Testimonials: Online Wheelchair Yoga Training

Esther Van Doormalen, Netherlands

I am confident that I could give a class, I already do.
I use a wheelchair myself (not 100%, these days i can walk a bit again, i have ms) and that is why i know a bit more about how to use the wheelchair in poses and how it is if you can’t move and how to adapt. I used to cycle in the hand-biket-eam and there I got to know teammates with different types of paralysis and mates without legs etc.  Knowing disabled people and being disabled yourself makes you not afraid to give lessons to disabled persons, I think that is half the work. Every lesson you learn more and more about the different ways to move and how you can adjust everything, which I love.
But i missed the more science know how … something your lessons gave me.

Karen Gabriel

I have been teaching Yoga for 10 years and Chair Yoga in gyms, wellness centers and nursing facilities for several years. I have had numerous wheelchair users in my classes. I feel I intuitively knew how to carefully and safely cue and I frequently invited the physical therapists to sit in. With that said, I still felt I was lacking the skills to assist me in creating classes with enough material to include “every body.” While I was/am sensitive to limitations, I had concerns that I may not be using appropriate verbiage. This course has given me the knowledge and confidence I was hoping for! Now I go into my blended classes with plan A, plan B and a plan C…just in case. 😊. I now feel I am as ready as I can be.

Karen Gabriel

You have provided knowledge on various reasons for wheelchair users, numerous sequencing examples, fun moves and great advice. I was introduced to the “sticks” with Nina. I printed the materials so I have my manual and notes to review when needed. I have played the videos over and over and love that I’ll have them forever! I appreciated the diversity in the styles of all the instructors in this course. Each instructor is so different. I love that!

Jennean Hinestrosa, Mt Arlington, New Jersey

I’m a wheelchair user myself, my youngest sister has ms and my dad is 74 years old so I can teach him and my sister, comfortable Yoga Vista Academy yoga moves for sure!! So grateful and humbled for the knowledge I learned, Sherry. Soo excited to locate a yoga studio location, rehabilitation center, or assisted living location where I can work at after I finish the program!

Edith Mildner, Germany

By chance (are there coincidences? 😉) I finally found at yogavista what I was looking for at least 7 years: training for wheelchair yoga. A lot of information about possible clinical pictures of wheelchair users and what opportunities these students have to do yoga. A very important moment for me: wheelchair users can not only perform upper body and arm movements, but also partial leg movements! I’ve never thought of that. The training offers so much information in text form and the videos show an impression of how and what is possible in a wheelchair. If I had any questions, Sherry was always there for me with advice and help!

If you’re worried about wheelchair yoga: stop thinking! Book this training! You will never regret it! Although I wasn’t entirely convinced that I had the courage to really teach yoga classes for wheelchair users after completing my training, my certification teachback made me confident and happy. I found my dharma! Blessed love to Sherry and the team for this experience.

Paula Waring, Vista, California, USA

The content in the handouts and the videos were complete and thorough. Seeing the videos of the different teaching styles was very encouraging for me to explore. Be ready to study and learn. There is so much science and practice that makes this program completely comprehensive. Thank you for such a brilliant effort!

Alice Caple

Alice Caple

Ansonia, Connecticut | United States

I though the Program was Amazing. All the advice and learning compliment the materials. The videos are a great resource for class ideas.


Chair Yoga CertifiedWheelchair Yoga - Certified

Viki Boyko

Viki Boyko

Stamford, Connecticut | United States

Super glad and grateful for the opportunity to test pilot this fabulous comprehensive training from Yoga Vista Academy. Such a well thought out course and a great collaboration of teachers who are wheelchair users together with the ever generous Sherry Zak Morris. Thank you for such a wonderful and unique opportunity to offer something so special to the community. What a gift. Blessings to you all.


Chair Yoga CertifiedWheelchair Yoga - Certified

Eva Montalvo

Eva Montalvo

West Palm Beach, Florida | United States

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!


