, but at least I am with you now.

I really like your program and recommend it to other teachers all the time!

The Yoga Vista Academy means many things to me and has completely transformed my yoga teaching skills. Although some aspects of yoga are too subtle to be learned from books or lectures, I had absolutely no trouble developing a deeper understanding through all the videos and tools online with a variety of methods for attaining goals. The Yoga Vista Academy accommodates a wide range of lifestyles and values. The Yoga Vista Academy has changed my skills for the better and continues to transform them every day. I highly recommend this program!

Last November I begun the Dual Certificate in Chair Yoga and Gentle Senior Yoga. With work, family and Christmas I had to put it to one side until January and all the materials I had read I decided to start again to refresh everything as I was near the end of the anatomy section and really wanted to absorb it all. I would like to take this opportunity to say how much I am LOVING this course the delivery and presentation of it all you really have ticked all the boxes. With your videos I feel I know you more as your personality shines out in each clip. The amount of work you have put into your courses is phenomenal, but you have made it so accessible for a student to learn and you set us up for success. You are my inspiration and hero and I just wanted to say special thank you for this gift of knowledge. I have lots more to finish on the course, and like my favourite lunch I’m savouring every bite.

It means a lot to be certified as a teacher leading chair yoga. I feel like you helped me fill in the gaps from my yoga training. It’s harder than it looks to teach to adults who cannot get to the mat. Feels so much clearer to me now.

I appreciate all of the video shares and the sequences. I learn better by watching than reading from a text.

This certification was more than I expected and I learned so much. Thanks for the gentle coaching and the cheerleading. As a senior myself, this was very helpful.

I have people who have disk problems, low back pain, shoulder problems, heart problems, Plantar Fasciitis, and of course you noticed how crooked my fingers are. Your training certainly helps me to incorporate moves that relieve their pain. There isn’t a class where I don’t have one of my students come up after class and tell me how much better they feel since they started taking Yoga. Actually it gets embarrassing when they keep thanking me for teaching the class. I am sure I get more out of the class then they do.

Your course is outstanding. I feel much more knowledgeable and have so many more tools to help me create chair yoga classes that people enjoy and also receive maximum benefit. I also learned very important information about how to make sure NOT to hurt people – very important! I downloaded the materials to continually reference but I will continue to go back to the videos.

I loved the anatomy module, I learned so much it took me awhile to get through it but truly is was time well spent. I believe you and this program came at exactly the right time in my life. A BIG THANK YOU!

At first I was hesitant about online training. But after taking a course I realized just how valuable YVA training is. Not only are the trainings jammed packed with posture, anatomy and teaching strategies, I can pause, rewind and go back again and again so that I don’t miss one juicy detail. Looking forward to my next training.

After my success with wheelchair yoga, I immediately booked the Dual Training Chair + Gentle Yoga. (Warning: Yogavista is addictive 😉) Even the subject of “anatomy of aging” is incredibly informative and exciting! Many handouts and videos show how many options there are for gentle yoga or yoga on the chair. In this way, even older or less flexible people can benefit from the health benefits of yoga! Thank you Sherry, you have enriched my yoga life so much!

The Chair Yoga training was beneficial in so many ways: self-paced, practical anatomy lessons, accessible format.

The course has really helped me to gain confidence in teaching seated yoga, by basing it so strongly in the context of the physiology of ageing. The depth of information about anatomy, injuries, philosophies and yoga modifications to work alongside everyone’s particular body issues, is really exceptional. I’ve found it so helpful and I know that it will continue to provide endless stimulation and ideas.

Thanks for all that you do!! You have changed my life, I quit my nursing job, I am teaching 2 classes, and possibly one more and I have started to take a course to become a yoga therapist. I could not have done this without your classes and your knowledge and support. Thanks to you and Justine!!

I wanted to tell you that I think the best take away from this course was not having to handle seniors with kit gloves like they are made of glass, and giving them multiple challenge level options so they can choose as to how they feel that day.

