How to Teach Yoga to Seniors

As seniors age, bones and muscles deteriorate overtime, reducing flexibility and range of motion of joints. Incorporating a safe yoga program is beneficial to increase bone density, range of motion in joints and muscular flexibility and balance. Yoga is effective for seniors with disabilities or replaced joints. Instructors should be knowledgeable in using yoga props and feel comfortable working with this population. Teaching yoga to seniors require patience and understanding of the needs and wants of the class.

Things You'll Need

  • Yoga mats
  • Fold out chairs
  • Yoga blocks
  • Yoga Straps
  • Yoga music cd
  • CD player
  • Microphone Headset
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Instructions

  1. Educate Yourself

    • 1
      Shoulder injuries are one of the most common ailments among seniors.

      Research ailments of the human anatomy as the body ages. Understand common diseases and ailments of seniors including diabetes, osteoporosis, herniated discs, obesity, sciatica and replaced joints.

    • 2
      Obtaining a certification allows instructors to learn about the population and safe postures.

      Register for a senior yoga certification. Silver Sneakers and Yogafit provide senior yoga courses. If an instructor cannot obtain a certification, researching chair yoga postures is essential.

    • 3

      Speak with your participants to find the needs and wants of the class. Seniors may not feel comfortable performing certain postures or sitting or laying on the mat; therefore, a chair is required to modify the poses.

    • 4

      Design your class based upon participant feedback.

    • 5

      Use appropriate postures and props that are safe for the class. For example, seniors who have replaced knees should not kneel on the mat. Triangle, Warrior I & II, assisted down-dog, seated cat/cow, chest openers, seated hip openers, gentle spinal twists and seated sun salutations are examples of safe postures.

    Teaching the class

    • 6

      Move through the postures at a comfortable pace. Try not to teach too quickly as some seniors may have a hard time hearing or seeing.

    • 7

      Use a loud, clear voice and language that is easily understood. Avoid technical sentences such as "Tilting the sacrum forward." Instead say, "Press the hips forward."

    • 8

      Demonstrate at least two levels of the posture. One is the "easier" version in the chair, while the "harder" posture is standing on the mat without chair support.

    • 9

      Give approximately 10 to 15 minutes for breathing exercises, meditation and final relaxation.

    • 10

      Encourage the class to complete final relaxation in the chair if it is too difficult to move from the sitting position down onto the mat.