Chair Yoga CertifiedWheelchair Yoga - Certified

Blandina Peterson

Blandina Peterson

Fayetteville, North Carolina | United States

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.


Chair Yoga CertifiedChair Yoga Dance - CertifiedGentle Yoga CertifiedWheelchair Yoga - Certified

Karen Gabriel

Karen Gabriel

New Bern, North Carolina | United States

I have been teaching Yoga for 10 years and Chair Yoga in gyms, wellness centers and nursing facilities for several years. I have had numerous wheelchair users in my classes. I feel I intuitively knew how to carefully and safely cue and I frequently invited the physical therapists to sit in. With that said, I still felt I was lacking the skills to assist me in creating classes with enough material to include “every body.” While I was/am sensitive to limitations, I had concerns that I may not be using appropriate verbiage. This course has given me the knowledge and confidence I was hoping for! Now I go into my blended classes with plan A, plan B and a plan C…just in case. 😊. I now feel I am as ready as I can be.


Wheelchair Yoga - Certified

Lanny Carlson

Lanny Carlson

Estherville, Iowa | United States

I am confident that I could give a class, I already do.
I use a wheelchair myself (not 100%, these days i can walk a bit again, i have ms) and that is why i know a bit more about how to use the wheelchair in poses and how it is if you can’t move and how to adapt. I used to cycle in the hand-biket-eam and there I got to know teammates with different types of paralysis and mates without legs etc.  Knowing disabled people and being disabled yourself makes you not afraid to give lessons to disabled persons, I think that is half the work. Every lesson you learn more and more about the different ways to move and how you can adjust everything, which I love.
But i missed the more science know how … something your lessons gave me.


Chair Yoga Certified

Viki Boyko

Viki Boyko

Stamford, Connecticut | United States

I didn’t know anything about the problems of being in a wheelchair. Everything from spasms, to lack of use of core and breathing muscles, problems with body heat. All of the ‘real world’ experiences of wheelchair users was extremely helpful and vital to teaching a class with differing disabilities.


Chair Yoga CertifiedWheelchair Yoga - Certified

Jan Trezise, Halkirk, UNITED KINGDOM

Wheelchair Program Pilot Teacher

My favourite thing about the program (2 actually) was being able to download the handouts in order to compile the manual, and the videos – just loved them. So clear and concise and explained many things for me. I found the course extremely user-friendly.


Katie Brandes

Katie Brandes

Gainesville, Florida | United States

After taking this Program, my confidence level is 10. I am already working with a wheelchair user and feel ready to work with many many more in the years to come. This Program provides an understanding of the needs of a wheelchair user regarding yoga as well as ideas for group classes, anatomy, props, and sample classes.


Chair Yoga CertifiedLow Back CertifiedWheelchair Yoga - Certified

Tina Carpenter, Carmel, California, USA

Wheelchair Yoga Pilot Program Teacher

One should consider this Program if they are interested in learning how to expand their teaching and want to work with a new segment of the population or If they want to expand their knowledge of anatomy, sequencing and disabilities. This course has it all.


Cheryl Harper, London, Ontario, CANADA

Wheelchair Yoga Pilot Program Teacher

This Program is a very valuable and much needed program, I recommend it for anyone passionate about teaching to an inclusive market. It definitely would be beneficial to instructors wishing to offer yoga services a demographic that is misunderstood, under valued and under served.


Karen Gabriel

Karen Gabriel

New Bern, North Carolina | United States

You have provided knowledge on various reasons for wheelchair users, numerous sequencing examples, fun moves and great advice. I was introduced to the “sticks” with Nina. I printed the materials so I have my manual and notes to review when needed. I have played the videos over and over and love that I’ll have them forever! I appreciated the diversity in the styles of all the instructors in this course. Each instructor is so different. I love that!


Wheelchair Yoga - Certified

Paula Waring, Vista, California, USA

Wheelchair Yoga Pilot Program Teacher

The content in the handouts and the videos were complete and thorough. Seeing the videos of the different teaching styles was very encouraging for me to explore. Be ready to study and learn. There is so much science and practice that makes this program completely comprehensive. Thank you for such a brilliant effort!