I just want to thank you so much again for all you have given me. Thanks to you starting with chair yoga certification, I went on to study yoga therapy with breathe deeply program. And nowI am in Florida and teaching gentle and chair yoga to women 60 and over. I also have three private clients. I can’t tell you how great the information is that have given me. The anatomy of aging body is amazing! I watch your videos over and over. Your programs are so thorough there is nothing else out there!! I’m just preparing for my class and looking over some of your videos and I’m so happy to have them as a resource. Thank you again both so much for everything!!. I don’t think people say thank you enough to other people so thank you again for bringing your knowledge to us! I no longer have to go back to nursing and I feel so good that although I’m not a nurse, I’m still helping people.

Yoga Vista Academy has a way about making you feel like you are a part of the yoga family. I couldn’t get enough of the videos and information. I am a visual person so having the videos were essential to my learning. Not only are they informational, they are enjoyable to watch and see the different personalities of each teacher. One day I called Yoga Vista to ask a question and I was thinking I would get an answering machine or something like that. Low and behold Sherry picked up!! I was so impressed and a little shocked. I can not say enough about the Academy. Well done from start to finish!!

Now having a different perspective after breaking my wrist, I began to investigate chair yoga online. I found Yoga Vista Academy, Sherry Zak Morris and Justine Shelton. Making the decision to sign up for Chair Yoga Certification has been life changing for me and my husband! I have learned so much about the anatomy of seniors, [which I am One], and how chair yoga can help seniors become more mobile through strengthening their bones and muscles and stretching the fascia through movement and staying hydrated. I am very grateful to you, Sherry and to Justine!

I am happy to say that because of your course I am able to teach people with confidence at nursing homes, offices, yoga studios and memory care facilities.

I was brave and enrolled. I just wanted to tell you how much I am enjoying the course so far. I have only just started and it’s going to take a while as I work as well. But I can’t wait to get home at night and read or listen. Your knowledge is so inspiring. I just wanted to say thank you for running this course online. The videos and notes are amazing.

I have felt from the onset of the program that there was a real person that was available for support and guidance. I love the organization of the program! The online materials were easy to access, read and digest. I do appreciate the inherent redundancy in the chapters. This helps me remember concepts and asanas and to see their inter-relatedness. Thank you for offering this program! I know that I will use the written and online resources for years to come.

The first time I learned about YOU was on-line. I was researching ideas on yoga training and with the click of a button found you dancing to Living on the Corner of Joy and Gratitude. I felt your big heart and love for your students come through the computer screen that day. As I danced along and couldn’t quit smiling, I knew you had something special to offer and had to find out more. Fast forward to today and I have completed the on-line Chair Yoga training as well as my Teachback. I include several of your dances in my current Silver Sneakers classes. ‘The River’ is their favorite.

I am so impressed with the attention, care, and in depth analysis of the teachback and other aspects of teacher training certification for the Chair Yoga Program. Thoughtful, wise, and helpful. Wow. The uplifting positivity in how Sherry and others offered teaching is powerful. Great role modeling for us other teachers. Also powerful is the insight into age related issues which otherwise make teaching a chair yoga for seniors a bit intimidating. Very in depth in terms of aging related anatomy and how to offer modifications.

I have been so blessed to have a great support system when studying both the chair and gentle yoga modules. I can’t begin to tell you how much I have used what I learned in both studies – much of which I use in current classes. But above all, thank you so very much for all that you have instilled in me. Your inspiration and support is priceless. And I know it will continue to be ongoing as my yoga journey as a teacher continues!

Your wonderful training has helped my career progress tremendously, because with the training and experience I have the confidence to charge what I’m worth. I have become a Chair Yoga “expert” in the area, and turn down or refer so many offers to other teachers. My hourly rate has gone from about $40 to a range of $60 – 90!

I can not thank you enough for offering this amazing class on line. I am so thankful. I enjoyed it so much and learned so much.

I completed the Chair Yoga course several months ago, and it has been such a blessing. I am now teaching Chair Yoga twice a week at our local Regional Wellness Center, and twice a month at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home, and I continually refer to the course materials for insight and inspiration. Communication and support throughout the training and beyond has been great, and I highly recommend Yoga Vista Academy and its course offerings.

Yoga Vista Academy continues to embrace and evolve teaching criteria and information for accessible asana. I chose Vista Academy’s Chair Teacher Program because they acknowledge the style of yoga I teach (Anusara) which tells me they are connected to other styles of yoga and collaborate with other related studies (somatics, massage, physical therapy, etc). Yoga Vista Academy is all about community which is manifested in their newsletter. They are willing to share the art of accessible asana through their newsletter and through this Chair Yoga Teacher Training.

The Anatomy of Aging module was fantastic. The anatomical details presented were sufficient for a yoga teachers purposes organized in an understandable and informative format. Insight was given into movement, conditions, injuries and modifications that exceeded my expectations. The self-paced study allowed me to progress at my own rate. The tests, teach back and assignments were terrific learning tools. Overall the organization of the course was an excellent way of presenting a large amount of material. I would recommend this course to every yoga teacher whether or not your interest is in Chair or Gentle yoga.

I loved this program. It was above and beyond my expectations. What really captured me about this program – beyond the great content – is the integrity with which the program is delivered, the generosity and genuine caring towards the student development in service of preparing good teachers, and the love of seniors/working with seniors. It was so inspiring…and fun…and creative!

A young man, who has a brain injury as a result of being knocked off his bike, joined my home classes just before the summer break and returned today. He has been having plenty of physio and continues to do so but has practised yoga in the past and is really enjoying getting back to it. In the few classes he did earlier in the summer he just came for half my class which we practise in our chairs but he was keen to stay for the full class once strong enough to manage the transfer onto the z-beds.. so today he did so and his assistant stayed and helped him with the transfer and a few times in positioning himself. It worked really well and he is keen to continue with the full class from now on. He is so motivated, it’s a pleasure to work with him. I really am so grateful Sherry for your part in starting me off on this course.

I give the Yoga Vista Gentle and Chair Yoga courses my highest recommendation! Sherry and Justine have perfected the art of online teaching. The written materials are comprehensive, detailed, and some of the best reference sources in my entire yoga library. The many hours of videos are equally outstanding, offering a variety of teaching styles, methodologies, and information. I expected to receive outstanding instruction in Gentle and Chair Yoga. What I didn’t expect, but received in abundance, was these courses making me a better teacher overall, as well as a better teacher trainer. These courses truly have been a highlight of my ongoing yoga education!

I am so impressed by this course. I have taught online for years here at the college and your Program is so well done.

I really learned a lot about teaching yogas to seniors, the anatomy, how to make the classes more beneficial and effective for them, setting up and preparing my classes for recording, using the proper apps, equipment and devices to record my videos, & using YouTube to share my videos with others.

Thank YOU for your inspiring course and continuing to inspire with videos, the forum, newsletters, etc. You inspired me to rise to the challenge to offer a class that really has meaning, depth, “meat” and value. I hope we get to meet in person. You are a jewel!

Thanks for my report card, your kind and empowering remarks and certificate. Made my day!!! Today going to see an Egoscue practitioner for my knee deviation. Been sharing the book PAIN FREE with my classes. Life has taught me to be open to healing not fixing. Your holistic way of teaching and thinking is a powerful message for all. So glad you are a part of my life. Love, Moon

I chose Yoga Vista Academy training because of the quality of your video classes, but especially because of your emphasis on learning the anatomical issues and conditions of seniors and on how to meet their specific needs. I was NOT disappointed! I am a much more confident and skilled teacher as a result of this training. At the same time, I believe my classes, like your training, are creative and fun!

I truly found the Chair Yoga Program to be beyond informative. You offer SO many resources to the student. I loved that a mentoring program was offered, studying at your own pace, yoga videos, modules, and “spot on” yoga lessons. I learned so much regarding anatomy and the aging of our bodies and how to correct and decrease pain. I liked the emphasis on how to cue and speaking loud and clearly. Honestly, I would highly recommend this training to any one that wants to incorporate these important subjects. For me personally, I have become a better version of myself.

I’m very grateful to have had this opportunity to participate in your Yoga Vista Chair Yoga Program. It’s been so very beneficial in providing me the much needed skillset so that I could offer modifications and sequences so my students could move safely through the various ranges of motion in their joints and muscles.

I have loved doing your course and pushing myself to video and look back at the way I run classes, I must admit I have enjoyed the learning experience and pushing myself out of my comfort zone, I now do cd’s and working on getting a proper video camera to make dvd for me to sell. A big Big thank you for the opportunity to learn about myself as well as the wonderful world of chair yoga.