Debbie Pedersen

Debbie Pedersen

Peoria, Arizona | United States

The wheelchair program has a lot of great information to give you quality training so you can be confident to teach wheelchair yogis. The videos are extremely helpful and it would definitely not be the same without videos in the training program. You will see how different abilities may affect how you modify poses and also to be creative with each teaching situation. I highly recommend this course so you can expand your chair yoga program not only to offer something that may not be available in your community but to further understand people who use wheelchairs so you can empower them to do yoga which can benefit their well being.


Chair Yoga TrainedWheelchair Yoga - Trained

Nina  Boswell Brown

Nina Boswell Brown

Bristol, North Somerset | United Kingdom

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.


Chair Yoga TrainedWheelchair Yoga - Certified

Patricia Joyce

Patricia Joyce

San Marcos, California | United States

Thank you for the opportunity to learn and grow! I feel like I have improved my knowledge base and confidence. After completing this course, my confidence level is a 10. My Teachback is completed with lots a material to work with in the course. If you are teaching a combo class with wheelchair users then it will be helpful to take both the Chair Yoga and Wheelchair Yoga Training Programs.


Chair Yoga CertifiedWheelchair Yoga - Certified

Edith Mildner

Edith Mildner

Winterberg | Germany

By chance (are there coincidences? 😉) I finally found at yogavista what I was looking for at least 7 years: training for wheelchair yoga. A lot of information about possible clinical pictures of wheelchair users and what opportunities these students have to do yoga. A very important moment for me: wheelchair users can not only perform upper body and arm movements, but also partial leg movements! I’ve never thought of that. The training offers so much information in text form and the videos show an impression of how and what is possible in a wheelchair. If I had any questions, Sherry was always there for me with advice and help!

If you’re worried about wheelchair yoga: stop thinking! Book this training! You will never regret it! Although I wasn’t entirely convinced that I had the courage to really teach yoga classes for wheelchair users after completing my training, my certification teachback made me confident and happy. I found my dharma! Blessed love to Sherry and the team for this experience.


Chair Yoga Dance - TrainedChair Yoga TrainedCorporate Yoga TrainedGentle Yoga TrainedLow Back TrainedWheelchair Yoga - Certified

Jennean Hinestrosa, Mt Arlington, New Jersey

Currently Enrolled

I’m a wheelchair user myself, my youngest sister has ms and my dad is 74 years old so I can teach him and my sister, comfortable Yoga Vista Academy yoga moves for sure!! So grateful and humbled for the knowledge I learned, Sherry. Soo excited to locate a yoga studio location, rehabilitation center, or assisted living location where I can work at after I finish the program!


Helen Rigby

Helen Rigby

Vista, California | United States

I really loved Sherry’s video where she discussed teaching a chair yoga class vs a wheelchair yoga class. Learning about these key differences were very insightful & extremely helpful!


Chair Yoga Certified

Louise Curran

Louise Curran

Wicklow | Republic of Ireland

The course is so professionally done and it was an amazing collaboration across the globe – a very positive example of how we are all connected.


Chair Yoga CertifiedWheelchair Yoga - Certified

Jennifer Hilton

Jennifer Hilton

Woodstock, Georgia | United States

The Yoga Vista Academy Chair Yoga Training Program to me is like getting your 200-hour yoga certification and the Wheelchair Yoga Program is like getting your 500-hour yoga certification. You are building on the knowledge from the Chair Yoga Program and learning more in-depth ways to use props and modifications, Also, you are learning so much more about the different disabilities that one may have. I feel that I have way more confidence from taking the Chair Yoga Program first.


Chair Yoga CertifiedGentle Yoga CertifiedWheelchair Yoga - Certified

Patricia Joyce

Patricia Joyce

San Marcos, California | United States

Excellent teacher training for all Yoga Instructors that want more knowledge for incorporating students wheelchair users or offering a specialized class.


Chair Yoga CertifiedWheelchair Yoga - Certified