I want to thank you and the team at Yoga Vista Academy for this Program. Well done. I commend you for the information, the technical approach, the direct projection of issues into actual lives, the poses that relate to individual body conditions. The videos are exceptional. Different teachers with their various disciplines and personalities are a great teaching tool. The program has refreshed and further educate me on various levels. Thank you so very much.

This was a fantastic program. The online piece was very informative. The resources are of tremendous value, and can be used for reference over and over again.

The Chair Yoga Teacher Training and Certification programwas truly awesome and inspiring. I especially appreciated the detailed anatomy lessons. It really helps to know what poses and moves work for which muscle groups. The anatomy training was easy to follow and easy to understand and helped me increase my knowledge of muscles and their actions. The illustrations of poses and sequences was also very helpful for me. I can highly recommend this training program. The fact that it is available online is another huge plus!

The course is wonderful, the mix of videos and reading is a great way to study no matter what learning style someone prefers. I loved this course and ever since I’ve started, I’ve been telling my yogi friends about your studio, certifications, classes, and workshops.

After getting my Academy certification, I immediately started a chair yoga class at my studio that is always full. Full enough that I’ll be adding two more in September. One of my students gave me a card recently that said, ‘Thank you for caring enough to remember us older folks. Honey, you are a born teacher.’ I also teach private classes for a married couple, 87 and 88. The other day, after class, the wife looked at her husband as he stood from his chair and exclaimed, ‘Oh, Lynda, look at his posture! I don’t see an old man anymore. I see the dashing young man I fell in love with.’ So, was this training course worthwhile for enhancing my yoga teaching repertoire? For enhancing my LIFE? A million times over. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

I think that this was a fantastic format for taking this course. Having everything in bite-sized units made it seem like something that could be tackled via correspondence. Having video and text made sure that everything really made sense and sunk in. I so greatly admire the work that you all do that I am honoured to have taken this course.

I am very happy with the course it is great and I highly recommend it to anybody. I improved my regular yoga classes and right now I am teaching two chair yoga classes one at the “Y” and the other one at the Seniors Center I absolutely love it. Seniors are great and the good part is that they appreciate it. I want to take this opportunity to THANK YOU. I was lucky to found you!

The course is meeting my needs and expectations, thank you. I am pleased and excited to offer even more poses and information to my students. It is giving me added confidence and a good refresher on top of my 200 hour certification.

I appreciate that you are constantly adding to the library of videos. This provides constant learning for me, and is motivating when I feel that my practices need a little refreshing. Also, I appreciate having access to videos from recent chair yoga teacher graduates and experts, such as James Knight. I think one of the the things that sets your program apart from other online courses is the fact that you are very accessible via phone or email. I feel a sense of connectedness to you as my mentor. I commend you on bringing that quality to an otherwise remote relationship. Overall, this was a very worthwhile investment. Time and money well spent! The learning is invaluable!

It is clear that Sherry has put lot of time, effort and passion in creating this course. I was amazed by all the information that is in this course. It is so complete, detailed and thorough. And it’s fun!

Thank you so much for all your help. I feel like you have been there beside me! Your course is very thorough and I feel empowered to keep learning and also to get creative with poses. Thanks for your ongoing support.

I really, really appreciate your comments on “Area of Improvement”. As yoga instructors, we rarely get constructive criticism but I feel it is so important to improve our abilities so we can better serve our students and community. I will definitely use your cueing suggestions.

What I loved about the Online Chair Yoga Program! 1. The written PDF’s that went with most of the Video’s. 2. I liked the exams throughout because it kept it very fresh. 3. The PDF’s are fantastic reference documents, so those are so nice to have. 4. The video – MOST all were very good. 5. Library of postures is great to have with the handout’s as well, because the names are different than we use in other yoga classes! 🙂 6. In the video’s themselves, one thing I really like was being able to see the seniors do it with you. It gave me an idea of what those postures look like for them because I find myself wanting to correct their form when it may be all they can do.

First and foremost thank you for creating such an incredible program. I have grown so much with the knowledge you have shared with me. I am excited to get back teaching in my community to give it forward as you have both done for me.

I have gotten so much out of your course and you have helped me find my personal “why”.

I was concerned about taking an online course because of my need to ask questions. It’s not like you can just raise your hand and say, “excuse me, I don’t understand”, if that’s you, don’t let that hold you back. Whenever I had questions, I emailed Sherry and she responded within a couple of hours, and often even sooner. Her accessibility is remarkable and made me feel as though I had someone right next to me the whole time.

This course really fit my learning style perfectly. My teaching confidence in both chair and gentle yoga has soared since taking this course. I would highly recommend it.

It was helpful that I was teaching one or two classes a week of chair yoga already, and could practice new ideas on my students!! This course increased my confidence and knowledge and helped me to shift my perspective on sharing yoga. What I learned from Sherry and Peggy is how to empower my students to be life long learners and students of the body.

The way Viki helped us think of putting things together was really helpful. She is extremely knowledgeable! And it helps to have someone to connect with in a group and to be held accountable to to finish.

I just wanted to let you know that I am almost done your chair yoga class and I am loving it soooo much!!! You are an amazing teacher and so knowledgeable. I am a nurse and you know way more than I do!!!!! I just quit a horrible nursing job in which I was sitting all day and stressed out and trying to make a career change. I want to thank you so much for the information and the way it is presented. It is so easy to follow. Your enthusiasm is contagious!! I am thinking about doing the gentle yoga also. Thanks again, I think that you are just wonderful. I wish you were closer to me!!!

Really enjoying the Chair and Gentle online program.. This has made such a difference in my teaching! My students love the work I have shared with them and feel its made such a difference in their lives. I have a student who has had surgery for breast cancer and she feels the poses and stretches we do have made more difference in her life than the PT she had after her surgery which was a couple years ago.

I am so excited to finish the chair Yoga certification. I loved every minute of it!!!! As a nurse, the anatomy was very informative and great to help anyone understand the body. The videos are amazing and the support you give is great. I cannot say enough good things about your program!!!! I was worried taking an online class, but it was as if you were there there the entire time!!!! I learned so much and will tell everyone how amazing this course was. I am going to take all the classes on your site, and continue to learn. Thanks again!!!! This was life changing for me!!!!! Thanks again!!!

I am glad to say that the Live Mentoring Program was an asset. Those sessions were definitely a plus to be able to ask questions and receive constructive critiques. Jane was such an informative mentor and personal teacher, the sessions had a relaxed atmosphere just like when you are teaching your chair yoga classes which I still love watching. Thank You for a wonderful experience.

I am currently enrolled in the Senior Chair Yoga Program and I am really liking it. The payment plan is so helpful and affordable.

Although I am only into the third chapter, I am finding the program quite user friendly. I was a bit apprehensive about taking an online class to begin with. Chair yoga is hands on stuff, how can this be done? I am completely confident in the completeness of the course and its contents, and I am ecstatic about the unlimited resources at my fingertips. The videos are great!! No actors here, just reality.

I also thought an online class would be lonely, but it’s not. Sherry is right there with me, as well as Norma or Lou and so many of the Seniors from the limitless videos. I get excited to see their progress and to know that what I do from this program makes a difference in people’s lives.

I drive a school bus during the week, having the opportunity to have a printed manual to take with me to study and practice from is essential. I can’t possibly remember everything, so to have the quick reference is handy too. I like how the program is laid out, and how it builds upon itself. It is very obvious how much time and research has gone into this program. I’m gobbling it up.

From being encourage to wear bright colors, have fun in teaching things like “picking fruit” or “how much money, honey” really gets ya going. I can’t wait to show you “Pirate Pose!” for balance. It makes my Seniors smile, giggle and confident. I even teach “Turkey Yoga”. I hope you are curious here.

Thank you for such an affordable, current and applicable program that is like having a personal trainer with me all of the time. I feel more and more confident each day because I am being equipped to provide my Senior students with the tools they need to be safe, active, and independent for as long as they can be, and to have fun along their journey.

I just wanted to say how much I am enjoying the course! Thank you so much for encouraging me to go for it, I really am pleased I did! I have really enjoyed all of it so far and am loving learning more about our anatomy and conditions as we age. I find it fascinating how a subtle change to a pose or sequence can give different benefits. I am going through the course slowly and revisiting sections as I am new to yoga and there is a lot to learn… but I’m delighted by how many of the poses and sequences are feasible for me as a wheelchair user.

So in love with teacher training. I am reading about the Posture Project right now. Everything is so well done.
I have a fantastic group of people in my chair exercise class that are loving all the new exercises I am teaching them. I tell them they are my guinea pigs as I go through Chair Yoga training. We are having so much fun!

I’m learning so much more in this anatomy training than I did in my teacher training. The training we got was way too much for beginner teachers. At least it was for me. Your teaching is so clear and applicable. Thank you!

I just wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying the course! It is so comprehensive and beautifully presented. I am loving it. Thanks for the option to retake quizzes. The course is already enhancing my chair yoga classes. I work at Assisted Living centers and a chiropractor’s wellness center.

I have really enjoyed and learned great information especially on anatomy taking your Chair Yoga certification. Thank you so much for providing such a wonderful experience!

I do not have the words to explain how much I have learned through this program. It is awesome! (Not easy, but awesome.) I find myself using the information and recommendations in my regular and corporate classes that I teach. It has really provided another dimension to my classes. Thanks to you and Justine for an excellent program.

Yoga Vista’s educational courses have allowed me to speak from a place of knowledge to my own students. I truly believe that once someone understands the “why” the effort becomes greater. Sherry and her team are a wealth of knowledge and even better, are happily willing to share it. I’ve learned and continue to learn so much!

I am so delighted to have finally completed the advanced chair yoga teacher training. I really appreciate the time and effort you have put in to helping me getting over the line and complete the course. You are so correct with the information you sent back on the feedback. I definitely need to work on, and thanks for such a detailed report on my final teachback.

I am teaching Chair Yoga classes and my students loved my classes, yet I felt something was missing and that I needed some basics that had to do with anatomy, safe practices and sequencing. When my plans to enroll in a 200 hour RYT didn’t work out, I decided to do the chair yoga certification with Sherry. This was exactly what I needed!

I had already felt a synergy and simpatico with the yoga vista team. I love teaching and I want my students to be safe, learn and have a joyous time! I want each class to be fresh and an in the moment experience for my students. I also want my students to grow stronger and healthier and be inspired. I felt I’d found a resource in yoga vista that also has the same goals and high standards and with great dedication and expertise.

Despite this being an online class with no direct contact, I felt completely supported throughout the process. You were there to answer any questions, and I felt comfortable asking for help. I enjoyed the mix of readings, quizzes and videos. It is user friendly and comprehensive.

I thank you for your wonderful instruction. Love it. Love it. The information you provide would make anyone a better teacher. My students love the information and knowledge they gain. They tell me that their doctors asked them what they were doing differently as their lung capacity has improved (some had very little lung capacity). They proudly told me that they informed their doctor the only new thing they were doing was Anna’s Yoga. Their doctors told them to keep coming. Same results for different students and different parts of their bodies. I can’t take the credit. We do a lot of your “While you are at it.” I am following your game plan and it is amazing. I must admit I knew nothing about the human body before I took your classes. Both me and my students thank you for a job well done.

I’m so very glad that I decided to take both the Chair Yoga and the Gentle Yoga teacher training courses! I can honestly say that I use something that I learned from these courses in every Chair Yoga class that I teach (and I teach 3-4 every week)! Both courses were so very full of information and ideas! Even though I’ve been teaching chair yoga (and occasionally subbing gentle yoga) for a few years, I learned so much from taking these courses! Thank you, Sherry (and Justine!) for all you’ve given me!

I did love the program itself, I love all the information, chapters, etc., and how I was able to print out everything and make a large binder to keep forever for reference. Any time I had questions while going through the information, Sherry was just an email away with the answer, and always very prompt.

One of the biggest things I like about this program, is that I almost feel like I know you all, after watching videos, studying, phone calls and emails. That is very important to me!

Since I graduated from your Program, I am happy to say that I teach Chair Yoga at Lynda’s studio every Saturday and Wednesday nights for a community program. People really enjoy the class. Thanks again for providing such a cumulative and informative course!